Support and the strength of family: development of the "SVOya Sila" project was discussed at the National Centre RUSSIA

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On May 20, a solemn graduation ceremony for the participants of the federal social development project "SVOya Sila" ("Own Power") took place in Moscow. The event was organised by the Russian society Znanie in its own studio. Over the course of seven months, the participants completed a specialised programme aimed at developing skills in psychological and social counselling. The knowledge and competencies they gained will help them not only build their own path during a difficult stage of life but also support those facing challenging situations — including participants of the special military operation and their family members. After the ceremony, the graduates attended the forum at the National Centre RUSSIA.

The first cohort of the project brought together 100 people from seven regions of the country — close relatives of fallen participants of the special military operation. As part of the seven-month free educational course "Fundamentals of Psychological Counselling in the Context of Modern Russia," developed by Tomsk State University and the Moscow School of Practical Psychology, the participants studied methods of psychological self-help, techniques of social counselling, and peer-to-peer support formats. The graduates were welcomed by the author of the initiative, founder and leader of the project, and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Mari El to the President of the Russian Federation, Olga Badma-Khalgayeva.

"We witnessed how an idea turned into a real project that is already showing excellent results. Our participants have done tremendous work: they not only learned the fundamentals of psychology but also mastered self-help practices. They have changed — they now know how to manage emotions, set goals, and inspire others by their example. Their personal transformation has become a model of a new attitude toward oneself and life. Today they are not just graduates — they are mentors, supporting the second cohort and those around them. They have found their strength. And this is the result not only of their personal effort, but also of our team, the educators of the Moscow School of Practical Psychology, and the curators and psychologist-moderators in the regions. The project has proven its effectiveness, and we see great potential for scaling it. 'SVOya Sila' can and should reach new regions, because many people need this kind of support," emphasised Olga Badma-Khalgayeva. 

During the event, the participants enjoyed performances by artists from the Central Academic Theatre of the Russian Army, as well as parting words from co-organisers, partners, and project curators. They highlighted the importance of each participant’s work and the value of their personal example for those going through difficult life circumstances.

After the official ceremony, the participants attended a forum at the National Centre RUSSIA. The moderator of the panel discussion was Russian television host Yulia Baranovskaya. During the panel session Deputy Head of the Presidential Directorate for Social Projects Alexander Zhuravsky; Permanent Representative of the Republic of Mari El to the President of the Russian Federation Olga Badma-Khalgayeva; Deputy Chairman of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation Sergei Vylegzhanin; and Head of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation "Committee of Families of the Fatherland’s Warriors," member of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, Yulia Belekhova discussed systematic support for participants of the special military operation and their families, the role of the "SVOya Sila" project in adaptation and resocialisation, as well as priorities for further employment assistance.

The second discussion focused on the regional outcomes of the "SVOya Sila" project. Deputy Governor of Tomsk Region and Head of the Tomsk Region Office at the Government of the Russian Federation Nikolai Slepnev; Deputy Director of the Federal Centre of Employment Competences under the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation Yekaterina Merkulova; Deputy Director General of the Russian society Znanie Irina Karikh; and Senator of the Russian Federation and Member of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs Oleg Golov shared examples of regional support initiatives and highlighted the importance of each participant’s personal contribution to the project’s growth and expansion across more regions. 

"Today it is more important than ever to provide comprehensive support to the families of our heroes. Parents, wives, and children have become a true source of strength for our servicemen, yet they themselves often need help. They face challenges for which they are not always prepared: how to communicate with someone who has gone through a traumatic experience, where to seek psychological support, and how to receive assistance from the state. That is why we are launching a large-scale project specifically for the family members of participants in the special military operation. We have already planned masterclasses and meetings with specialised experts. Each project participant will also have the opportunity to join online webinars and access educational content remotely," said Irina Karikh.

The forum concluded with a creative meeting featuring Milena Avimskaya, Director of the Central Academic Theatre of the Russian Army and Deputy of the Moscow City Duma; People’s Artist of the RSFSR Alina Pokrovskaya; and actors Lyubov Balenko and Andrei Kochinov from the same theatre. The experts discussed the significance of military art in boosting the morale of soldiers and shared their memories of performances for servicemen in the special military operation zone.

The project partners included the Institute of Modern Professional Education, the Federal Centre of Employment Competences of the Ministry of Labour of Russia, and the Russian society Znanie. The educational program’s partners were the National Centre RUSSIA, the Representative Office of the Republic of Mari El, the Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation "Committee of Families of Warriors of the Fatherland," the Central Academic Theatre of the Russian Army, and "360 Group".