The work of the forum was attended by Denis Pushilin, Head of Donetsk People’s Republic; Mikhail Kushakov, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science; Alexander Gromakov, Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism; Dmitry Kovyrshin, First Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism. High-level delegation from the Russian Federation was also among the guests. It included Oleg Ivanov, Head of the Main Administration of the Smolensk Region for Youth Affairs and Civic-Patriotic Education; Alexey Terletsky, Head of the Smolensk Regional Organization of the All-Russian Public Organization “Russian Union of Afghanistan Veterans”; Pavel Massov, Chairman of the Central Board of the All-Russian Public Youth Patriotic Organization “Nasledie”, member of the Central Board of thereof; Eduard Loginov, member of the Public Chamber of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Region of Ugra; Vladimir S. Bikin, Deputy Head of the “Liza Alert” Search and Rescue Squad; Sergey P. Guzev, Head of the group of companies named “City of Dreams”; Arkady Berezynets, Director of the Charity Foundation for the Promotion of Cultural Heritage “Prodvizhenie”. The delegation from the Russian Federation participated in the forum under the guidance of the Russian Center.

The forum provided the participants with workshop sessions, and educational platforms. Volunteers from all over the Republic presented and defended their own projects, which were diverse: from helping children to forming the civic position of youth.

The second day of the forum began with the action named “Landing of Good Deeds”. The first team of volunteers “landed” in the geriatric ward of the hospital No 1 and pleased the elderly with their attention. The neuralgic department became a platform for the work of the second team. Two more teams worked in the streets of Gorlovka. At the end of the landing, a presentation was held to defend the work of each team, which was evaluated by experts and spectators.

During the solemn closing of the forum special attention was given to summing up the results and future prospects. In particular, volunteer movement of GIFL “Student Heart” announced new directions of work for the next year. Namely, the work of the institute as a platform for the qualifying round of the All-Russian Competition with International Participation “My Initiative in Education”, which will be held as part of the implementation of the current cooperation agreement between GIFL and the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia (St. Petersburg, Russian Federation).

In addition, next year will see the intensifying of the educational work on donation and donor volunteering and the implementation of a new project – “Book Joys” for children of different ages.

The guests from the Russian Federation noted the high level of organization and holding of the event and expressed hope for further close cooperation. The signing of an agreement on cultural cooperation between GIFL and the All-Russian Public Youth Patriotic Organization “Nasledie” (Moscow, Russian Federation) was the first step towards mutual relationship.

Svetlana Kochetova, the rector of GIFL, warmly thanked all the participants and noted that the undoubted success of the forum was due to the joint efforts of many people concerned and partner organizations.

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