I Care - I Can Programme leads in the popular vote of the Civic Initiative National Prize

I Care - I Can social initiatives programme of Lobachevsky University’s international students became a leader by popular vote of the 9th Civic Initiative National Prize in the category  "Russia, Our Common Home". A total of 176 projects take part in this category in the annual competition of civic initiatives aimed at improving the quality of community life in Russia.

I Care - I Can, organized by Dmitry Medvedev,  Head of the UNN International Students Support Office, is aimed at socializing international students and creating conditions for their comfortable stay in educational institutions. This is achieved through  a variety of self-actualization programmes - cultural, scientific, volunteer work; by implementing student initiatives at the university level and integrating them into different socially significant city and regional programmes; by removing communication barriers and organizing a social support platform for international students. The project contributes to direct contact between international students and Nizhny Novgorod residents and creates conditions for promoting tolerance and overcoming xenophobia.

"Lobachevsky University is a big common home for thousands of students," notes Alexander Bedny, UNN Vice-Rector for International Affairs. "People with different cultures, traditions, and mentalities come to study here from all over the world, and it is very important to create conditions for integrating foreign students into the life of the university and the city’s social life. An adaptation system for international students that we have developed and operate successfully allows them to fulfil themselves and feel part of the large international university family. The key thing in this daily work is to make our students aware of the value of life and health, to develop responsibility for themselves and those around them, to develop care and openness to people, and to be involved in the events of university life and in the city and regional agendas. This is what our I Care - I Can social initiatives programme for international students is all about."

As of today,  the I Care - I Can programme has been highly appreciated, but the final list of winners of the national award will be announced by the expert jury on December 13.

The Civic Initiative National Prize was established by the Committee for Civic Initiatives in 2013 and was the first such award for the encouragement of civic and socially significant undertakings.