Second European Games in Belarus

MINSK, 11 September (BelTA) – Training course and seminars for the volunteers of the 2019 European Games will be held in the Belarusian capital, First Secretary of the Minsk Committee of the BRSM Youth Union Sergei Klishevich said at a meeting in the Minsk City Hall on 11 September, BelTA has learned.

Sport volunteering movement has been gaining popularity in the Belarusian capital. Young people help with the organization of major sport events. Over 300 volunteers worked during the 2017 Minsk Half Marathon on 10 September. “We have a new task, which is to organize the Second European Games at a high level. It is time to start training volunteers in different areas, including psychology, healthcare, foreign language skills. The future impressions about the Belarusian capital will largely depend on the volunteers’ efforts,” noted Sergei Klishevich.

The selection of volunteers for the 2019 European Games will begin at the Dobrofest event in late September.

Sergei Klishevich stressed that the city provides all necessary conditions for the youth’s self-fulfillment and advancement of youth initiatives. The Minsk Committee of the BRSM Youth Union invites young people to join the volunteering movement. More than 250 volunteer teams that unite over 8,000 people work at education establishments and enterprises of the Belarusian capital.

The BRSM Youth Union volunteering movement Good Heart includes social, sport, environmental and animal volunteering. “Good deeds are aimed at developing a sense of charity, mutual assistance and compassion in young people. Volunteers help war and labor veterans, single elderly persons, children with disabilities, orphaned children and kids from troublesome and foster families. They also help restore and beatify the historical landmarks of Minsk,” said Sergei Klishevich.

The best volunteers get volunteer’s personal books that include information on volunteering activities, the number of volunteered hours and commendations. Among the BRSM Youth Union’s most significant charity projects are the following campaigns: Christmas Miracles, With A Good Heart to School, We Choose to Help the Elderly, Become Better, Make the City Cleaner, All Colors of Life for You marathon and others. In 2016-2017 volunteers visited about 1,000 children and held almost 150 charity events during the Christmas Miracles campaign.

We Choose to Help the Elderly campaign will be launched in the near future. Volunteers will set up hotlines and visit elderly people at home.