Anna Kuznetsova: “The “Good Kazan” helps to build a balance between the state and charitable funds”

According to the children's ombudsman, she was struck by the Kazan Diary of Good Deeds.

(KZN.RU, November 30, Alsu Safina). The forum “Good Kazan” is held in the capital of Tatarstan for the third time. It helps representatives of the authorities, public and charitable organizations to build a dialogue and find a balance in solving important problems for society. Anna Kuznetsova, the Commissioner for Children's Rights under the President of the RF, expressed this opinion to journalists today. She took part in the plenary session of the forum and shared her impressions of the work being done in Kazan and Tatarstan to support people in need of help.

“There will always be those who need help. And those who are ready to provide it. It is important to find the right balance. On the one hand, do not substitute the functions of a state body with a public organization, on the other hand, do not be a freeloader to a public organization or a charitable fund”, noted Anna Kuznetsova.

“Unfortunately, there are situations when government organizations answer me that the issue will be solved in a charitable fund. But a public organization can help, support for a short time. When it comes to the fate of a child, it is important to be fully responsible for his life and health. For this, it is necessary that the public organization be close to the state structure”, said the children's ombudsman, unconsciously formulating the main principle of the project “Good Kazan”: “Together, not instead”.

“To find this balance, such events as the Good Kazan forum are important when the state, society, authorities and representatives of religious organizations, philanthropists meet on one platform, communicate, hear each other!” she marked.

“Thus, we are building today's and tomorrow's society, in which our children grow and are brought up. And we want them to grow up as creative people”, added Anna Kuznetsova. “This can be guaranteed by what is brought up by the activities of public organizations: conscience, responsibility, consistency, and mercy”.

The Diary of Good Deeds was among the projects that interested the guest. “Most of all I was struck by how proudly the children talked about this, how they helped their parents and grandparents. They learn to appreciate these good deeds”, admitted Anna Kuznetsova. “This simple little book does a magical and important thing. We often say that something is wrong with our children that they act wrongly, instead of praising them for good things. It's great if such a simple project as the Diary of Good Deeds at school can set accents correctly. This is an important educational task”.

Earlier in the plenary part of the forum, she said that she would definitely take the Diary of Good Deeds with her, and this project could be implemented in other regions.

In general, the ombudsman noted two Tatarstan areas of work: palliative care and protection of the family and motherhood, including help to families in crisis, women in difficult situations with a child.

“I am familiar with many projects that are being implemented in Kazan and Tatarstan. The first is the development of palliative care, the Angela Vavilova’s Fund. What they are doing for a particular child and developing the entire infrastructure of palliative care for the country as a whole is very important”, noted Anna Kuznetsova. “They have followers. They are a kind of resource center for the development of this direction. The state has heard the challenges of today in helping children and families in a difficult situation, we maintain contacts with many hospices in the country. And one of the organizations that sets the mainstream is the Angela Vavilova’s Fund”.

Speaking about family and maternity protection projects, the children's ombudsman noted that these projects should be supported as much as possible. “They solve a specific task quickly, flexibly, sometimes anonymously helping a woman in a difficult life situation, as comfortable as possible for her”, said Anna Kuznetsova. “Our deepest gratitude for this work, for the fact that families are saved, help comes in time. It is important to build up state support tools, but sometimes such a trust gesture solves a lot”.