On August 26, on the sidelines of the V Forum of Cities of High Scientific and Technical Potential, organized by the Rosatom State Corporation, a living room of women leaders "Women for Sustainable Urban Development" was held, aimed at identifying best practices and exchanging experience on mechanisms for creating an ecosystem of social well-being in cities.
The V Forum of Cities traditionally brought together heads of cities, heads of city-forming enterprises, representatives of interested federal and regional executive authorities and expert-analytical centers, companies from leading industries.
During the forum, issues were discussed in five main areas: health, infrastructure, local communities, education and culture.
The moderators of the living room were: co-founder of the Foundation "Association of Women of the Nuclear Industry" Alexandra Ryabykh and Chairman of the Foundation's Committee on Regional Work Olga Golovikhina.
1. Track on Sustainable Development presented:
- Leyla Javadova, Head of Interaction with the authorities of TVEL JSC, spoke about successful practices of interaction between local communities and large businesses: achieving generally useful goals and effects, - "I want to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude for a meaningful conversation with an inspiring agenda! Of particular importance is that the participants and participants have a deep personal and professional interest, practice and ideas on the popular topic of sustainable development, are ready to make and make their creative contribution and a piece of their soul! I am sure that together we will succeed!».
- Elena Snezhko, Chief Expert on investment support and social policy of PJSC SIBUR Holding, coordinator of the Formula of Good Deeds program, spoke about social projects implemented by SIBUR on the ground - "Strong local communities and their leaders – heads of NGOs, volunteer projects, founders of SMB enterprises and social entrepreneurs are one of the key drivers of sustainable development of the city. Within the framework of the social investment program, we have been engaged in systematic support of communities for five years through grant competitions, educational programs, assistance in scaling initiatives and consider large businesses and communities partners in solving urban development problems. Of course, there are many women among the local leaders, including the ambassadors of our "Formula of Good Deeds" program, and our task is to help their further expert development, including through the formation of horizontal ties, the creation of platforms for communication and interaction."
2. Track "Volunteering and charity":
- Anna Zhigulskaya, Director of the Project Office for CSR and Internal Communications of Rosatom State Corporation, presented the activities of the Rosatom volunteer community;
«According to surveys, every fourth Russian is ready to become a volunteer, but only 15% participate in volunteer projects. The pandemic has become a powerful impetus for the development of volunteerism in Russia. People who responded to the global problem and started their volunteer activities a year ago continue to participate in new projects unrelated to the pandemic. At the same time, the "benefit to society" is not abstract, but is expressed in concrete performance indicators. Volunteers make a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the country and their region (according to the UN, in 2018 the total contribution of volunteers to world GDP was estimated at 2.4%)," comments Olga Golovikhina, Chairman of the Committee on Regional Work of the Foundation "Association of Women of the Nuclear Industry".
- Regina Yurieva, philanthropist, president of the charitable foundation spoke about the charity projects implemented under her leadership;
- Anna Shirokova, Chairman of Snezhinskaya City Public Organization for helping Children with DISABILITIES "Boomerang of Kindness" - Inclusive projects. Problems and solutions.
3. Track "Education":
- Maria Afonina, Vice–rector of the SENEZH Management Workshop of the Presidential platform "Russia is a Country of Opportunities", member of the Council of the Eurasian Women's Forum under the Federal Assembly of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, spoke about the "Woman Leader" program (federal and regional tracks);
«Within the framework of the living room, social projects and initiatives implemented by women of JSC were presented. It was nice to see the graduates of the educational program "Woman Leader" and to hear that the projects initiated on the program "Woman Leader" continue to live and develop after graduation. Communities of caring and active people are formed around the projects. And taking into account the energy of AO women, these projects will definitely have a long life and a bright future," Maria Afonina commented on the work of the living room.
- Lyubov Karelova, co-founder of the Eurasian Children's Community, spoke about the navigator platform for children and adolescents, professions of the future. Presented the practices of collaborations with large companies on career guidance educational projects and talked about career guidance of the younger generation as a tool for scientific and industrial development of regions;
- Anna Tobolenko, Project Manager of Tehsnabexport JSC, Chairman of the Career Guidance Committee of the Nuclear Industry Women's Association Foundation, presented the best practices for involving girls in STEM disciplines;
- Alexandra Saukisyan, founder of the private educational complex "Generation", Vice-president of the Association of Private Education of the Regions of Russia, spoke about the practices of interaction between educational institutions and industrial enterprises in the "school-city" format.
4. Track "Ecology" presented:
- Tatiana Gogoleva, Deputy Director for Technical Policy-Chief Metrologist of Atomenergoproject JSC, presented a number of environmental projects, climate initiatives and greenhouse gas emissions assessment;
- Ekaterina Kharchenko, expert of JSC "Greenatom" (Nizhny Novgorod branch), ambassador of the "Association of Women of the Nuclear Industry" in Nizhny Novgorod, spoke about the implementation of environmental initiatives in the regions. Presented the practices of environmental education and eco-volunteering as a contribution to the sustainable development of territories.
- Angelika Sulkhayeva, Deputy General Director of Komsomolskaya Pravda Publishing House, author of the Women's Time project, spoke about the implementation of women-oriented information projects, - "Sustainable urban development today is impossible to imagine without the active participation of women leaders initiating social projects on the ground. It is very important that such social initiatives are now supported by regional authorities and corporations, such as Rosatom. As the largest media holding actively promoting the women's agenda, we also could not pass by the event of the Foundation for the Support and Development of Women's Initiatives "Uniting Women of the Nuclear Industry" and we hope that there will be more such platforms for the exchange of experience and identification of best practices for the formation of a prosperous public environment."