I. Metshin: “I believe that the forum will transfer the energy of words into the energy of deed”

(KZN.RU, November 30, Alsu Safina). The I Open Forum "Good Kazan: development of charity culture" started today in Kazan City Hall. Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan, said in his welcoming speech to the participants of the forum that he considers the forum as an opportunity to meet like-minded people, gain new knowledge, and discuss current problems and ways of their decision to turn the charity from particular cases in the complete culture.

Opening the forum, the Mayor of Kazan said that the "Good Kazan" is one of the 12 priorities of the city development and the most difficult to implement. Ilsur Metshin pointed out that Kazan is leading in different ratings in recent years. “It is extremely important to be a modern, comfortable, developing, comfortable city. But my dream is that Kazan could be rightfully called a kind city where quality of life would create a format of human relationships, when to smile to each other, to help others, to take care of the weak would not be a favor, but a way of life”, stressed the Mayor.

Relevance of the topic, which is being discussed today, is confirmed by the number of forum participants, said the Mayor. The number of charitable organizations and foundations, who take part in the forum, was more than it was originally planned. More than 500 people from all over Tatarstan signed up to participate in the discussion sites and master classes in the framework of the forum.

Ilsur Metshin noted that charity in Kazan has its own history and traditions: he remembered the names of Yakov Shamov Ivan Alafuzov, Apanaev merchants, and Asgat Galimzyanov.

According to the Mayor, today hundreds of Kazan citizens regularly participate in charitable activities. So, in September, good fairs have been held in parks and squares of the city, which was visited by 30 thousand of Kazan residents. 3.5 million rubles were collected for charitable projects. “Money is the second, the most important thing is an eagerness that we saw in the children and their parents”, said the Mayor. In addition, more than 15 thousand people are engaged in volunteer activities in the school and student volunteer centers, hospices, and hospitals. Ilsur Metshin noted companies and entrepreneurs, involved in charitable activities.

Ilsur Metshin marked that Kazan is committed to develop a culture of philanthropy in different sectors of the city life. For example, the network of interest clubs “Zhiznelub” is created in the city. Attention is paid to the younger generation as well. In September, all first-graders received “Diaries of good deeds” and this idea has found a great response from parents and children.

“We are not starting from scratch, but there is a long way”, assured Ilsur Metshin. “We see charities and organizations as our partners on the way to our goal. I would like to agree in advance of each role in this process: governments, businesses, volunteers, charitable and social organizations, and hear opinions of the forum participants on this subject”, said I. Metshin.

“We see the municipality role in creating conditions for the development of charity, we want to work together, but not instead of”, said the Mayor about the importance of collaboration in the framework of charitable projects.

He reminded that, together with charitable organizations, it was decided that the Internet platform for good deeds is necessary, and the service Dobro Mail.Ru became one. Ilsur Metshin gave the following intermediate results: for today, 7 Kazan charities have already proved to be reliable, and more than 19 thousand of Kazan citizens expressed the desire to help in this service. 14 charitable projects successfully implemented, donations, amounting to more than 1.5 million rubles, were collected. 361 people took part in charitable projects as volunteers. According to I. Metshin, the site will be more popular and effective in the future in terms of assistance to the needy.

Ilsur Metshin spoke about issues of trust funds, coverage of charity in the media.

He thanked the guests and experts, participating in the forum. “It's nice to take honorable people in Kazan, who are deeply in the subject, have a serious background is good deeds, and who are the faces of philanthropy in the country”, he marked, adding that all participants are willing to become their pupils.

“I believe that the forum will come closer to our dream of a good Kazan and transfer the energy of words into the energy of deed”, said I. Metshin in the conclusion of his speech.

Damir Fattakhov, the first deputy head of the Executive Committee, Elena Topoleva-Soldunova, the member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, director of the ANO “Agency for Social Information”, Lev Ambinder, the president of the “Rusfond”, a member of the Presidential Council on Civil Society and Human Rights, Natalia Pochinok, the rector of the Russian State Social University, Evgeny Gorkaev, the founder and general director of the “Development Group” company, the author of the “Dushevny Bazar”, Alexandra Babkina, the head of the service Dobro Mail.Ru, take part in the plenary session.

Before starting of the forum, visitors inspected the exhibition of charitable projects "Good Kazan".

Discussion sites will work today at the event: “Factors of charitable education in the education system”, “Role of media in philanthropy development”, “Volunteering as a charitable activity technology: motivation and support” and “Business and charity funds: cooperation for a common goal”.

Educational lectures for representatives of the funds will be held tomorrow, on the second day of the forum.