The Andrei Sakharov Russian Free Academy (RFA) was created in 1978 by a group of representatives of the Russian cultural intelligentsia in exile, which were commonly referred to as "dissidents".The primary activity of the RFA has taken place in Germany (two parallel seminars were conducted in Italy in 1986 and 1987.)
The Academy has the status of a non-profit organization.
Methodology
From the moment of its creation in 1978, the Andrei Sakharov Russian Free Academy has applied the method of "total immersion" into the language. All of life at the seminar is conducted in Russian, not only the group studies, lectures, and extracurricular groups, but also all free time outside these activities.
Our teachers and lecturers are always with the seminar participants, available to answer any of their questions or just to talk with them on any subject in an open and informal way. We attach great significance to this friendly, warm atmosphere that, from our point of view, constitutes an essential foundation for the method we have chosen.
Goals
The Sakharov Academy set as its goal to give Western Soviet specialists, as well as others who in the course of their work or interests have association with Russian authorities or society, the possibility to enrich their knowledge of the Russian language. They simultaneously receive authentic and independent information about the history, culture, economy, and politics of Russia and the Soviet Union.
With the course of time, by the will of historical circumstances, but also by the will of its leadership and colleagues, the Andrei Sakharov Russian Free Academy has become not only a source for total immersion Russian language instruction, but also a source of communication.
The extraordinary complexity of the processes taking place in today's Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union gives a structure such as the Andrei Sakharov Academy a unique character. It is a place of reflection and discussions about the paths of democratic development in Russia, the former USSR, of the possibilities of Russia's integration into European democratic culture, and of their interrelations in today's world.
True to its calling and the name which it bears, the Sakharov Aademy remains an independent organization, free from any and all party influences.
