Socially significant projects in the villages of Lovozero and Krasnoshchelye in the Murmansk Region will be able to receive grants in the social project competition of Norilsk Nickel’s charitable program “World of New Opportunities.”
The program was launched in 2014 to create favorable conditions and opportunities for sustainable development of the regions in which Norilsk Nickel operates. The social projects competition is aimed at supporting public initiatives, forming social partnerships in the territory and developing the competencies of non-profit organizations. The winners implement various projects in the regions: environmental campaigns, opening sports and children's playgrounds, theater tours and cultural festivals, inclusive projects for people with disabilities, construction of volunteer centers, etc.
Today, the program operates in the town of Monchegorsk and the Pechenga district in the Murmansk region. In September 2023, active residents of Lovozero and Krasnoshchelye will be able to complete project applications and submit them to the competition for expert evaluation. Each project can qualify for an amount from 100 thousand to 6 million rubles. Schoolchildren's projects will participate in the children's nomination “NEW Pole”.
Tatyana Medvedeva, Head of the Department of Charitable Programs and Corporate Communities of the Kola Division of Norilsk Nickel, commented: “The territories that have joined the program today have their own authenticity. And I believe that we will see this feature of Lovozero in projects associated with indigenous peoples and their culture, with nature. There are so many places here where you can express yourself and bring your ideas to life, make staying in your village brighter and more beautiful. It seems to me that Lovozero is about the soul, about something warm and original.”
The introduction of new program participants began with a series of educational seminars and training sessions on social design. Over the course of three days, village residents interested in social design learned how to justify the significance of a social project, competently prepare an application estimate and assemble a team. To try their hand at this process, students developed social actions for their village and presented them to residents on their day off.
Over nine years, Norilsk Nickel has supported hundreds of projects under the World of New Opportunities charity program. Over the years, the competition received 3,242 applications, of which 855 projects were supported in the amount of 976.5 million rubles.
