Konstantin Khabensky at the RUSSIA EXPO: "One should remain a child at heart as long as possible"

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On June 1, at the International RUSSIA EXPO in Pavilion No. 34 "Russian Space: Creating the Future" a motivational discussion "The Mowgli Generation: Doing Good Together" was held. Actor, founder of the Charity Foundation, People's Artist of Russia Konstantin Khabensky spoke to the gathered schoolchildren and participants of the Movement of the First about his foundation, the famous charity play and the important role of charity not only for the beneficiaries, but also for the person who does good. The meeting was held as part of the Movements of the First Festival.

"For me children are quite independent individuals who stand at the very beginning of understanding, wonder, cognition of the world in which we live. And the longer we preserve this child within ourselves, the longer we continue to be surprised by the people we meet, architecture, painting, music, nature — the better. We should never be afraid to remain naive and to be surprised. This is a direct road to longevity, to peace, to love," Konstantin Khabensky expressed his attitude to the concept of childhood and children.

He emphasized that the phrase may seem trite, but in fact there is nothing more valuable than human life. When you have to regularly communicate in person with people who are on the edge of life, with their parents, when you manage to defeat the disease and get the opportunity to smile, to go to the skating rink, to the theater — this phrase manifests itself in a very different way.

"This is a very simple story, which is called helping others. Since 2008, our fund has been helping children and young adults with oncological diseases of the brain and spinal cord to receive treatment in time," said Konstantin Khabensky.

Speaking about the charity play, which is performed on the stage of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater, Konstantin Khabensky noted that a whole army of young children have already gone through the performance "The Mowgli Generation", which this year celebrated its 10th anniversary: "The kids on stage give their energy and talent, sacrificing personal gain and interests, to perform a play whose proceeds go to their peers. In terms of numbers, it amounts to a significant sum. But even more importantly, the peers who participate in the play are visited backstage by those they helped, who say, 'Thank you for your help.' Believe me, there is nothing more valuable than that 'thank you'!".

"The Mowgli Generation" is a joint charity project of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre and the Konstantin Khabensky Charitable Foundation. More than 120 young artists take part in the performance, and together with them Konstantin Khabensky, Timur Rodriguez, Polina Gagarina, Danila Kozlovsky, Katerina Shpitsa, as well as Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre artists Elizaveta Ermakova, Dmitry Sumin and Daniil Feofanov take the stage. The production not only continues the traditions of the Moscow Art Theater, discovering new names, but is also a charitable project involving the audience in helping others. Everyone who buys a ticket to the performance becomes part of a big and important cause — supporting children and young adults with brain and spinal cord tumors — the wards of the Khabensky Foundation.