An Art Meet for mothers of special children was held in Nizhnekamsk with the support of SIBUR

5 march 2023

As part of SIBUR's Formula for Good Deeds social investment program, a charitable Art Meet was held in Nizhnekamsk for women whose lives are a daily struggle for their children's health.

This was the second time in a row that the Women of Nizhnekamsk non-profit, has held a charity event for mothers of gravely ill children right before the March 8 holiday, thanks to the support from SIBUR. While the event the year before included a beauty party and a photo session, this year it featured a master class on painting and a festive luncheon.

- Ahead of the March 8 holiday, we wanted to have a celebration in honor of mothers of gravely ill children. We wanted to offer them an opportunity to take a break from the daily chore of caring for their children, so that they could briefly focus more on themselves, and regain their strength and mental balance. As part of its Formula for Good Deeds social investment program, SIBUR has been allocating generous funds for organizing events such as these, while Women of Nizhnekamsk search for fun ways to surprise these moms, Elvira Dolotkazina, Assistant General Director of Nizhnekamskneftekhim responsible for liaising with municipal authorities, noted.

40 mothers of gravely ill children got invited to the Art Meet. Teachers of a local art school helped build a truly creative atmosphere. They taught the participants the technique and the proper sequence of applying acrylic paints. At the master class on acrylic painting, its participants were asked to paint a peony to help whip up a spring mood. The purpose of the event was to distract the mothers from their daily worries so that they could get out of their houses, socialize with their friends and acquaintances, and unlock their creative potential. Many mothers confessed that they had not held a paint brush in their hands since they were school students. However, their results exceeded all expectations.

- Despite the fact that there was one single sample of a flower for all students, each of them ended up painting a slightly different version of that flower with its own unique character and nuances, Maria Khabibova, an art school teacher, commented.

Oksana Karibaba is raising a daughter afflicted by cerebral palsy. This year Veronika turned 13. All these years her family has been refusing to give up hope, they keep on fighting for every single movement and every new skill of their daughter. The family has been spending most of their time at hospitals or in rehabilitation centers.

- Events such as this one are very useful. They help us get our minds off things, forget about our troubles, break free from our daily routines, feel being a woman again, devote this little amount of time to creative things and to socializing with nice people, Oksana said.

- I'm ecstatic. It was so nice of them to organize such a celebration for us on the eve of March 8. It's a fun and warm gift, Olesya Atamanova shared her impressions.

After the master class, the mothers got to mingle and talk to each other while sitting at the festive table. Each of them was presented with a gift of sweet treats and a bouquet of colorful spring flowers.