For the time of DigitalXpert's existence, there appeared several good traditions; but they are not restricted to celebrating the various events in our employees' lives and in the company's history. About 3 years ago, one more tradition has been added to the existing ones. It is not directly related to our work, but is connected with the humanity which exists in each of us.

According to our mission, DigitalXpert strives to improve people's lives with the help of IT solutions. But there are places that have not been touched by information technologies yet; is that the reason to deny help? One of such places that are far from civilization and from our common problems is the Psychoneurological Home for Children #1, created for caring about children whose central nervous system is affected or who have mental abnormalities. The adults with their struggling for career achievements and fighting everyday problems tend to forget that there are small creatures in this world which are much more helpless than we seem to ourselves sometimes.

It is incredibly painful to be an orphan, to lose one's mother or not to know her at all. But try to imagine the feelings of an invalid child whose parents has given them up and who has no hope for adoption – because most parents don't refuse such children but just place them in charge of the state, relieving themselves of responsibility. Besides, there are not many people who would venture to adopt a child with abnormalities.

There's no use talking about the widely known fact that children's homes lack financing: that kids get only 68 roubles per day for their 5-times meal; that the state allocates only 72 roubles a month per child for clothing and footwear; that nothing at all is given for cultural activities. But what's behind those figures? There are not many people who know that charity kids live in a secluded space, alienated from life and its wonders.

When we came to visit the children for the first time, we were astonished to know that although they are St.Petersburg citizens, they have never had even a walk in the city! They have never seen the Neva and the bridges, never been to the cinema, to the zoo, never have eaten ice cream, never have swum in a lake nor in the Gulf of Finland... And there's an infinite number of the things they have never tried!

That's why our first impulse was to show at least a part of the world to those children. Our employees have actively launched organization of a trip to the zoo for the older kids (children up to 7 years of age are brought up and receive treatment here). Quickly money were collected, a bus was hired, and so the kids started on the voyage which for many of them was the first in their lives. At that, looking at the enthusiasm, the adults received as much pleasure and as many impressions from this trip as the children did.

All kids, and especially those who live in children's homes, are extremely sensible to attention and human affection. Of course the material help also matters. But a simple walk and a bit of interaction with the kids gives them much more, because it's very hard to maintain interest in life when one feels lonely and desolate.

After the trip to the zoo which was a source of pleasure for both the kids and the company employees, we decided to organize some event in which all children could partake. The coming New Year was the best solution. This holiday is meant for all children to wait for magic and surprises; the morning performance that we have organized became one of those pleasant gifts. The girls prepared costumes, decorated the room, and invented the programme; the men helped them with advice and deeds. Everything was done by our own hands, and maybe it was the reason why it was a cheerful and cordial holiday.

So, 2005 became the year of starting the tradition of regular visits with the purpose of giving just a bit of fun and joy to the children's home inhabitants.

Of course our participation in the affairs of the home is not limited to organizing events for the kids, although it seems to us that those events bring them much more pleasure and use than the material help. The company employees also help in solving vital problems. For example, our joint efforts helped in purchasing a laser printer for the social worker who prints adoption forms. In 2006, there have been several events of collecting toys, books, buying fruit etc.

We are trying to understand the utmost needs of the children. The employees are not interested in just handling money to the children's home personnel. We want to see the real result, it is important for help to be purposeful. For example, there was a question of gifts for New Year'2007. It was finally decided to buy fur coats for the older kids who already can go for independent walks. It was discovered that in winter the kids couldn't even go out because there were no warm clothes. We also purchased sandals for all 80 kids for the summer period, so that they can run and play to their hearts' content. Now they are able to go for a walk and play in their yard at any time of year.

It is very pleasant that the help is each employee's persona initiative; each one made a decision for oneself. We controlled the warm clothes being given to the kids; it means that the money was spent to achieve a specific aim, which is very important. The problem of many good undertakings is that money is spent on other objects than were planned. This results in the fact that no real help is provided, although the intentions were the best. In our case, we have seen the evident result – dressed and content children.

Help is just a demonstration of common humanity; but for some reason, nowadays it's hard to meet such initiatives. This is no wonder – the results of the help an individual can give are hardly noticeable, and that's why some people lose heart at the sight. But if people act as a collective body, results are much more perceptible, and each one will feel his contribution. A child's smile – is there anything more precious in this world? And if the smile is addressed to you, it is the real happiness. At least for us.