Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Beijing, March 24 (Xinhua) — An event dedicated to the "Blooming Flowers of Peace" volunteer program was recently held at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial. During the event, 12 foreign volunteers were awarded the title of "Outstanding International Volunteer," including Russian student Elizaveta Gamanyuk.
E. Gamanyuk is a student in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at the Institute of International Cultural Education at Nanjing Normal University. She first learned about the Nanjing Massacre from her professor, who spoke extensively to students about the city's history, the university's past, and Chinese philosophy. It was then that she learned that the Nanjing Women's College, which provided shelter for over 10,000 women and children, was located on her campus at the time of the tragedy, and also learned about the story of American missionary Minnie Vautrin.
"I'm often asked why I decided to provide assistance to this particular complex." She is convinced that this story has long ceased to be merely a national tragedy. It is a pain that all of humanity should remember, she shared.
At the end of 2025, E. Gamanyuk visited the memorial as part of a university group and subsequently decided to become a volunteer. She participates in ceremonies commemorating the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, reads books about the events aloud in Chinese and English, and plants flowers symbolizing peace. She shares her impressions on Instagram, drawing attention to this chapter in history. In her day-to-day work, she assists visitors with navigation, maintains order, and provides support to visitors to the memorial.
"Every time I put on a volunteer vest and find myself in this place that preserves the memory of suffering, I feel a sense of responsibility," said E. Gamanyuk. She is particularly touched by the elderly who stand for long periods of time, tears in their eyes, in front of photographs of survivors, the students who hang on the guide's every word, and the guests from various countries who observe a moment of silence. Preserving historical truth and striving for peace transcend national boundaries. Each volunteer contributes to the common cause, she shared.
The Russian student cites the right to independently conduct tours of the memorial as her main goal. "To tell others, you need to know the whole story thoroughly. I understand that this goal is still a long way off, but I will work hard." She says any inaccuracy is disrespectful to the memory.
A volunteer unit was established at the memorial in 1994. Today, it has over 28,000 registered volunteers. An international volunteer program was launched in 2018. As of March 2026, 779 foreigners from 57 countries, including the United States, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and East Timor, have participated in the project. Among them are seven Russian citizens.
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