Not big words, but real deeds: the youth marathon “Dobro.Bel” continues

Collect garbage on the shore of the reservoir, help an elderly neighbor or make your own yard more comfortable - it is from such specific cases, and not loud promises, that the Dobro.Bel marathon is formed. It united dozens of volunteer groups of the “Good Heart” of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union.

Every month, marathon participants perform tasks in certain areas. The theme of September is “Safe Environment”. Students of secondary school No. 5 Rechitsa joined the initiative. Volunteers conducted an information campaign: at the breaks, they distributed reminders to peers about the rules of safe behavior, says ninth-grader Anastasia Guz:

- We wanted the guys to understand that safety is not just words, but clear rules to know and follow. The brochures we handed over contain important information: how to behave on the roads, what to do in emergency situations, how not to become a victim of fraudsters on the Internet. Honestly, while preparing the materials, I myself reread the memos and remembered some moments that I had already forgotten. Girls and boys with interest studied these booklets, asked questions.

The teacher-organizer of the school Olga Paladyeva assures that the work on the prevention of dangerous situations is not limited to one-time actions, but is constantly carried out:

- We are engaged in educational work throughout the school year: we discuss security issues in the classroom, conduct class hours. It is important that children from an early age understand that taking care of themselves and others is also a manifestation of kindness and responsibility.

Another task for volunteers for September is to participate in a video challenge: in short videos to share the motives that motivate them to do good deeds. Everyone has their own incentives: some talk about the desire to make the world a better place, others about the example of parents and teachers. And Konstantin Nevar, a student at the Pinsk State Agrarian Technological College, notes the inner warmth that comes when you see a grateful smile:

- When you do something good for someone else, it's like a little light goes on inside. Especially if you see how a person changes: his eyes, smile, mood. This feeling cannot be faked, it is real. And in that moment, you realize that you didn't just waste your time, you really made someone's day better. This is the reward that energizes you for a long time.

The marathon of kindness will last until November inclusive: in October, volunteers will join the action “Good for Elders”, dedicated to the Day of Older People, in November – “Good for Animals”. Then the teams will prepare reports on the work done. In December, the organizers will identify and reward the best.

shestakevich@sb.by