Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
In 2025, the annual "Volunteer School at Polytechnic University" project was implemented jointly with the Institute of Civil Engineering and the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade as part of the SPbPU Development Program to 2036 and the national goal of developing patriotism and engaging 45% of young people in volunteer and social activities by 2030 (the Russian National Project "Youth and Children").
A total of 296 participants completed the Volunteer School. Among them were students from the Institute of Civil Engineering, the Institute of Social Studies, the Institute of Mechanics and Electronics, the Institute of Economics, the Institute of Economics and Telecommunications, and the Institute of Biological and Social Sciences. Organized by the Harmony Dobro Center, the Volunteer School brought together students eager to learn how to help others and become part of the Polytechnic's ecosystem of goodness.
Over the course of five days, the students attended training sessions, meetings with experts, master classes, and an additional day dedicated to culture and creativity. The Volunteer School featured 22 speakers: veterans of the Air Defense Forces, members of the Air Defense Forces Veterans Association and the Fatherland Defenders Fund, leaders and representatives of NGOs, charitable foundations, the St. Petersburg Resource Center, the St. Petersburg Youth House, the Urban Volunteer Center, and experts from Rosmolodezh.Grants, Grants of the First, the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, and the International Prize.
Each day was themed. Participants learned about the volunteer ecosystem and explored the importance of supporting the development of blood and bone marrow donation. They acquired basic first aid and psychological support skills, explored grants and media projects, examined social and event-based volunteering in detail, discussed youth initiatives, developed creativity, and shared inspiration through creative expression.
Tatyana Nam, Director of the Dobro.Center "Harmony," spoke at the school's opening. She discussed key areas of volunteering and opportunities for students at the Polytechnic University, as well as how to be successful and happy. Maxim Smirnov, founder of the All-Russian Online School of Media Volunteers and a lecturer at the Znanie Society, shared his personal experience of growing from a volunteer to a youth mentor. And Sergey Korolev, Director of the Volunteer Resource Center in St. Petersburg, conducted a training session on the application of various game-based practices to working with young people.
The second day of the training focused on bone marrow donation. Lyubov Belozerova, Director of the Bone Marrow Donation Development Center Foundation and the fortunate one who saved a life, spoke about her mission and the challenges of finding a DNA match.
A significant event of the day was a meeting with SVO veterans, natives of Donbas, and members of the St. Petersburg Youth Parliament, Zakhar Kornev and Vladimir Sukhinin. They shared their stories honestly and openly and answered students' questions. At the end of the evening, Maria Guner, head of the PoliNova authors' club, a member of the Russian Writers' Union, and a student at the Humanities Institute, read a poem of hers to the young veterans as a literary gift—a continuation of their words about peace and tranquility.
We talked with the children about what it means to be a patriot of one's country. Each person demonstrates their civic responsibility, patriotism, and love for their homeland through their actions. Service to the Fatherland is a great value. And not necessarily with weapons in hand," said Zakhar Kornev, a veteran of the SVO and deputy chairman of the Youth Parliament of St. Petersburg.
I liked that the young veterans of the SVO are very open and sincere, just like us students. They aren't afraid to talk about their lives, families, and difficult moments. It's gratifying that despite difficult life experiences, they remain positive and share their stories with others. Listening to them was truly interesting. Overall, the Volunteer School gave me the opportunity to listen to interesting speakers, especially the topics on social volunteering and first aid. I believe I not only gained new knowledge but also met people from other institutes and was inspired to help people! – shared her impressions Daria Nagibovich, a second-year student at the Institute of Mechanics, Economics, and Telecommunications.
On the third day of the school, volunteers learned basic first aid and psychological support with Russian Red Cross psychologists Arina Belozerova and Sofia Volkova. Together with active members of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, firefighters, and experts from the Volunteer Rescuers group, Daniil Bobrovsky and Bogdan Leta, they learned critical response procedures, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, trauma care, and respiratory arrest.
The fourth day was a day of ideas, projects, and creativity. Maria Pilipenko, an expert in federal grant competitions (Rosmolodezh.Grants, Grants First, ASI), and head of the Youth Projects Laboratory, discussed how to turn a socially significant initiative into a tangible project and secure funding. Student producers Ksenia Tomchuk and Polina Kisochkina from the St. Petersburg State Institute of Film and Television presented an original film almanac about heroes of charity, created with the support of Rosmolodezh.Grants.
Maxim Smirnov, a marketing specialist at the Institute of Social Sciences, held a master class on developing creativity and discussed media volunteering. Student mentors at the School of Self-Development, led by Anastasia Savina, a youth mentor at the Harmony Volunteer Projects Center and a specialist at the Institute of Social Sciences' Applied Psychology Laboratory, demonstrated how films can be used to analyze and gently correct human behavior, and to learn to better understand oneself.
On the final day, the students immersed themselves in various volunteer activities. Maria Obukhova, head of the SPbPU Dobro.Center volunteer headquarters and an IPMEiT student, used examples from her own experience to demonstrate the importance of helping those who especially need support (children, adults in difficult life situations, and stray animals).
Nikita Dmitriev, head of the City Volunteer Center and deputy director of the St. Petersburg Youth Center, spoke about event-based projects, large-scale forums, and international events. He demonstrated how volunteering opens doors to new experiences and even travel. At the end of the day, experienced game coach Roman Klymkiv conducted a financial literacy training session, "Cash Flow," where participants learned how to plan, strategize, and manage a budget.
Doing good is easier than it seems. The most important thing is to take the first step, and then, together with the kindest community in our cultural capital, an exciting adventure awaits you," emphasized Nikita Dmitriev, Deputy Director of the St. Petersburg Youth Center.
The finale of the 8th Volunteer School provided students with an atmosphere of creativity and friendship. Begench Mukhammedov, head of the International Community of Foreign Students, spoke about how Russian and international students can collaborate on volunteer projects, preserve historical and cultural traditions and values, and contribute to the development of youth.
The School's closing ceremony took place in a celebratory, creative atmosphere of unity and inspiration. Participants attended a concert by the PoliNova Authors' Club and enjoyed works by young poets, musicians, and vocalists from the Polytechnic University, as well as guests from other St. Petersburg universities.
Students of the School received certificates of attendance at lectures and practical classes, and "graduates" who successfully completed all days of the program were awarded diplomas indicating the hours of training under the volunteer program.
"The Polytechnic University cultivates socially responsible leaders, and our Volunteer School is a shining example of this," noted Tatyana Nam, the project's author and director, and director of the SPbPU Dobro.Center.
The 8th Volunteer School demonstrated the success of the Polytechnic University's unique ecosystem of kindness, which unites students from various institutes and fields, helps them discover their talents, and teaches them to work together for the common good.
The organizers, experts, and participants express special gratitude to Maxim Pasholikov, Vice-Rector for Information, Youth Policy, and Security, and Natalia Chicherina, Director of the Humanities Institute, for their long-term and comprehensive support of the Volunteer School at the Polytechnic University project.
Together we can do more!
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