News – Russian Government

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova and Dmitry Chernyshenko took part in the opening ceremony and awarding of the winners of the International Prize #WEARETOGETHER. The event took place within the framework of the International Forum of Civil Participation of the same name at the Manege Central Exhibition Hall in Moscow.

The event brought together leaders of social projects, heads of charitable foundations, volunteers and mentors, organizers of the volunteer movement, and SVO participants.

Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the ceremony. He awarded the winner in the Volunteer of the Year category. It was the head of the “Second Life” movement, Maria Karpenko from the city of Kurchatov, Kursk region.

As part of the #WETOGETHER award, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova and the head of the ONF executive committee, Mikhail Kuznetsov, awarded Kirov resident Alexandra Eremina in the “Act of the Year” category. A schoolgirl with a disability saved another girl from a criminal. She hit him with a crutch.

“The #WETOGETHER award has become international, uniting a huge number of people, and I am very pleased that this year young people submitted a huge number of applications – more than 19 thousand. The project has become a flagship, it unites people who do everything from the heart, from the soul . Not everyone has what we are about to see. I think this will touch each of you. Because the person who committed this act did not think about it, but did it and made it possible to overcome himself and help people,” said Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova.

Last winter, 12-year-old Alexandra Eremina was returning from school and noticed a man threatening a young girl with a knife. The criminal tried to take the phone and keys. Despite her disability, Sasha intervened without hesitation: she hit the criminal on the back with a crutch. The attacker tried to escape, but was detained by the police. Sasha is a champion who, by her example, shows that courage and fortitude do not depend on age or physical capabilities.

Having learned that the girl was dreaming of a trip to Artek, Tatyana Golikova promised to make her dream come true.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dmitry Chernyshenko thanked the volunteers for their dedication and contribution to the life of the country, noting the special importance of the work of mentors who prepare future generations of volunteers.

“I had the opportunity to be with our President Vladimir Putin at another historical moment, which was not remembered today, but it was also very important for our country. Preparations were underway for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi. Then it was necessary to train 25 thousand volunteers. The head of state has already said that from time immemorial volunteerism has been in the blood of our people. But then professional volunteers were needed. In order to train 25 thousand volunteers, volunteer centers were needed. The President decided to create such centers throughout the country. These community-based centers trained volunteers who helped those in need every day, doing hard work ranging from caring for animals to helping the sick. It is thanks to their dedication and professionalism that our games have become the best in the world,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

He wished the volunteers further success and new achievements for the benefit of Russia.

Dmitry Chernyshenko awarded the laureate of the special nomination “Mentor of the Year”. This year, the winner was Lyubov Proshkina from the Novosibirsk region, the head of the ABC of the Family ANO. Her organization helps teenagers who find themselves in difficult life situations. Lyubov Vladimirovna is the mother of 20 children, including 14 adopted children.

“We will always be grateful to our volunteers for their important work. At the same time, we must not forget those who train volunteers, who teach them. That is why today’s nomination, which I have the honor to announce, “Mentor of the Year,” is probably one of the most important. After all, these are the people who train our volunteers, who give the most precious thing they have: a non-renewable resource – time. And time shows that sometimes, unfortunately, they give up their lives while performing their volunteer feat,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.