Tobolsk hosted creativity master classes for people with disabilities

3 july 2023

A series of workshops titled sVOI veshchi dedicated to crafting dishes and shopping bags was recently held in Tobolsk thanks to the support of the Formula for Good Deeds, SIBUR's charitable program. The project that is being run by the Tobolsk branch of the All-Russian Association of the Disabled featured four workshops.

The project seeks to facilitate social adaptation of people with disabilities as well as to help them develop skills that will assist them with finding employment going forward. Some of the master classes that have already been given both to adults and children included training on how to craft various and paint pottery items, as well as to sew and decorate shopper bags. More than 20 Tobolsk residents took part in these classes.

Tatiana Krasnikova, a mother of one of the master class participants:

We took part in the pottery master classes. Our son really enjoyed the experience and was looking forward to going back. At first, it was quite a challenge to make as simple an item as a saucer, but the further we went, the more we seemed to be getting a handle on doing it. We ended up making a soup bowl, a plate, and a serving dish. According to our trainer at the master class, my son handled these assignments with distinction. This was, of course, a tremendous boost to our son’s sense of self-fulfillment and to his rehabilitation. The experience of being a part of projects such as this was a very pleasant one.

The upcoming master classes are going to focus on making costume jewelry out of rocks and on weaving rugs with the use of recycled raw materials. Both of these workshops will cater for adult individuals with disabilities.

Natalia Varavko, the project’s supervisor:

Registration for these classes will be open well in advance. We invite all those who may be interested in attending to sign up. Once the classes are over, we intend to stage a final exhibition and a fair to put on display all the works by our participants for the local residents to enjoy and to buy the final products straight from their makers.