Volunteer movement

Development of volunteer initiatives is a fundamental part of RUSAL’s social involvement policy. The company supports the growth of a socially responsible society through creating an environment that encourages citizens to take an active part in the life of the cities they live in. RUSAL’s projects are raising awareness about the nature of volunteerism and types of volunteer work, helping people to realize that volunteering can make a real difference to the community and thus deserves great respect.

The local branches of RUSAL’s Social Programme Centre set up groups of volunteers consisting of 15 to 20 people (mostly students from universities, colleges and lycées). Participants of the volunteer movement undergo regular training for teamwork, leadership and communication skills. They take part in social activities, acquire social planning skills, and normally become tutors for their peers.

One of RUSAL’s major projects in developing volunteer initiatives is an annual event, named «The Spring Week of Big Hearts» that is aimed at attracting public attention to the role of youth volunteerism and the impact of volunteer work on the country’s socio-economic development. Between 2009 and 2010, these events, supported by the volunteers from Achinsk, Bratsk, Sayanogorsk and Krasnoyarsk, helped to raise 1.2 million rubles for underprivileged people. 420 thousand people became the charity recipients.