The winner of the Volunteer of the Year award spoke about her experience of helping in Anapa

Volunteer of the year Anna Pluzhnikova, who helped volunteers clearing the Anapa coast of fuel oil, went to the Black Sea coast, despite health problems — metal structures were installed in the girl's spine. She told Izvestia about her experience on December 3.

"It's very difficult for me to stay away if I encounter some kind of trouble and realize that I can somehow help fix it. And I also understand that the limitations that I have on my health do not limit me one hundred percent. It seems to me that if you really want to, you can find the sphere of application of your powers in which you realize yourself as a volunteer and can help someone, make the world a better place," she explained.

After learning about the oil spill, Pluzhnikova left the capital for Anapa. She couldn't clean the beach or carry heavy loads, so she decided to work in the kitchen, where she cooked food for tired volunteers for several months.

The award was presented to Pluzhnikova by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the stage of the international "We are Together" award. Speaking about the scale of the Russian volunteer movement, the girl noted that the volunteers she met at the award ceremony are involved in a huge number of projects.

"They are all very energetic and it is clear that they have a lot of strength and desire to improve and help something," Pluzhnikova summed up.

The law of assistance: in Russia they want to consolidate their volunteer status

The proposed measure would give volunteers the right to death payments of 5 million rubles or injury payments of up to 3 million rubles.

Earlier in the day, Putin awarded Pluzhnikova at the international forum "We are Together". Then the Russian president also expressed the hope that her work would be actively continued. In turn, Anna noted that receiving such a high award is a great honor for her.

On the same day, the president stressed that helping one's neighbor and supporting those in need is in the blood of Russians. The Head of State called the dedication of volunteers during the coronavirus pandemic a vivid and illustrative example.

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