On November 26, the closing ceremony of the Volunteer Year took place in the Saratov Opera and Ballet Theatre. The audience consisted of school and university students as well as members of youth public volunteer organisations of the region. The SSU delegation was headed by its Rector A.N. Chumachenko and Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Organizational Work A.N. Golovchenko.
Before the ceremony volunteers presented their offices. The visitors could consult with a psychologist at the SSU Volunteer Centre. Besides, there were stands with photos of the university volunteers participating in different events. Moreover, volunteers were dressed in the uniform of the events they had been a part in – the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, the FIFA, and the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Governor of the Saratov Region V.V. Radayev observed all the volunteer offices, and he was accompanied by G.I. Bolotov, Head of the Office of Educational Work and Youth Programmes and the winner of the Volunteer of Russia Contest.
‘Volunteers must know how to cope with various situations. Today newly volunteers can attend the master-class given by professional psychologists and find out what spheres they are good at and what volunteer skills they already have. Then they can choose the volunteer area they will be most successful in,’ said Georgii Igoryevich.
The SSU Faculty of Psychology had developed three tests that shed the light on different volunteer skills, and Associate Professor of the Department of Counseling Psychology A.A. Karelin presented them to the governor and the audience.
Andrei Aleksandrovich commented on the peculiarities of volunteer testing.
‘We have developed a few tests that help us get more information about personality. Thus, we find out whether volunteers are ready to solve various problems and give advice on the best decision depending on volunteer’s temperament.’
The governor valued the approaches used by the SSU Volunteer Centre and marked that volunteers have many opportunities at university.
After that the ceremony started, and V.V. Radayev addressed to the volunteers.
‘The Volunteer Year is coming to its end, but many people have participated in volunteer events throughout the year showing they want to be useful for their country, hometown, and other people. I am sure representatives of all age groups will join that movement because the power of kindness is spreading. Being a part of a successful team makes you commit new good deeds. If you have experienced it once, you will never forget that feeling.’
In addition, the governor pointed out that volunteers have helped 500,000 people – families with many children, people with disabilities, pensioners, and veterans. Besides, they have improved the parks and alleys. The Saratov volunteers have taken part in big events – the FIFA, the Community Forum of Active Citizens, the All-Russian Volunteer Contest, the Volunteer Forum of the Volga and Southern Federal Districts. At the end of his speech Valerii Vasilyevich expressed his gratitude to the volunteers.
Different arts collectives performed in the ceremony, including the SSU dance groups the Inspiration (consisting of people with disabilities) and the Art-Mix. The audience burst with applause after the performance of the so-called silver volunteers.
Later the governor awarded the winners of the Regional Volunteer Contest, entitled “the Saratov Crystal Heart”.
SSU students and staff were given certificates for their victory in the regional stage of the All-Russian Contest “2018 Volunteer of Russia” – Georgii Bolotov (the Around Me nomination), Julya Pastukhova (the Volunteer Speaking), and Marina Shevyakhova (the Arts Inspired).
Rector A.N. Chumachenko commented on the SSU volunteers’ work and highlighted its importance.
‘Our volunteers think only about their work and the people they help. I am impressed by their results. They don’t stop even during their own year. Otherwise, the volunteers participate in more events because they understand how important it is.’
One of the volunteers, a 2nd-year student of the Faculty of Physics Ilya Vyskubov, expressed his point of view on volunteering. He notices that other people notice the results of his work, and it inspires him.
There are 36 volunteer centres in the Saratov Region as a part of educational institutions and public organisations. During the Volunteer Year more than 800 events have been held in the Saratov Region and more than 700,000 people have participated in them. Also the Resource Center for Volunteer Development has been opened in the region this year. Moreover, the Saratov Region has been included into the list of the 43 pilot Russian federal subjects where the Volunteer Development Standard project has been implemented.
