Firebird for children

On the one hand, Yubileiny had the strongest shortage of children care facilities. On the other hand, construction of the kindergarten was a perfect example of a socially responsible business and partnership dialog between businessmen and authorities. OAO NK RussNeft and OAO Saratovneftegaz, its Saratov subsidiary, were the investors. The overall cost of the construction was 217 million rubles, 185 million rubles out of which were allocated under a charity agreement.

Another particularity of the opened facility is its architecture. The complex consists of three two-storey buildings much dissimilar from conventional concrete boxes. The buildings are painted like the Firebird feathers.

Two sections of the building are linked by a winterized corridor and a common lobby. It may accommodate 15 groups.

The area is well arranged, there are two physical exercise grounds, modern verandas with sheds, swings, slides, sand boxes, sport complexes. The utilities area has a transformer substation and modular boiler; there are also platforms for waste containers.

The kindergarten has a nice swimming pool, spacious gym and music hall equipped with up-to-date instruments. Its facilities were demonstrated at the opening and were highly appreciated.

According to Valery Radayev, the Governor, the opening of this kindergarten was a great victory. The kindergarten, being the largest in the town, was built with participation of private capital – funds of RussNeft. This is the fourth facility built under auspices of the socially responsible business. The fifth facility, the kindergarten in Lenin district of Saratov, is scheduled for commissioning in May this year. According to the Governor, there is a task to have enough kindergartens in the region, and this hard task must be fulfilled regardless any complexity of the economic situation. The Governor also thanked the town administration which actively supports and assists the projects on construction and rehabilitation of kindergartens in Saratov.

The Governor added that objectives can be achieved only in tight cooperation, and the kindergarten in Yubileiny is a good example of it. He also said that the kindergarten will create 96 new jobs.

Oleg Grischenko, the mayor of Saratov, thanked the Governor for understanding the need of the town and also the investors and builders. But the main merit, according to him, should be given to Vyacheslav Volodin, Vice-Director of the RF President administration:

“Regardless his career achievements, he always remembers his homeland (Vyacheslav Volodin was born in Alekseevka village of Khvalynsky district of Saratov region) and provides required support which we highly appreciate. This definitely refers to education as well. Not long ago, there was a suspended construction of a sports and recreation center here, and now, there are both a nice sports and recreation center and modern kindergarten. It is possible that there will be a school here in the future as well.”

COMMENT

OLEG GRISCHENKO, HEAD OF SARATOV:

“The year starts with a wonderful event – opening of a new kindergarten. While inspecting the building, me and Valery Vasilievich Radayev exchanged impressions and recalled that both the pre-school education and kindergartens were completely different in our times.

Today, the children are more developed, more literate, for the life itself has become different. And all of us, parents, know for sure: the pre-school education and our attention to children determine the future of our society and the country. Therefore we do not speak today as officials or managers of major companies, but as good parents, for all parents understand that the children deserve the best.

SP REFERENCE

Zhar-ptitsa (Firebird) is the first new kindergarten which was opened in Saratov in 2014. Construction of nine more new kindergartens and rehabilitation of eleven existing kindergartens are scheduled for this year.