No other fate. The family of Lepenkovs – Voroshkovs devoted to the Belarusian Automobile Plant for more than half a century

The approaching Machine Builder’s Day for Zhodino, where one in seven works at the giant plant, is a special date. According to a long tradition, BELAZ opens its entrance hall - anyone can visit the workshops, learn about the history of the plant in the museum, take selfies with samples of equipment. A holiday filled with pride for the results of their work and their native country. Plant engineer Tatiana Voroshkova shares her childhood memories: My brother Sashka and I always waited for the last Sunday in September – when you can go to my mother and dad for work. Dad was a test driver. He put us in the dump truck and drove us around the factory. He was so proud to say, “I work here!” It was then that the spark of love for the enterprise lit in us. New generations of our family continue to write his story.

Daria Voroshkova, Tatiana Voroshkova and Nina Lepenkova. Family dynasties in Belaz, where more than 8 thousand people work at the parent enterprise alone, are a matter of course. And if it were not for the idea of the project “Daughter-Mother” to tell about three female generations in one profession – in the picture of the Lepenkov dynasty – Voroshkov would be much more relatives. However, the female part of the family is not from the timid ten. Everyone has a technical job. Grandmother Nina Alekseevna Lepenkova came to the plant at 16 and dedicated almost 40 years to it. Here I met a pretty guy, built a happy family. From the factory she received a hostel, then her own apartment a five-minute walk from work. She retired in 2015 from the position of engineer for the preparation of the production of mechanical assembly shop No. 2, handing over the affairs to her daughter Tatiana Voroshkova. Says:

She left calmly, knowing that her daughter would cope. She gave her everything - documents, a computer, the table at which she sat, and even the boss. (Laughs) Yes, at first, I used to water the greenhouse - a bell: "Mom, consult." I'm happy to help, I've worked so many years! The profession of an engineer requires intelligence, tenacious memory, accuracy and accuracy. More than 200 specialists worked in the shop, all the information from our office was: where is the detail, the arrival and expense, but the nomenclature is the greatest. It happened that the boss will ask the number of the hub and when I came, I instantly give an account - without any hint. Experience.

- Only my mother brought me to Belaz, for which she is very grateful. Having received a higher education in economics, she was in trade for a while, but always dreamed of following in the footsteps of her parents. She told her university classmates that I live in Zhodino, where giant dump trucks are produced. It was very interesting. And when I got into the factory, everything seemed to fall into place. This scale – production sites, manufactured equipment, brand – is still impressive. I understand why my dad always said, “I work here!” with such pride. Replenishment in the Belazov family Nina Alekseevna pulls out of the bag neatly folded newspaper. In it is a photo: their labor dynasty on stage, signed the "Golden Fund of Belaz". Looking at the picture, I wonder what kind of cute baby with bows rolls a toy dump truck. Nina Alekseevna and Tatiana laugh:

- You didn't? This is our Dasha, the successor of the dynasty. She's the hottest of the three of us. Here she was three years old, she didn’t really know how to talk, but when the correspondent asked her if she would work for Belaz, Dasha struck everyone: “Yes! Dialector.”.

21-year-old Daria, in the spotlight, is embarrassed:

- What's the big deal?! We have young people everywhere. By the way, an example of the fact that heights are subdued by simple but aspirational people is also in our family. We are very proud of this fact in the family biography. My grandfather’s brother Ivan Romanovich Sidorovich led Belaz from 1961 to 1972. He was appointed director at 34! He proved himself well, and then went to Moscow for a promotion. An honorary citizen of our city.

The talented character of a girl working as a technologist-technologist of the tool shop is read in everything. At school, she received dozens in drawing and went to study at the Borisov State Technical College. In college, she was the head of the group all the years. Nina Alekseevna looks warmly at her granddaughter:

- Excellent organizer! And she was not a bit embarrassed that the group studied only two girls and 20 guys. And how it works on the lathe! All in his paternal grandfather - he was an outstanding turner on Belaz. Here it is, genetic memory. Do you remember how you surprised everyone in college? While the guys were stalling, she quickly and efficiently carved the key to the three-cam cartridge, and on a simple Soviet lathe 16K20. Teachers offered Dasha to stay in college to teach, but she did not: “I want to be Belaz!” Developing together with the plant Daria works for a year and a half at the plant. He said that the Belarusians received a large friendly family well. In a predominantly male shop, it feels absolutely comfortable. Describes his responsibilities:

The work of a technologist begins with a drawing. I study the design of the future tool, think about how and from what material it is better to make it, choose the necessary methods of processing and make production technology. Then I prepare the documentation for the workshop and accompany the manufacturing process. The work is very exciting!

About the plans for the future, the ambitious girl says simply: to develop and bring even more benefit to the plant, which has become her family's native. She confirms her words with actions - after graduating from college, she immediately entered the correspondence department of the engineering and pedagogical faculty of the Belarusian National Technical University. It is a great luck to come to an enterprise known all over the world at such a young age. Automation, the introduction of robots into processes, the installation of high-tech equipment, systematic work on new models of equipment – where is production developing so rapidly and so many innovations being introduced? Of course, it is inspiring to keep up with the times and expand your competencies. I notice with what love Nina Alekseevna’s grandmother, Tatiana’s mother listen to the youngest of the dynasty. And I understand what is hidden behind the inner light in their eyes: the business, in which so much work, effort, intelligence and energy of the Lepenkov-Voroshkov generations has been invested, there is someone to continue.