I. Metshin: “Let the good waves from Kazan reach every corner of the country”

(KZN.RU, December 15, Ekaterina Vislavskaya). The gala-concert of the X Republican festival of artistic creativity of people with disabilities “Let's join hands, friends!” was held today at the Puppet Theater “Ekiyat”. Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, congratulated the winners of the festival.

This year, the festival gathered participants from 17 special correctional schools, orphanages, and boarding schools in Kazan, Zelenodolsky, Arsky, Laishevsky, Menzelinsky, Nurlatsky, Pestrechinsky, and Sabinsky regions of Tatarstan.

The fair was opened in the foyer of the theater with crafts, made by the students of the Kazan school №76 for children with disabilities, the Kazan school №142 for children with disabilities, the Kazan boarding school № 11 for orphans and children left without parental care, with limited health opportunities, and other educational institutions of the city. Ilsur Metshin examined the entire exposition and photographed with the masters.

The gala-concert started with a vocal performance of the children from Kazan and Pestretsy. In the future, collectives from different parts of Tatarstan performed with dramatized and folklore pieces, dances on wheelchairs, gesture singing.

“I want to start with words of admiration for those children who come to this stage for 10 years. It is very important for us that there are no restrictions on the realization of talents for children and adults who have limited opportunities”, Ilsur Metshin addressed the festival participants from the stage. “We will do our best in the city and the republic so that your talents bright on this stage and far beyond”.

He especially noted the role of Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, who supported this festival so that it became a regional one. A special contribution is made by teachers who help children discover their talents. The Mayor also encouraged the children to participate in the All-Russian cultural-charity festival “Good Wave”, headed by Igor Krutoy.

“Let this be a good tradition! Let these good waves reach every corner of our beautiful republic and a wonderful country”, said the Mayor of Kazan.

During the gala-concert, the organizers told about the special part of the program: the realizing of the wishes of the festival participants. 13-year-old Andrey Gorshunov from the Sabinsky region dreamed to visit the Orthodox church, and 11-year-old Jalil Khamitov from Kazan wanted to visit the Kazan State Theater of the Young Spectator. Their dreams come true thanks to the “Let's join hands, friends!”.

The interpretation of the presenters’ words was conducted from the stage especially for the hearing-impaired. Stars of the Tatar stage, such as Salavat Fatkhetdinov, Guzel Urazova, Filyus Kagirov, and others, came to support talented children.

The festival was made in 2008 on the basis of two correctional schools of the Sovetsky district. Today, Rustem Gafarov, the head of the Sovetsky district of Kazan, and Leyla Fazleeva, an assistant to the President of the RT, who stood at the forefront of “Let's join hands, friends!”, visited the gala-concert. Tatiana Larionova, the deputy head of the State Council of the RT, Elmira Zaripova, the Minister of the Employment and Social Protection of the RT, Rafis Burganov, the minister of Education and Science, Ilsur Khadiullin, the head of the Education Department of Kazan, and other representatives of state and municipal authorities, institutions, public organizations also attended the event.