Feel the Holiday Spirit at HSE’s New Year's Charity Event
In the run-up to the New Year, HSE University is participating in the Wish Tree charitable initiative for the third time. The project brings together people eager to do good deeds. Students, professors, and staff can pick a bauble from the tree in the atrium of the Pokrovka campus and fulfil a child’s dream.
The nationwide initiative has been running since 2018 in both online and offline formats. It was launched by the Movement of the First youth organisation with support from Rosmolodezh.Dobro. Every year, over a thousand participants bring joy and magic to children in difficult life circumstances. Over six years, more than 210,000 children’s New Year wishes have been fulfilled. Traditionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin also takes part in the event.
This year, the tree at HSE University on Pokrovsky Bulvar features special baubles with a child’s wish written on them, along with a QR code. Children’s wishes range from a building set or talking doll to a telescope or camera. Daiana Zhestkova, Secretary of the HSE Faculty of Computer Science, picked a bauble, and now five-year-old Vitalina from Lugansk will receive a scooter for the holidays. ‘I want to give children warmth, care, and love this New Year,’ Daiana said.
HSE Vice Rector Irina Martusevich is participating in the initiative for the third time. ‘For the past two years, I got wishes from children in the Smolensk region. I thought it would happen again this year, but unexpectedly, I got a wish from Khabarovsk Krai, where Vladislav is dreaming of a building set,’ she shared. New Year’s is a time when it feels like all miracles can come true. ‘It is wonderful that we have the opportunity to help others feel the holiday spirit,’ said the vice rector.
For many, participating in the Wish Tree charity initiative has become a tradition. ‘HSE University supports such charitable initiatives. At the end of the year, it is especially important to share kindness and good spirits with children and teenagers in difficult life situations, and we are always happy to give a helping hand. Wish Tree is a great project for this purpose. It helps our team involve the young people at HSE in socially meaningful events and programmes,’ explained Ekaterina Albegova, Director for Youth Policy Partnership and Projects at HSE University. According to her, several dozen HSE representatives participate in the event in person every year, while many join online.
‘We traditionally support the initiative as a partner and will continue to do so to expand the scope of good deeds across our country ahead of the biggest national holiday,’ concluded Ekaterina Albegova.
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