Discussion Hosted by Kommersant-Ural, Featuring Regional Health Minister
Natasha Levitskaya, President of the BF "Siberian" Foundation, showcased the foundation's experience at the International Women's Forum.
The discussion was organized by Kommersant-Ural. Regional Deputy Governor and Minister of Health for the Sverdlovsk Oblast, Tatiana Savinova, participated in the session.
Natalia Levitskaya shared the experience of the SinaRa Charitable Foundation in fostering the volunteer movement as a driver of social initiatives on the territories they operate in, emphasizing the crucial role women play in strengthening corporate culture through their participation in voluntary activities. According to her, the foundation's data reflects federal trends: working women continue to form the majority of corporate volunteers and project leaders.
For instance, the results of a large-scale survey conducted by the foundation on the digital platform SOTA2U among 20,000 employees of the sponsoring companies, revealed that 78% of respondents involved in charitable or volunteer activities were women. Today, among the 49 project curators, 38 are also women.
Natalia Levitskaya's Remarks:
Since 2022, the number of volunteers involved in the foundation's activities has more than tripled — from 600 to 1900 individuals in 2024. The most popular projects are those focused on ecology, ecotourism, corporate donor programs, volunteer activities in support of social institutions, and aid for homeless animals.
The III International Women's Forum took place in Yekaterinburg from May 30 to June 1. Participants included representatives from over 20 countries.
Corporate Volunteering Insights:
- Defining Corporate Volunteering: Corporate volunteering refers to businesses offering their employees paid time off to volunteer for charitable causes. This practice is part of companies' efforts towards sustainability and social responsibility.
- Benefits: Companies experience benefits such as an enhanced corporate image, improved employee retention, and productivity, as well as support for strategic goals.
Women and Volunteering:
- Global Trends: Women play a significant role in community and volunteer activities globally. Specific data on women's participation in corporate volunteering is not readily available in the Russian context.
- Ukrainian Parallel: In contrast, women in Ukraine have taken on significant roles in both military and support activities, indicating a potential for women to play a prominent role in various sectors.
In summary, while specific data on women's participation in corporate volunteering through the SinaRa Charitable Foundation is not readily available, the broader context of corporate volunteering suggests that such activities can contribute positively to community development and employee engagement.
- The SinaRa Charitable Foundation, as shared by Natalia Levitskaya, reports a surge in volunteer engagement, with the number of participants more than tripling since 2022, reaching 1900 individuals in 2024.
- The most favored projects supported by these volunteers are revolving around environmental science, ecotourism, corporate donor programs, volunteer activities for social institutions, and aid for homeless animals.
- Global trends indicate women play a pivotal role in community and volunteer activities, with data from the SinaRa Charitable Foundation revealing that 78% of respondents involved in charitable or volunteer activities are women.
- The benefits of corporate volunteering extend to companies, offering enhancements in corporate image, employee retention, productivity, and support for strategic goals, while contributing positively to community development and employee engagement.
