Our Story
In the summer of 2011, SHCAB founder and president Jeff Reppucci traveled to Moscow as part of a six week intensive language program at the Russian State University of the Humanities. Through this immersive experience Jeff gained a rich understanding of both Russian culture and language. However, this unique opportunity also exposed Jeff to an area of life that was severely lacking...childhood. Even in the most decadent city of the country, Moscow, where the nations wealth is densely expressed, childhood felt overlooked. There were no playgrounds, basketball courts, public swimming pools, youth centers, boys and girls clubs, etc. In other words, there were no places in the city for children to entertain the simple recreational opportunities that kids here in the United States take for granted.
Upon his return to Massachusetts, Jeff began researching what childhood in rural Russia was really like, considering that the most economically sophisticated area of the country was completely lacking in facilities for well-developed childhoods. After extensive research and consultation with professors and friends from both the Russian State University and The College of the Holy Cross, Jeff's initial suspicions were confirmed. For the millions of Russian children born east of the major cities, recreational and educational development is seriously lacking. This drastic void, coupled with Jeff's enthusiasm for the Russian culture and language, served as the primary catalysts for the creation of SHCAB.
Today, SHCAB is proudly run by a group of motivated college students organizing and implementing community building projects around the globe. Russia, Latin America, USA are all sites where SHCAB volunteers are passionately combatting social injustice in children's lives. With each culture that SHCAB volunteers explore, the organization becomes more humbled and inspired to extend our mission to children in every corner of the world.
Upon his return to Massachusetts, Jeff began researching what childhood in rural Russia was really like, considering that the most economically sophisticated area of the country was completely lacking in facilities for well-developed childhoods. After extensive research and consultation with professors and friends from both the Russian State University and The College of the Holy Cross, Jeff's initial suspicions were confirmed. For the millions of Russian children born east of the major cities, recreational and educational development is seriously lacking. This drastic void, coupled with Jeff's enthusiasm for the Russian culture and language, served as the primary catalysts for the creation of SHCAB.
Today, SHCAB is proudly run by a group of motivated college students organizing and implementing community building projects around the globe. Russia, Latin America, USA are all sites where SHCAB volunteers are passionately combatting social injustice in children's lives. With each culture that SHCAB volunteers explore, the organization becomes more humbled and inspired to extend our mission to children in every corner of the world.
