VEB.RF representatives highlighted the implementation of a Yakut SIB project related to assisted living during the meeting of the project committee chaired by Vice-President Olga Balabkina. According to Yakut-Sakha Information Agency, the repair of the assisted living facility was completed in the second quarter, young people with mental health disabilities were successfully adapting to their new home, acquiring new skills and obtaining employment.
The project committee members discussed the stages of the social impact project in the area of social services.
“This is a key quarter. The first stage was preparatory, while the second one was marked by important events. The assisted living facility was repaired and furnished with new furniture. From 1 August 2021 through 1 September 2021, social beneficiaries were moving into the building and are currently occupying the premises. All arrangements have been timely completed,” Director of VEB.RF’s Russian Government Agent Office Denis Bokov said.
He noted that the stage was considered important due both to the repair completion and the people’s adaptation. For instance, the survey results show that the young people find their living conditions quite satisfactory.
“Additionally, 16 staff members were recruited including home carers, psychologists and social workers. All of them have the required qualifications, and 12 people received off-the-job training in St. Petersburg. It’s a pleasure to note that the adaptation process is developing rapidly, and six people have already obtained employment. Thus, we can say as early as now that there has been no significant deviations from the planned schedule. In the third quarter we will start working with home bred children, and we acknowledge the importance of parental involvement.
Yakut Minister of Labour and Social Development Elena Volkova informed the participants about maintenance services, renovation works and project implementation plans.
According to Project Manager of Saint Petersburg–based association of disabled children’s parents GAOORDI Alexey Ignatenko, the tenants accommodated in that quarter were category 1 beneficiaries. The rest of the families also had contacts with project managers.
“Planned individual and group adaptational training is under way. We have also organised online meetings with tenants of our facilities. Young people were able to communicate, become acquainted and give each other gifts. We are planning to arrange such meetings in future, since they give the positive emotional backing these people need.
According to Head of the Assisting Living Service Lena Denisova, the young people have good labour potential. An individual employment plan was prepared for each beneficiary.
“Young people develop social and domestic skills every day. They do powerlifting, go swimming, practise athletics and improve the level of computer literacy at a Book 0.3 specialised library. Our specialists also hold special events, help young people to develop cooking skills and handle money. We will continue to teach them and help them to better adapt to life,” Lena Denisova said.
In conclusion, Managing Director of VEB.RF’s Russian Government Agent Office Mikhail Alashkevich gave a positive opinion on the project implementation in the Republic of Sakha.
“We are now at the very beginning. It is especially important to maintain the results. I believe that this project is about the future, about people who haven’t ever discussed their future before and who are not only discussing it now, but also translating their dreams into reality. We are pleased that we could increase the project scope and attract additional people,” Mikhail Alashkevich said.
As a reminder, the first assisted living care home was opened in Yakutia. The project initiated by Yakut authorities is aimed at introducing new social services in the region for people with mental health disabilities that are alternative to specialised in-patient facilities.
The programme is part of the SIB agenda initiated in Russia by VEB.RF. Currently, more than 1,100 people with mental health disabilities are living in special care institutions in Yakutia. The project is designed to replace in-patient treatment with home care, so that people with disabilities could habituate themselves to living at home or in conditions close to living in family, and unlock their labour potential.
State Development Corporation VEB.RF has become a member of the Zero Waste Charter (hartia.ru) aimed at developing an efficient waste management sector in Russia. A respective announcement was made during the ESG-day event organised by VEB.RF.
Cooperation of major public and private companies is an important step towards introducing a circular economy and zero dumping in Russia.
The Charter agreement was previously signed by Business Russia, Russian Environmental Operator and RT-Invest. Ten companies are now involved in joint work focused on complying with sustainability principles and improving quality of life in Russia.
“We welcome the fact that VEB.RF acceded to the Charter designed to develop an efficient waste management sector and ESG-principles in Russia. Sustainable development basically means a long-term trend materially affecting all types of companies. Businesses are well aware of investor attention to, and a growing consumer interest in sustainability, and are under great pressure from supervisors, regulators and intergovernmental institutions. The Environmental Protection national project provides for 100 percent waste sorting and a two-fold landfill decrease by 2030. Together with its partners, Business Russia hopes to efficiently achieve the ambitious goals of the national project. We are ready to consolidate our efforts to attain the goals set. As far as we know, RT-Invest is consistently developing a comprehensive MSW management system. High level competencies of the Charter participants will enable Russia to accelerate the creation of a comprehensive waste management system and generate steady demand for the use of recyclable materials to produce new goods. We will introduce circular economy principles in cooperation with all stakeholders (manufacturers, processors and consumers),” Business Russia’s Vice-President and Head of the Executive Committee Nonna Kagramanian said.
The Zero Waste Charter participants are keen on creating in Russia a comprehensive waste management system and generating demand for the use of recyclable materials to produce new goods. Manufacturers, processors and consumers will be actively involved in introducing the circular economy principles including separate collection, recycling and reuse, composting of organic waste and construction of energy-from-waste facilities. Thus, all types of waste will be recycled and reincluded in the economic turnover.
Nikolay Tsekhomsky, First Deputy Chairman and Member of the Management Board, VEB.RF:
“Environmental agenda is extremely important for VEB.RF as a financial partner in a whole range of waste management projects. VEB.RF is currently considering projects for separate collection, sorting and disposal of municipal solid waste. These projects will help to improve the environment, encourage additional investment in Russia’s industrial sector and create high-technology jobs in the regions. We are also planning to attract commercial banks, financial institutions and private investors to these projects, including through public-private partnerships and green bonds.
VEB.RF believes that in order to achieve economic and social development goals and improve quality of life in Russia, the Charter participants should prioritise ESG projects and be guided by global best practices in sustainable development. That is why VEB.RF offered to include these provisions in the text of the Charter.”
The efforts of the Charter participants intended to develop the circular economy include creating and developing the system of bottle/can recycling kiosks, introducing separate collection of waste, constructing waste recycling and disposal facilities and energy-from-waste facilities, and landfill reclamation and full rejection.
“We are pleased that VEB.RF has a clear strategic view of the sector needs. As a financial development institution, VEB.RF is developing a national practice for operating with green socially responsible capital. The company supports projects aimed at achieving the goals of zero dumping. RT-Invest has offered a programme for developing an efficient comprehensive waste treatment system designed to recycle each kilogram of waste into new goods and energy. Our goal is to close by 2035 and to prevent opening of 200 new landfills across the country,” RT-Invest General Director Andrey Shipelov said.
All these measures will help to eliminate landfills altogether at first in resort clusters and cities with population over one million, and then across Russia. The Charter will be another important step towards zero dumping in Russia.