Volunteerism Development in the Privolzhsky Federal District

About this grant

The program goal is to engage youth in civic life through volunteer activities that raise awareness about people’s rights and responsibilities in an important region of central Russia–the Privolzhsky Federal District. The grantee will engage high school and university students in helping elderly victims of Soviet political repression; conduct training seminars, meetings, and distance learning courses to promote volunteering and to foster good volunteer management practices among regional civic organizations; and establish a center to coordinate international volunteer activities. The grantee will also conduct summer expeditions to document former Soviet prison camps and will organize volunteer work camps at the Perm-36 Memorial Center of the History of Political Repression, another important Mott grantee in the region. These efforts to preserve the past and to promote understanding of this history have involved well over 500 youth volunteers. Established in 1998, the Center for Support of Democratic Youth Initiatives works to promote ideals of community service and human rights awareness in young people by confronting the tragic history of political repression.