Creators of the Atmosphere: final volunteer appreciation ceremony held at the National Centre RUSSIA

---

The final volunteer appreciation ceremony was held on 26 December at the National Centre RUSSIA. The event summed up the results of the year, during which volunteers made an invaluable contribution to the work of the National Centre RUSSIA. A total of 137 volunteers received awards in five categories.

From the very first day of the volunteer programme, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation has been actively involved in supporting the National Centre RUSSIA. During the ceremony, employees of the National Centre RUSSIA were presented with letters of appreciation from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

"For me, it is always a great honour to be at the National Centre RUSSIA and to take part in a volunteer appreciation ceremony. The run-up to the New Year feels especially festive. I would like to thank each and every one of you who helps to do good deeds and who puts your heart into this work, because without such inner dedication it would simply be impossible. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to our partners at the National Centre RUSSIA, who support us throughout the year. We are particularly pleased that so many of our students come here as volunteers, because this is a unique space that fills you with the energy of creation every time you visit. In every moment, you can feel the strength, power and grandeur of this centre. We very much hope that our student volunteers will continue to be part of it in the future, both in Moscow and in the regions. Doing good is both an honour and a joy," said the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Olga Petrova.

In the "Breakthrough of the Year" category, the awards were presented by the Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Natalia Virtuozova. The honorary awards were given to volunteers who stood out most prominently during the year and became part of the core team of the Volunteer Centre.

"The National Centre RUSSIA is a space filled with an atmosphere of love. It is you, the volunteers, who create this atmosphere for our guests. Thank you. I know that everything you do comes from the heart, and because of this, real miracles happen here. You are always ready to give advice, offer help, provide support, or sometimes simply smile or take a photograph. You are constantly alongside our visitors, and no one knows them better than you do," said Natalia Virtuozova.

In the "Guides" category, volunteers who helped create content and published materials about the National Centre RUSSIA on their personal social media pages were honoured on stage. The awards were presented by the Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Anastasia Zvyagina.

"One and a half thousand people, more than five thousand shifts, twenty-eight thousand hours — behind these dry figures lies time that you could have devoted to yourselves, but instead chose to give to others. When we speak about the National Centre RUSSIA, we often mean large-scale projects, significant events and ambitious goals. Today, I would like to say that the foundation of all this, its living force, is you. Everyone who, without expecting anything in return and guided by the call of the heart, gave their time, talent and warmth to others. Thank you for this work and for your dedication. Our space will always be open to you. I would also like to express my special thanks to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and personally to the Deputy Minister, Olga Viktorovna Petrova, for her invaluable contribution to the development of the National Centre RUSSIA and for our joint work on an important educational and cultural mission. Thanks to you, students from 26 universities have joined our volunteer programme," said Anastasia Zvyagina, Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA.

During the ceremony, winners were also recognised in the categories "Collectors", "Power of Unity" and "Soul of the Team".

As a token of gratitude, the volunteers presented Natalia Virtuozova and Anastasia Zvyagina with a toy lion cub, recalling the main symbol of the National Centre RUSSIA — the majestic lion.

As early as tomorrow, 27 December, volunteers will continue their work at the multi-genre performance "Morozko".

A creative gift for the participants of the event was presented by a volunteer of the National Centre RUSSIA, a semi-finalist of season six of the NTV show "You Are Super!" and a participant in the show "A Million for a Dream", Anastasia Parshina, who performed the song "Winter in the Heart".