"Of all virtues and dignities of the mind, goodness is the greatest" (Francis Bacon)

The Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve has hosted the VIII annual charity festival "From Heart to Heart", organized by representatives of the volunteer movement "MEPhI service of good deeds". The money collected at the event was sent to the charity fund "Sunflower" for children with autoimmune diseases.

The event is a student initiative, who fully organized it. Its uniqueness is that there are no prices and price tags on the site, all donations are voluntary. The festival is held under the motto "Creativity to help children": everyone can show interest in charity through creative activities and assist in solving acute social problems.

According to the media center of MEPhI "Be aware", the festival brought together more than 200 talented and not indifferent to social problems people who acted as organizers and volunteers.

The history of the festival began with a small action in 2012, which was held on the initiative of several students in the main building of MEPhI. Gradually, from year to year, it began to gain momentum, and soon the festival acquired the status of the all-Russian festival, covering four cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Volgodonsk, and Saratov. And in 2018, the event was declared the best social project of the all-Russian Eventiada competition. For all the time of the festival it was visited by more than 25 000 people, and the amount of funds collected has long exceeded the mark of 1 million rubles.

The festival featured many venues aimed at both adults and children: sports, science, music, dance. So, guests were offered to participate in the quest, make a decoration from leaves, paint canvas bags, make origami or robot with their own hands, observe and participate in scientific experiments, for example, eat nitrogen ice cream or sculpt non-newtonian liquids, become a model for face painting, practice yoga, shoot a bow, participate in dance master classes in hip-hop, break-dance, zumba or listen to lectures about the ecological footprint and separate garbage collection. Young artists performed at the concert venue in the mansion of the Palace of Alexey Mikhailovich, among them there were members of the Zabava dance company, a semi-finalist of the show "Voice. Children-6" and winner of international competitions Alina Karpenko, a finalist of "New Wave" Mariam Jalagonia, a finalist of the national selection of children's "New Wave" Anna Yakubuk and many others.

"The festival is an opportunity to help in any way, regardless of whether you are a student or a billionaire. Any help is meaningful”

Mersar Zakpaeva, 2nd year student, MEPhI, organizer.

"We learned about the festival via MEPhI students whom we had studied. We have assured ourselves that "From Heart To Heart" is bright, colourful, and interesting event. It is great to help. I am glad that even schoolchildren understand the seriousness and importance of solving social problems such as support for people with autoimmune diseases”.

Julia Alekseeva, curator of the volunteer group of school No. 1296

"Last year I came to this festival as a volunteer. It can be said that it determined my future destiny as a student activist. Everything started with this festival. I expect that the first-year students who help today will discover something new”.

Dmitry Gorbunov, 2nd year student of MEPhI, organizer

"This is my first time at the festival. I have seen how many people take the initiative, try to help others, and this is the most important thing. People often provide help to get some benefit, and here they participate to help from the heart”.

Maria Yakusheva, 1st year student of MEPhI, volunteer

"This is my first time at such a festival. It is immediately noticeable that everyone here is friendly. It is important to hold such festivals because they bring people closer and make them kinder”.

Galina Lokteva, a participant

"I was surprised how many people gather with a single goal - to help people in need and bring joy to visitors. It's very unifying. And it really shows what we should all strive for. It is also important that absolutely all money will go to charity”.

Daniil Bobrov, a participant