Gazprom Media served as a media partner of a large-scale initiative held on December 4–5 as part of the National and International Volunteer Day.
This Russia-wide event brought together thousands of volunteers from all over the world. The main theme of the #MyVmeste (#WeAreTogether) online marathon was “Mutual Help and Partnership in a Time of Global Challenges.” Successful partnership cases were presented as part of the program involving volunteers and NGOs, as well as businesses, journalists and government agencies. The marathon broadcast lasted more than 30 hours. In this time, participants from more than 100 countries joined the telecasts and live broadcasts, master classes and discussions, and interactive and entertainment events. Russian President Vladimir Putin also joined the marathon in a live broadcast.
The marathon included an awards ceremony for winners of the Volunteer of Russia 2020 competition. This year the contest is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The flagship project of the presidential initiative Rossiya - strana vozmozhnostei (Russia: Land of Opportunities), its goal is to identify and support only the very best volunteer initiatives. More than 53,219 projects were submitted to the contest in its anniversary year, with 210 projects advancing to the final.
CEO of Gazprom Media Alexander Zharov took part in the Volunteer of Russia awards ceremony. He presented the award in the Born to Help category with Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova. The projects in this nomination aim to help the most vulnerable members of society, such as people with disabilities and lonely seniors who need attention and constant care.
Karina Mirzaeva from Naberezhnye Chelny won first place in the 14–17 age group with her project “Muzey na domu” (Home Museum), while Tatyana Koloteeva from Volgograd oblast won in the 18+ age group with her project “Drug osobogo rebyonka” (Friend of a Special Child).
“This year has been very difficult for all of us. The pandemic is an enormous challenge for every person, for every country and for the whole world. The values that have always united our people and society—kindness, the pursuit of justice, mutual aid—are especially important today. Our people and volunteers are displaying their best qualities and demonstrating strength and unity. You are doing very important, necessary and humane work for our entire society,” said Zharov.
Gazprom Media has already established its own volunteer corps, and its first mission was to help out at the #MyVmeste HQ. Our volunteers processed applications and delivered food packages to the elderly and people with limited mobility.
General manager of the Central Partnership film company Vadim Vereshchagin and Deputy Minister for Civil Defense and Emergency Situations Ilya Denisov presented the awards in the Brave Hearts category, which considers projects that aim to help in emergency situations and raise safety awareness.
Comedy Club regular Marina Kravets and Vladislav Davankov, deputy manager of the Rossiya - strana vozmozhnostei initiative, presented awards to ten volunteers in the Animal Charity category.
A discussion of the new film Doctor Lisa was held on December 4. Several of the project’s leaders took part in the discussion, including Dzhanik Fayziev, general manager of KIT Film Studio and the film’s chief producer; lead producer Alexander Bondarev; and director Oksana Karas. The film, which was made by KIT Film Studio, won the Audience Award at the Kinotavr film festival this year and was released in Russian movie theaters on October 22.
Head of the Media Press publishing house Alexey Blinov hosted an intellectual quiz about volunteering on December 4. Viewers could take part in the quiz, with the winner receiving a valuable prize from the event’s partners.
The discussion “Social Content: A New Agenda for Mass Media?” was held on December 5 as part of the marathon. Gazprom Media’s human resources manager Antonina Priezzheva and General Manager of 2x2 Denis Vsesvyatsky took part in the discussion. The speakers discussed what topics they cover on television and talked about the most effective social campaigns integrated into mass media.
Vsesvyatsky noted that young audiences prefer animation and humor, which can make social advertising more well-received, giving the animated blockbuster Poslednie Dni Tresha (The Last Days of Trash) about an ecological apocalypse made for 2x2 as an example.
