Recipient Unavailable
Vasilina Kornilova’s first academic degree is in Russian language and literature teaching. Her love for children inspired her to become a Nornickel volunteer and a supervisor of a project to help get kids off their screens.
– How did you come up with the idea behind the Recipient Unavailable project?
– Our children are fully or partially immersed in digital reality, so their main problem is clip thinking. They can’t concentrate for more than 15–20 minutes.
All parents nowadays are aware of this problem, and I, as a mother of two, am no exception. To get some quiet time, parents start giving their child a gadget when they are 5 or 6 years old. As a result, by the age of 13, children spend almost all their free time on screen.
They forget how to interact face-to-face. Even when they sit on a bench or couch, instead of talking they text each other on social networks. Clearly, the ultimate blame is on grownups.
That is why we wanted to encourage teenagers to spend less time on devices, engage them in social initiatives and develop interpersonal communication skills.
We decided to organize leisure activities for them. I am convinced that any child can be engaged with the right approach and true commitment. All our kids, even F graders, are smart and kind.
All parents nowadays are aware of this problem, and I, as a mother of two, am no exception. To get some quiet time, parents start giving their child a gadget when they are 5 or 6 years old. As a result, by the age of 13, children spend almost all their free time on screen.
They forget how to interact face-to-face. Even when they sit on a bench or couch, instead of talking they text each other on social networks. Clearly, the ultimate blame is on grownups.
That is why we wanted to encourage teenagers to spend less time on devices, engage them in social initiatives and develop interpersonal communication skills.
We decided to organize leisure activities for them. I am convinced that any child can be engaged with the right approach and true commitment. All our kids, even F graders, are smart and kind.
– How many volunteers and children participated in the project?
– Under the Icebreaker corporate volunteering development program, we’ve built a team of eight adult volunteers whose task was to organize leisure activities for kids.
At the same time, we began engaging children in the project. Our initial idea was to only target our workers’ children but eventually we brought in non-employee kids.
The parents of five children work in GRK Bystrinskoye, the other seven kids study in the eighth grade of secondary school No. 38 with advanced German studies. I drove out there to promote the project. The vice-principal for educational work Alesya Savva got interested in the project, and we found the kids willing to join rather quickly.
At the same time, we began engaging children in the project. Our initial idea was to only target our workers’ children but eventually we brought in non-employee kids.
The parents of five children work in GRK Bystrinskoye, the other seven kids study in the eighth grade of secondary school No. 38 with advanced German studies. I drove out there to promote the project. The vice-principal for educational work Alesya Savva got interested in the project, and we found the kids willing to join rather quickly.
During the project, the kids participated in all the activities organized by Nornickel in Chita
In the evenings, the kids gathered together in Nornickel’s office to play board games
Kids excited to make VR glasses and attend workshops
– What activities have you organized for the kids?
– We have organized over a dozen activities, including community service, like garbage cleanup, educational and entertainment events. We did sightseeing tours around Chita, playground workouts and park walks. We participated in May-day hikes and City Anniversary celebrations: drove to the square, ate ice cream and watched artists perform.
We also opened a book club where kids first read the books and then we discussed them together. They mainly chose books on the school program because why not mix studies and pleasure?! On the one hand, it’s about a live conversation, debate, and jokes; on the other hand, it’s an opportunity to acquire new knowledge that will come in handy at school.
In our office, we played board games after work. Kids got so excited that they forgot about their mealtimes. It was fun for everyone.
We also opened a book club where kids first read the books and then we discussed them together. They mainly chose books on the school program because why not mix studies and pleasure?! On the one hand, it’s about a live conversation, debate, and jokes; on the other hand, it’s an opportunity to acquire new knowledge that will come in handy at school.
In our office, we played board games after work. Kids got so excited that they forgot about their mealtimes. It was fun for everyone.
– How did you oversee what the children were doing when not engaged in the activities?
– We got assistance from the parents who we’ve talked to and explained our goals. We’ve invited a psychologist to speak with both kids and their parents. Each child had an assigned supervisor on the volunteer team who kept track of the sports activities and tutored courses on the student’s weekly schedule. In the parent WhatsApp chat, we got updated on everything that the child did during the day.
And the kids themselves sent photos and screenshots of what they did and the places they’ve been at. They got points for each useful action completed without a gadget. For example, walk 10 thousand steps, send in the screenshot from a step counter and get 10 points. Same thing with our activities, training sessions and tutored courses.
