From a volunteer to an intern: how a volunteer from Tobolsk ended up as an intern in St. Petersburg

15 august 2023

Sometimes good luck can smile upon us at the least expected moment, by presenting us with unique opportunities for personal growth and professional development. We bring you the story of an improbable journey of the winner of the Iconic Place festival, organized as part of SIBUR's Formula for Good Deeds social investment program.

For Ulyana Salamatova, the Iconic Place festival has become a truly momentous event. For 3 years in a row, Ulyana had been taking part in the festival as a volunteer actively helping the festival's organizers to make this celebration of creativity happen. She did this while successfully juggling her volunteer work with her school studies and cramming for her final exams.

This year, Ulyana won a trip to St. Petersburg. In addition to exploring the nation's northern capital, she got invited by the festival's organizing team to do an internship there offering her a chance to see firsthand what it's like being behind the scenes at RASKRASIMVSЁ, a creative company behind many rare and unique art objects. Ulyana was immersed in the world of creativity and innovation and was able to see the creative process with her own eyes, take part in meetings and team discussions, do photo and video shoots of St. Petersburg's murals, and study the work of the company's designers and artists.

This fascinating story is an inspiring illustration that festivals not only rally people around common interests, but also serve as a powerful tool for changing lives and opening up new opportunities for young people.

Ulyana:
As I was bringing out the winner's certificate, I was filled with excitement because I could see from up where I was standing so many people who had been looking forward to this event for so long. Standing there on the stage, I was curious as to who was going to win the grand prize. The host had kept the intrigue going for quite a long time, but suddenly I heard my own name called out loudly. It was a real surprise for everyone, because the certificate was being awarded to the same person who had brought it out. I was happy, at some point I could not even believe it, because the odds were one to a million. The organizers had not expected such an outcome either, but they kept their cool and drew the second lot. This was probably the best outcome of the event... 

For several years, SIBUR has been actively involved in organizing and supporting various initiatives dedicated to innovation, science, technology, sports, and art. These events are emerging as platforms where everyone can showcase their talents, pitch their ideas, draw attention to their projects, and obtain support.