Volunteer Team of the Faculty of Distance Learning Participates in the IX Charity Sports Festival "On Equal Terms"

On September 19, at Vorobyovy Gory, the Rehabilitation Center "Preodolenie" and the Charitable Foundation "Nezavisimost" , with the support of the Moscow Government, held the IX Charity Sports Festival "On Equal Terms." The "Preodolenie" Center is the oldest practice base for students of the Faculty of Distance Learning at MSUPE.

The faculty's team is a cohort of the most active bachelor's and master's students, representing almost all years of study. Together with the practice supervisor Lada Anatolyevna Alexandrova, they took part as volunteers in this celebration of sport and inclusion.

At the festival, our volunteers became the face of the event; they handled many very responsible tasks – greeting and registering competition participants, giving each a starter kit, and creating a festive mood for everyone. And one of the representatives of our team could not resist – she herself ran one of the offered distances together with the guests of the event.

The feedback from the student volunteers best describes the celebration they were fortunate to become creators and participants of.

Margarita Enina, group 25DO-P(b/v-u)PPN-1:

The "On Equal Terms" festival left the warmest impressions! I had never taken part as a volunteer in such events and did not really know what to expect. In the end, the time flew by unnoticed, and we managed to blend into the atmosphere, communicate with participants and other volunteers. I liked that everyone ran together, regardless of their abilities. And that at the finish line absolutely everyone was met with great support. I was very touched by how the participants supported each other during the races and, especially, at the very end. Thank you very much for the opportunity to be part of such wonderful events!

Anastasia Surkova, group 26DO-P(b/v)PPN-1:

The "On Equal Terms" festival is an amazing celebration of victory over physical ailments, inner fears, and barriers! I am in awe of the participants of this project who, despite difficulties, came, showing enormous will to live and desire to win, and took part in the wheelchair race (and not only), in other activities. This socially significant event is also intended to break public stereotypes concerning people with disabilities, which is very important.

For me, it is a great happiness to take part in the festival as a volunteer! I love helping and being useful! For me, volunteering is the most important part of life. "On Equal Terms" is one of the brightest volunteer events I have ever participated in. I am glad that it was this festival that started my "volunteer" student life!

P.S.: I also love breaking stereotypes. I am a blind volunteer. And I believe that there are no barriers to helping others. I would very much like to promote inclusive volunteering. Many thanks to the organizers for such a valuable opportunity to be a volunteer ON EQUAL TERMS!

Marina Ivanova, group 23DO-P(b/v-u)PPN-1:

On a sunny and cool autumn morning, we arrived a couple of hours before the start to become part of the organizing team, in which there is no division into healthy people and people with disabilities. The number of those wishing to take part in the race was incredible. The participants were absolutely different, and they were united by more than just the desire to take part in the competition. To be equal does not mean helping the weak, giving up a seat, or opening a door. To be equal is not condescension and intrusive help. What matters is equal interaction between a person with and without disabilities: being in a common environment, doing something together. Today I became part of something bigger and shared the responsibility of our society in creating equal opportunities for those whose physical capabilities are different.

Maria Boldyreva, group 24DO-P(b/v-u)PPN-1:

I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to gain volunteer experience at the "On Equal Terms" festival. Every event from the "Preodolenie" center, whether practice or volunteer experience, helps me see the world wider than I saw it before. Communication with people with different health conditions always opens up new opportunities for growth – both as professionals and simply as people with open hearts. Volunteering at the festival was filled with communication and even allowed me to take part in an 870-meter race. I hope our example will inspire other students to similar activities.

Tatyana Ignatenko, group 25DO-P(b/v-u)PPN-1:

This was my first experience of participating as a volunteer. The "On Equal Terms" festival seemed to me a wonderful opportunity to gain new experience. Besides, in my "ordinary" life I usually do not encounter people with health conditions. I caught myself thinking that the name of the festival – "On Equal Terms" – perfectly reflects my inner feeling: I saw incredibly sincere and strong people for whom these conditions ceased to be a barrier to joy. I really liked the atmosphere of universal support, empathy, and encouragement, especially at the finish line, where every arriving person was greeted with sincere applause!

Elena Titkova, group 26DO-P(m/o)DT-1:

Participating in the "On Equal Terms" marathon as a volunteer demonstrated to me the resilience of people with disabilities. Their unity, friendliness, and smiles struck me with their sincerity. The participants were glad to see each other, everyone supported each other and actively communicated. Festivals of this kind give people with disabilities the opportunity to feel not alone, to lead an active lifestyle, and to communicate on equal terms.

Oksana Lysenko, group 26DO-P(m/o)DT-1:

It is generally believed that it is the psychologist who provides help and support to people in difficult life situations and/or with disabilities. Participating in events like the "On Equal Terms" marathon, communicating with patients and staff of the "Preodolenie" rehabilitation center, I would still argue about who is helping and supporting whom. Such a pervasive—I would say total—FRIEND-love, LIFE-love, HUMAN-love, as well as responsiveness, openness, self-irony, readiness to help, to support, to act together as a single whole—such a pervasive, total, shared-by-all state is rarely found anywhere.

I am very glad that I was invited to participate in such an event! I am very proud that I can belong to such a community and be of some use to it! Thank you!

Special thanks to Lada Anatolyevna Alexandrova for gathering, organizing, delivering us to the venue, and allowing us to become part of a wonderful event!