The Roscongress Foundation`s Social Platform

Over the last three years, awareness and sustainable normality have become a new trend in the lives of the Russian public. According to United Minds, 25% of respondents understand sustainable development as creation of favourable conditions for everyone, while another 21% see it as sustainable production by companies of goods and services. People recognize their responsibility for forming both the economic and the social sphere. For instance, during the pandemic years, a stratum took shape of “eco-evangelists” who save water (57%), hand in batteries for recycling (37%) and sort their rubbish (34%). 57% of buyers in the world state that they are prepared to pay more for environmentally clean products. In Russia, the figures is 86%. There has also been an increase in the proportion of the Russian public who regularly given to charity (10%) or engage in volunteering (16%). In parallel, funds and companies are including sustainable development agenda among their employees, beneficiaries and residents of cities: they hold eco-habit marathons, launch social marketing campaigns, volunteer events and others. And, according to Accenture, it is consumers’ demand expectations that constitute the main factor behind sustainable development in one of two companies. Give the current economic instability and reduction in resources, however, consumption priorities, values and models might change substantially. Will the new economic and political challenges cause Russia’s people and organizations to reject sustainable practices or have these already become part of normal DNA?How do businesses and NPOs introduce responsible environmental and social practices into people’s lives? How do people in Russia choose organizations and brands worthy of their trust and support? What new forms of involvement could responsible companies and charitable foundations offer people apart from financial support?

Moderator
Aleksandra Boldyreva, Executive Director, Donors Forum Association

Aleksandra Boldyreva

Executive Director, Donors Forum Association

Speakers
Irina Bakradze, President, Podsolnukh Foundation
Faina Zakharova, President, Life Line Charity Foundation for Saving Seriously Ill Children
Irina Kurskaya, PR-Director, VOICE (Cosmopolitan)
Ekaterina Levshina, Member of the Board, Amway "Responsible for the Future" Charitable Foundation
Nikita Martynov, Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Assembly St. Petersburg
Artem Metelev, Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Youth Policy; Head, Platform DOBRO.RF
Igor Sukhotin, Director of the Social Policy Department of OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel

Faina Zakharova

President, Life Line Charity Foundation for Saving Seriously Ill Children

A public figure, an expert in the non-commercial sector, the President of Life Line Charity Foundation for salvation of severely ill children. Zakharova has been awarded an honorable distinction “For Benevolence”. The above mentioned state reward was presented to her by Mr. Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, in the Kremlin in 2013. Faina Yakovlevna is a member of the Public Council in RF Health Ministry. Zakharova has been a founder and an inspirational figure for establishing the Russian branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Russia). She has guided a number of special CAF Russia programmes. Besides, she was involved in arranging the first conference “Charity in Russia” (2005). In 2014 Faina Zakharova was one of the founders of the Association of Fundraisers. She also deserves credit for running “The Year of Charity in Russia” (2006). Apart from that, she has been the author of a number of successful as well as efficient charity events such as “A red nose – a kind heart!”, the first in Russia charity “Running Race 5275”, “Someone’s life – not a trifle!” and others. In 2017 Faina Zakharova was included in the top 75 list of the most respected people in the country possessing a high moral and professional authority according to The Russian Reporter Magazine. Faina Zakharova is keen on travelling and is interested in modern arts.

Artem Metelev

Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Youth Policy; Head, Platform DOBRO.RF

Was born on August 11, 1993 in Moscow.
In 2015 he graduated from the State University of Management, specializing in "Organization Management".
Since 2016 he has been leading the working group on the preparation of the Concept for the Development of Cooperation among the CIS Countries to Support the Youth Volunteer Movement.
The aim of this work is to form high-quality partnership between public organizations of the CIS countries for the purpose of their friendship and cooperation. At the moment, the Concept is developed and is at the approval of the Heads of Governments of the CIS member states.
Since March 2016 to present he heads the Association of Volunteer Centers, holding the position of the Chairman of the Council.
Metelev Artem P. is the Deputy Head of the Directorate for the Year
of Volunteer in the Russian Federation.
The high appreciation of Artem P. Metelev’s contribution was expressed by his appointment as a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation by the Decree of the President of Russia in March 2017.