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