Alfiya Sapozhnikova: "My strategy is not to separate, but to unite"

27 may 2026

In the May edition of the series "About People and Good Deeds", Alfiya Sapozhnikova, Planning and Resource Supply Engineer at POLIEF JSC in Blagoveshchensk, Republic of Bashkortostan, talks about her experience in corporate volunteering and the implementation of environmental and social initiatives. In the interview, she discusses the stages of developing the "Lake Near My Home" project and shares her methodological approaches to organising campaigns, building volunteer teams and preventing professional burnout. Special attention is paid to integrating community activities into work schedules and the role of family participation in preserving environmental culture.

When and how did volunteering enter your life? What was the initial spark?

Volunteering has been with me since my school days. Back then, we took part in clean-ups, although it was often called something else – "voluntary-compulsory activities". But I always enjoyed helping and being part of a common cause. When I started working at the plant in 2005, I happily continued this tradition in a corporate format. Our campaigns are always fun, friendly and truly useful. Besides, it's a great way to meet new people, get to know your city better and understand how you can be useful to it. The main magic of volunteering is that you see the result immediately: you clean up litter, plant a tree, give someone a smile, and your soul feels lighter. You charge others with kindness, and they give it back to you.

Your first project, "Clean Home, Clean Street, Clean City" in 2021, was dedicated to environmental education through banners. Why did you choose that format? How did the residents of Blagoveshchensk react?

My main goal is to inspire those around me to do good deeds and draw attention to the environmental problems of the city. Children's drawings work best for this. Children see the world sincerely, with great love. I wanted their perspective on ecology not to remain on paper, but to reach every resident. That's how the idea was born: to turn the drawings into four large banners and place them on the most visible streets. They hung for a whole year, reminding everyone daily of what matters. The reaction was wonderful: many people approached and asked whether children had really drawn them. We were very proud of our little artists! The banners showed that there are people in the city who care, and that SIBUR cares not only about production but also about the environment in the cities where it operates.

You have been taking part in volunteering activities for more than seven years. What helps you stay consistently engaged and avoid burnout?

Burnout is real, and it probably catches up with every volunteer. But I have two secrets that help me keep the fire burning. The first is small but warm victories. When my clean-up at the lake or a child's picture on a banner makes someone think. When those who were with us before come to the next clean-up and bring their friends. When you see the happy eyes of children after a New Year's greeting. That is genuine joy, which gives you the energy to keep going. The second secret is the team. We have formed an incredible group of like-minded people; we are always on the same wavelength. Organising something alone is hard, but when you have motivated people behind you, you know you can handle any difficulty. I don't burn out because we burn together!

You have been implementing the "Lake Near My Home" project annually since 2023. How has the project changed from year to year?

Initially, it was an ordinary clean-up that I planned to do just once. But after the first event and a publication in the local newspaper, my social media literally exploded. Residents wrote thank-you messages, sent voice notes and asked us to clean up other bodies of water – at that time we had only covered two lakes. Each year, the geography and scale grow: now more than 50 people come to one event – from local college students to pensioners. I am genuinely pleased by how many caring people are ready to change the city for the better. By the way, over four years we have even gained some haters. But I consider that a sign of quality: it means people are talking about us, discussing us, and we are leaving no one indifferent.

Tell us about the most unexpected situation during a clean-up.

The most striking incident happened during one of the clean-ups. We took a boat out to collect litter from the water, and an elderly man approached me. I braced myself internally: now he'll grumble that we've scared away the fish. It turned out he had come fishing with his little grandson, and here we were making all that noise... But instead of complaints, he asked for gloves and bags, saying: 'We want to help too.' It was incredibly heart-warming! Another 'surprise' is our environmental trophies. On the shores, we have found old televisions, sofas and other furniture. That rubbish had lain there for decades and might have lain there for decades more if it weren't for volunteers.

You have dozens of eco-campaigns to your name: clean-ups, eco-runs, plogging. Which activity stands out the most and why?

To be honest, I don't only do ecology. And the most memorable activity for me, strangely enough, is our annual New Year's visits. My colleagues and I dress up as Ded Moroz and the Snow Maiden and go to congratulate the children of employees. Seeing the happy eyes of the little 'SIBUR kids' is indescribable, it gives me goosebumps! They recite poems, play instruments and give handmade gifts. Some families year after year expect me specifically in the role of the Snow Maiden – that touches me deeply. Many children have literally grown up before my eyes. And although this isn't about cleaning up litter, it is also a kind of 'ecology': we cleanse children's hearts of sadness, giving them a miracle and faith in goodness. These are the moments that give me a tremendous surge of energy.

What do you feel when you see the result of your work – a clean shore, children's smiles, a planted tree?

It's not just a result; it's a moment when everything inside fills with warmth. You realise: 'I did this' – or, even more valuable – 'We did this together.' And you understand that it was all worthwhile. Such moments make you feel like you've grown wings, and you want to run further, to do more good deeds. That is the true happiness of a volunteer.

You are not only a participant but also an organiser of many events. In your opinion, what is the secret of a successful volunteering initiative?

The secret consists of several simple but important things. First – the team. When you have people around you who are passionate about the same cause, any task becomes easier and more joyful. Second – the support of loved ones. My family is always by my side, and that gives me huge support. Third – sincerity. If you do something from the heart, without showing off or calculation, people feel it and are drawn to you. And fourth – don't be afraid to start small. Even one clean shore or one planted tree can change the space around you. The main thing is to take the first step and not stop.

You balance work, volunteering and personal life. How do you find equilibrium?

Perfect balance probably doesn't exist. My strategy is not to separate, but to unite. Volunteering for me is not an extra burden, but a part of life in which my whole family is involved. My eldest daughter has always been by my side, helping at clean-ups while she was at school. Now she is in her second year of college and has already received a 'Volunteer of the Year' award. I am immensely proud of her! My middle son, Egor, is 12 – he also gets involved in our good deeds, especially when 'male strength' is needed. And my youngest, Angelina, is only seven, but she gladly takes part in both my projects and those of my colleagues. So for me, balance is not about tearing myself apart between work, home and campaigns. It's about doing all of it together with those you love.

If you could 'replicate' one of your experiences to other cities where SIBUR operates, which project would you choose and why?

Definitely the 'Clean Home, Clean Street, Clean City' project with children's drawings. Children draw on environmental themes, and their works are turned into large banners that the whole city sees. Adults stop, smile, think... It is as visual and honest as it gets. Through children's creativity, it's easiest to reach everyone. If this mechanism were launched in other cities where SIBUR operates, those cities would also have such banners. And that would mean more conscious residents, more love for nature and, as a result, more clean shores and parks.

Where do you see your volunteering trajectory in five years? What do you dream of as an eco-volunteer and as a mentor to others?

In five years, I see myself not just as a participant but as a mentor, passing on experience. I dream that our projects will become even larger, that more people will come to us, and most importantly, that each of them, as I once did, will develop a desire to change the world for the better. As an eco-volunteer, I want there to be more and more clean shores and lakes. And as a mentor, I want to help newcomers not be afraid of taking the first step. It's important to convey that a small good deed has enormous meaning. Volunteering is a state of mind. And the words of the English ecologist Peter Scott resonate deeply with me: 'We may not be able to save everyone, but we can save many more than those who never even tried.'

You can learn more about upcoming good deeds in SIBUR's volunteer groups on VK and Telegram.

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