Volunteering has long been a part of Nornickel’s corporate culture. Employees participate in the World of New Opportunities and Goodness Factory (Kombinat Dobra) programs. At Bystrinsky GOK, volunteer activities are supervised by Olga Perova, Lead Specialist in Corporate Program Projects.
Olga has been a volunteer for ten years and is now the captain of the Dauria volunteer team. Historian, archaeologist, author of scientific papers, she has traveled all over Russia with expeditions. But her list of favorite places is topped by her native city of Chita and the Gazimuro-Zavodsky District where Bystrinsky GOK operates.
Goodness Caps
– What major projects have volunteers participated in over the past two years?
– Under the World of New Opportunities program, our company supports environmental and social projects on a competition basis. They are initiated by public organizations and cultural institutions. And our people participate in them as volunteers.
Last year, the Sok-Pesok eco beach opened in Chita. All the benches, lounge chairs and garbage bins on the beach are made of recycled plastic caps collected all over the place by Bystrinsky GOK staff through the Caps of Goodness campaign. There was even a battle among production units for who collected the most caps. Eventually, the entire office was swamped with cap-filled bags! We handed them over to recycling and thus preserved the ecosystem of Lake Kenon.
In Chita, we also helped renovate the Berezka and SipVo parks. We set up benches made of recycled plastic there, and held a big environmental festival in the SipVo park. Grownups and children attended craft workshops and lectures on separate waste collection.
Last year, the Sok-Pesok eco beach opened in Chita. All the benches, lounge chairs and garbage bins on the beach are made of recycled plastic caps collected all over the place by Bystrinsky GOK staff through the Caps of Goodness campaign. There was even a battle among production units for who collected the most caps. Eventually, the entire office was swamped with cap-filled bags! We handed them over to recycling and thus preserved the ecosystem of Lake Kenon.
In Chita, we also helped renovate the Berezka and SipVo parks. We set up benches made of recycled plastic there, and held a big environmental festival in the SipVo park. Grownups and children attended craft workshops and lectures on separate waste collection.
– Tell us about your help for protected natural areas.
– Last year, we made enclosures for argali mountain sheep in the Daursky Nature Reserve. In the Krasnaya Gorka paleontological reserve, which is a UNESCO Heritage site, we built an eco trail.
Another one of our projects is the Sukhotino ethnic and archaeological park. This is a museum complex on an area of about 10 hectares dedicated to the history, culture and life of the Trans-Baikal Territory peoples. We are also building an eco trail there.
Another one of our projects is the Sukhotino ethnic and archaeological park. This is a museum complex on an area of about 10 hectares dedicated to the history, culture and life of the Trans-Baikal Territory peoples. We are also building an eco trail there.
House of merchant Makarov
– What is your favorite project in the World of New Opportunities program?
– As a supervisor, I treat all projects equally. But I do have a favorite. It’s the reconstruction of the house once owned by merchant and philanthropist Mikhail Elizarovich Makarov in a small village of Ushmun.
The children from a local school pitched an idea of turning it into a modern creative space and it was supported by the school principal and local enthusiasts. They approached us, and we helped develop the idea into a project. Nornickel allocated RUB 6.5 mln, another RUB 6.8 mln were provided by the administration. The house is 170 years old, and it took two years to rebuild.
On the opening day of 24 September 2024, I was genuinely happy. The kids from a remote village of the Gazimuro-Zavodsky District can now come here and participate in workshops, educational and artistic events.
We plan to hold an IMAKE engineering marathon and our other projects here. So, the house is set to become a center of attraction for the residents of not only Ushmun, but other settlements, too. It might not be so serious for a big city, but for small villages it is definitely a major event.
The children from a local school pitched an idea of turning it into a modern creative space and it was supported by the school principal and local enthusiasts. They approached us, and we helped develop the idea into a project. Nornickel allocated RUB 6.5 mln, another RUB 6.8 mln were provided by the administration. The house is 170 years old, and it took two years to rebuild.
On the opening day of 24 September 2024, I was genuinely happy. The kids from a remote village of the Gazimuro-Zavodsky District can now come here and participate in workshops, educational and artistic events.
We plan to hold an IMAKE engineering marathon and our other projects here. So, the house is set to become a center of attraction for the residents of not only Ushmun, but other settlements, too. It might not be so serious for a big city, but for small villages it is definitely a major event.
Toys made by BelAZ drivers
– You help the residents who propose an initiative themselves. Is it hard to organize the work of volunteers and engage people?
– It’s not easy. But we have established solid friendly relations with other companies in the metallurgical industry and banking sector. Plus, Chita and the Gazimuro-Zavodsky District are small in territory, so the news spreads quickly.
We announce our promotional events on social networks. In small villages, the word of mouth does the job, the editorial office of the district newspaper also helps. The ‘Invite your spouse’ campaign works well, because if someone in the family becomes a volunteer, then sooner or later relatives and friends join.
We announce our promotional events on social networks. In small villages, the word of mouth does the job, the editorial office of the district newspaper also helps. The ‘Invite your spouse’ campaign works well, because if someone in the family becomes a volunteer, then sooner or later relatives and friends join.
– The people from Bystrinsky GOK must be joining on their own?
– The Goodness Factory program is purely voluntary. Our people are full of enthusiasm to come up with project ideas and implement them. Together with children, they draw posters on environmental issues and craft items for the charity fair. This is one of most favorite projects in Nornickel.
It’s pleasing to see when shopfloor workers become volunteers. And these are not small people, they are strong. So, it’s doubly touching to see BelAZ drivers or power engineers coming after a night shift to hold a tiny needle in their huge hands and make felted wool toys. We then sell them at marketplaces, and donate the proceeds to charity.
It’s pleasing to see when shopfloor workers become volunteers. And these are not small people, they are strong. So, it’s doubly touching to see BelAZ drivers or power engineers coming after a night shift to hold a tiny needle in their huge hands and make felted wool toys. We then sell them at marketplaces, and donate the proceeds to charity.
Recently, money raised from the sale of toys made by Nornickel workers was used to purchase a RUB 400k wheelchair. “Our people worked very hard to collect the required amount,” says Olga Petrova.
Recently, money raised from the sale of toys made by Nornickel workers was used to purchase a RUB 400k wheelchair. “Our people worked very hard to collect the required amount,” says Olga Petrova.
Bystrinsky GOK’s charity fairs attract visitors from neighboring villages, and they demonstrate their skills and teach our people. And the favor is not left unanswered. After the shift, many workers drive out to the villages to help locals clean up their yards, put up a fence, and harvest crops. And when they come back to their towns and villages after a month-long shift, they continue to volunteer.
Engineer Sergey Bonzin provides lectures on healthy lifestyle in schools on his own initiative. With a title in orienteering, he is a true role model.
A volunteer once confessed to me: “I want to be needed!” I think, everyone has such motivation. Because doing good things is as easy and gratifying as telling the truth.
Engineer Sergey Bonzin provides lectures on healthy lifestyle in schools on his own initiative. With a title in orienteering, he is a true role model.
A volunteer once confessed to me: “I want to be needed!” I think, everyone has such motivation. Because doing good things is as easy and gratifying as telling the truth.
Photos by Nornickel
October, 2024
October, 2024
