ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the role of socially oriented civic organisations in dealing with problems of poverty. We look into both the efforts of the government to engage people in socially oriented voluntary work and how civic organisations adapt to the political harnesses. The chapter discusses the relationship between civic organisations and social work, given the reality that resources of social welfare agencies are insufficient in relation to needs and given the stricter rules towards NGOs. The aim is also to identify when and how civic organisations can contribute to empowering processes involving poor people. Women who found informal solutions to problems during the Soviet time have transferred Soviet hierarchical practices to women in contemporary Russia. The impact of surviving hierarchical structures of organisations from the Soviet era (in both municipal agencies and civic organisations) is highlighted.
