"Life is given for good deeds": the best volunteers honoured at the National Centre RUSSIA
The National Centre RUSSIA continues to attract volunteers of all ages and social backgrounds. On 17 October, it held its traditional ceremony of appreciation for the most active volunteers in the programme, which ran from April to October 2025. In total, 52 volunteers received letters of appreciation.
"For the National Centre RUSSIA, this evening is truly special. It is filled with gratitude, warmth and immense pride for all of you — the people who, over the past 18 months, have made so much possible and helped write the Centre’s story. From April to October, 250 people took part in the volunteer programme. You completed 2,550 shifts, welcomed guests, and helped organise major events — including the Wedding Festival, the 'Inventing the Future' Symposium and many others. You created an unforgettable atmosphere. Thank you for your dedication, your care for people and your faith in Russia. May your experience at the National Centre RUSSIA help you develop leadership, find inspiration and build inner strength," said Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Anastasia Zvyagina.
She added that preparations for the New Year have already begun. The Centre will host a new exposition and a major festive programme featuring the Ded Moroz Festival, creative workshops and the production of 'Morozko': "So we invite you to keep working with us".
Before the awards were presented, a video message from volunteers across the country — from the Kurgan, Novosibirsk, Sverdlovsk, Murmansk and Kirov regions, as well as from the Primorye branch of the National Centre RUSSIA — was shown.
The first category recognised volunteers who had completed the largest number of shifts. Awards went to Lyudmila Tsingova, Tatyana Khromova, Lyudmila Savinykh, Yelena Medvedeva, Anna Chernyshova, Irina Panfilova, Svetlana Ponomaryova, Elza Zarubina, Ulyana Golubovskaya, and Lyubov Yefremova.
"I remember the concert dedicated to 9 May. We were welcoming veterans, and one of the groups we accompanied included a grandfather from Central Asia who was nearly 100 years old. He could hardly walk. Of course, we met him and helped him to his seat. After the event, he thanked us for our help and said he really enjoyed the concert," said Svetlana Ponomaryova.
In the category "Uniting Hearts", volunteers who helped organise the All-Russian Wedding Festival were recognised. Deputy Head of the Youth Projects Department at the National Centre RUSSIA, Sergei Sokolov, presented certificates to Yelena Stegachyova, Vera Vakhayeva, Nikol Sarkisyants, Larisa Ivanova, Tatyana Sviridyuk, Svetlana Popova, Valentina Matveychuk, and Alexander Kuzin.
"I was responsible for a very important part — the one about creating families and keeping their love alive. It’s an emotional time for me, as my wife and I are expecting a baby, so it’s doubly special to present awards in this category. We are truly grateful to you, and I’m sure you can feel that. It comes from everyone on our team at the National Centre RUSSIA," said Sergei Sokolov.
The next category, "Forward to the Future", recognised volunteers who assisted guests of the International Symposium "Inventing the Future". The awards went to Alla Kvacheva, Milana Nikitina, Irina Ilyina, Vera Isayeva, and Anastasia Leonova.
"Recently, I volunteered at the International Symposium. I had the opportunity to use my English and met many people from abroad. I still keep in touch with a guy from Saudi Arabia. I’m very grateful to the National Centre RUSSIA for the connections and friendships I’ve made here. I’m in love with this place," said Milana Nikitina.
Head of the Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism Department at the National Centre RUSSIA, Sergei Artamonov, presented awards to the winners in the "Multipotentials" category. Eleven volunteers were recognised for their exceptional contribution — those who took part in the largest number of events at the National Centre RUSSIA. Certificates of appreciation were presented to Marina Pavlova, Galina Igumnova and Yury Igumnov, Viktoria Sokolova and Kseniya Sokolova, Svetlana Frolova, Natalia Balan, Yelena Bocharova, Natalia Go, Antonina Ivankova, and Dmitry Bogdanov.
"It has become a good tradition to say thank you. This is already the fifth ceremony this year. More than a hundred events are held here annually, and recently two major flagship projects took place. I want to thank everyone who constantly supports us. You are always there to help and leave a part of your heart at our events," said Sergei Artamonov.
The final highlight of the ceremony was the "Soul of Russia" category. Certificates of appreciation for their significant contribution to the development and implementation of the volunteer programme of the National Centre RUSSIA were awarded to Anna Udavenko, Valentina Tabachkova, Yulia Vlasova, Yelena Samarkina, Mikhail Yermakov, Maria Panferova, Larisa Lebedeva, Anna Samsonenkova, Irina Martynova, Violetta Tyutyunik, Daniil Kambiev, Tatyana Kurnina, Anastasia Shchurina, Tatyana Gadomskaya, and Kristina Prusova.
The awards in this category were presented by Head of the Youth Policy Department at the National Centre RUSSIA, Ilya Yurchishin. "The National Centre functions like a living organism, and its heart is our volunteers. You are always where its soul is formed. Thank you for your dedication."
The volunteer programme at the National Centre RUSSIA brings together school pupils, students, senior citizens and young professionals. Open recruitment programmes are held during school holidays as well as for special in-house projects.
The National Centre RUSSIA continues to expand its volunteer initiatives and plans to attract even more participants. Volunteers are an integral part of the Centre — its driving force. They assist at events, organise activities and do everything possible to make every visitor’s experience comfortable and memorable.
Event photobank
The event brought together more than 700 participants from 89 regions of the country.
