OREANDA-NEWS. Chairman of Vnesheconombank Sergey Gorkov took part in a meeting of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives Supervisory Board headed by the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking at the meeting, Gorkov emphasized the urgency of the elderly rights institution and presented VEB’s Never Too Old to Dream volunteer project.

In particular, he said, "I believe that nationwide volunteering is the cornerstone of all changes in this country. In VEB, we have created a culture of the right attitude to old age. Over 500 of our employees help the elderly in residential care homes on a regular and voluntary basis".

Elizaveta Oleskina, Director of the Never Too Old to Dream Charitable Foundation said, "We are positive that attitude to old age in Russia needs to be changed. However, it would require active government support and a wider national volunteer movement. We have had a positive experience of cooperation with Vnesheconombank in promoting corporate volunteering. We will draw on this experience in our pilot project in Veliky Novgorod designed to test a comprehensive long-term elderly care system."

The Bank’s volunteers are helping more than 850 patients in three sponsored senior homes: two residential care homes in Dubna, Tula Region, and Vyshny Volochok, Tver Region, and a nursing care department in Ostashevo Village, Moscow Region. Throughout the Never Too Old to Dream programme, Vnesheconombank’s employees have contributed over 6.5 million worth of their personal finances to help the elderly, to improve their living conditions and to create a care infrastructure in homes for the elderly. Overall, the Bank’s volunteers organized more than 10 events, concerts and meetings, spending more than 50 hours with the elderly.