BCJ activist Marta Shimulevich on the value of friendship, lessons from parents and good deeds

In each role, Marta Shimulevich reveals herself in her own way: in the family - a caring daughter and wife, with friends - sincere and open, at work - collected and responsible, and in social activities - one who knows how to hear and unite people. We talked to Martha about what she is like in different areas of life and what helps her be herself.

- We traveled a lot around the country: we went to zoos and water parks, visited historical places. Once I found a photo in which the little girl stands against the background of Mir Castle – a few years later, as an adult, I decided to repeat this picture.

Martha was engaged in ballroom dancing, drawing and stage speech. Her parents supported her passions and gradually gave her more freedom

- I have been independent since early childhood. If I stayed home alone, I cooked lunch and did my homework.

A special role in Martha’s life was played by her grandmother, a German teacher. During the visits she helped to learn the language - she spoke only German. Thus, a foreigner gradually entered the life of Martha, and later determined her professional choice: she entered the BSUIA (at that time Minsk State Linguistic University). At school and university, Martha always had many friends and like-minded people:

- Over time, of course, casual dating is a thing of the past, with people who are really easy to be yourself with. In friendship, I value sincerity the most. We don’t have to put on masks or pretend that everything is fine when it’s not. We meet and discuss what happens in everyone’s life. If a friend is wrong, I will tell her directly, but without judgment. If she needs support, she is always willing to listen. We spend our free time in different ways: in summer we go to nature, raft on kayaks, and in winter we go to theaters, concerts and exhibitions.

On September 10, Marta and her husband Alexander celebrated their first wedding anniversary.

“I think I’m a beautiful wife, at least that’s what my husband says,” she joked.

She worked hard and feared that family life might limit her professional plans. However, she says her husband helped her look at the relationship in a new way:

- It seemed to me that personal life could interfere with a career. But the husband showed that the family is not an obstacle to self-realization, but a source of strength and inspiration. You can spend the whole day at work, and then with special pleasure to return to where you are waiting. Perhaps this is what helped me realize that my soulmate is next to me. Marta has been working in Belarusbank for more than three years, the last year as a chief specialist of the secretariat of the Chairman of the Board. Her work is related to documents, assignments, control of deadlines and interaction with the heads of departments:

- This requires organization, punctuality and attentiveness. It is important to be able to find an approach to different people and build a professional dialogue.

Many of the qualities needed in her work were formed in her childhood, along with the habit of independently coping with tasks and being responsible for the result:

I think it was then that responsibility, independence, the ability to bring what we started to the end and comply with agreements were formed. This year, Marta participated in the action “Belarus Adzinaya” and visited all regions of the country. The project once again showed her how active and proactive young people can be if they are supported and guided.

For three years, Marta has headed the youth wing of the Belarusian Women’s Union in Belarusbank. There is no place for monotony: every month, activists have meetings, actions and good deeds. In November, together with cadets of the Military Academy, a charity "Vasilkov Ball" is being prepared, Marta shares:

- Learn dances, make invitations and ball cards. A beautiful evening is just an opportunity to help children and young people with disabilities. Vasilkov ball was called not by chance: it is decorated with a white-blue-blue range. And in December we will hold another charity event – “The Tree of Wishes”. Belarusbank supports 17 family-type orphanages, and on the eve of the New Year their pupils are invited to Minsk. For children we prepare a holiday with gifts and entertainment.

shestakevich@sb.by