Letting go of stress and opening up to the world: how volunteering at the National Centre RUSSIA changes lives

---

Helping people, making new friends and discovering the best in oneself — this is what being a volunteer at the National Centre RUSSIA is about. On Volunteer Day, 5 December, student Alina Morukova spoke about her journey.

Alina Morukova became a volunteer while studying at the Kosygin Russian State University. The university often hosts various events, and Alina frequently helped with them.

"I liked being at the centre of things — accompanying guests and giving directions. So when a link with an invitation to the National Centre RUSSIA was posted in our student group, I naturally wanted to give it a try," Alina recalls.

The National Centre became home

Alina remembers her first day as a volunteer at the National Centre RUSSIA with delight. Excellent organisation, wonderful people around her and impressive spaces. Within two days, she realised she would stay for a long time. "The National Centre became like home to me," she admits.

Since then, Alina has worked with the organisers of the SHUM Prize, volunteered on National Unity Day and taken part in projects of Rosmolodezh.

Every day is full

As a volunteer, Alina is usually responsible for welcoming and seating guests. She jokingly calls herself a human navigator. At times, she also has to go on stage — bringing out microphones and even helping with award presentations.

"The tasks are set for us by the managers, whom I really love — they coordinate us, conduct briefings with the organisers, and allocate us to different points. Every day is very full and a lot of fun. And during lunch, by the way, they feed us really well — you can rest, meet people and chat with the other volunteers," Alina notes.

Of course, there are challenges as well. Alina admits that unexpected situations do occur, especially at large-scale events. But thanks to the support of friends and the professionalism of the managers, everything gets resolved and ends well.

"On National Unity Day, I had to bring a microphone to Sergei Shoigu. I was given clear instructions, but I did not expect a large group of professional journalists to enter the hall with him and push me aside. To be honest, I was a bit taken aback. But luckily, I reacted quickly and did not fail the task. Now I remember it with a laugh," she says.

Volunteering makes you better

Alina says that being a volunteer at the National Centre RUSSIA has changed her in many ways, giving her confidence and bringing out her best qualities.

"I used to be quite a closed person — I was afraid to approach people and avoided conflict at my own expense. Now I no longer freeze in difficult situations. And most importantly, I have become more open to people and to the world. I still have a lot to learn, but I already feel that I have become stronger and more confident," she says.

Alina is convinced that volunteering at the National Centre RUSSIA has taught her to cope with stress, not to fear new tasks, and to notice and discover new and interesting things in herself and in the world around her.