We did not force or forbid anyone to do anything. The kids did everything voluntarily and with enthusiasm. We only got positive feedback and words of gratitude from the parents.
And the kids themselves sent photos and screenshots of what they did and the places they’ve been at. They got points for each useful action completed without a gadget. For example, walk 10 thousand steps, send in the screenshot from a step counter and get 10 points. Same thing with our activities, training sessions and tutored courses.
We did not force or forbid anyone to do anything. The kids did everything voluntarily and with enthusiasm. We only got positive feedback and words of gratitude from the parents.
– How long did the project last and what was the result?
– The project ran for almost two months throughout the end of spring and early summer. All the kids cut their screen time from 14 to 2 hours a day. And even these two hours were spent to call their parents or visit the school’s web page to check homework assignments. I myself noticed the positive changes as my own son Artem participated in the project. He began to get better grades and got back into sports after a long break.
– Do you plan to continue the Recipient Unavailable project?
– We would love to get a new group of kids and involve more schools. But this will take a team of like-minded ardent and committed enthusiasts, passionate about what they do, who love children and have the time to invest in them. So, I am waiting for new members to join the team and continue our efforts.
– How did Nornickel help in the project?
– First and foremost, they provided financial assistance. We are very careful with the money we spend planning our activities in the most cost-effective way. Why would we pay for a gym when we have plenty of outdoor playgrounds in town? We even managed to save some money that can be spent on other helpful activities.
Nornickel also organizes many educational events offering insightful and actionable information. They host conferences for volunteers from all over the country to help us share our experience and expertise.
Nornickel also organizes many educational events offering insightful and actionable information. They host conferences for volunteers from all over the country to help us share our experience and expertise.
– What other volunteer projects did you do?
– On behalf of Nornickel, we helped in landscaping the Sukhotino ethnic theme park in Chita. In 2023, it was registered as a specially protected natural area. Its development had just kicked off. Sukhotino features the Titovskaya Sopka mountain massif where camp sites of Neanderthals from more than 60,000 years ago have been found. So, the theme park is of scientific interest for archeological excavations.
Together with Olga Perova’s team Dauria, we put up benches and garbage bins at the top of the massif for people to enjoy the beautiful view of the forest and Ingoda river from the highest point in the city.
Together with Olga Perova’s team Dauria, we put up benches and garbage bins at the top of the massif for people to enjoy the beautiful view of the forest and Ingoda river from the highest point in the city.
– How do you personally benefit from volunteering?
– Volunteering is a way for me to switch to a different activity and shift focus from the job. But most importantly, it is fulfilling to volunteer your energy, love and support to the people who need it and your own home town. I have been a volunteer for a long time now, and everyone knows me in Chita. People bring in clothes, yarn and old things and I find new uses for them. Other volunteers knit mittens, scarves and snoods from the yarn, remake clothing and give them to the needy.
Even when I’m at work, I continue to do volunteering. A lot of clothing items get written off at the plant. So I agreed with management that overalls and coats would be sent to the retirees living in the villages of our district instead of disposal. I also take out scissors, thermometers, cotton, bandages and other non-perishables from expired medical kits and pass them to those who need them through volunteers.
Sometimes I ask myself: “Vasilina, are you sure you need all this?” But the next day I continue to do the same thing. I grew up in the Soviet times. We were taught to respect the elderly, be kind to the younger ones and always offer a helping hand. This is the way my parents raised me and that has shaped my life. I love my home country, the people and company I work for!
Even when I’m at work, I continue to do volunteering. A lot of clothing items get written off at the plant. So I agreed with management that overalls and coats would be sent to the retirees living in the villages of our district instead of disposal. I also take out scissors, thermometers, cotton, bandages and other non-perishables from expired medical kits and pass them to those who need them through volunteers.
Sometimes I ask myself: “Vasilina, are you sure you need all this?” But the next day I continue to do the same thing. I grew up in the Soviet times. We were taught to respect the elderly, be kind to the younger ones and always offer a helping hand. This is the way my parents raised me and that has shaped my life. I love my home country, the people and company I work for!
Photos provided by Vasilina Kornilova
February, 2025
February, 2025
2025-03-06 17:30
Social
Chita
Personal experience