Ostrovskiy Awards Presentation

1 December 2011

On the eve of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities the «Overcoming» Humanitarian Centre — State museum named after the distinguished writer N. A. Ostrovskiy a presentation of awards, certificates and medals was held.

We remind that the «Megapir» Association is the founder of the award which is presented to disabled people for outstanding achievements in professional activities, culture, sports and to those actively working with invalids, advocating life and creative work of Ostrovskiy. All laureates have a common feature — all of them, just like Pavel Korchagin, have overcome and keep on overcoming the weakness of the body showing great strength of the human spirit or help those in need.

Opening the awards ceremony, Director of the «Overcoming» Humanitarian Centre — State museum named after N. A. Ostrovskiy Olga Devicheva stated that during years of existence the award was granted to dozens of our countrymen, people knowing the real price of courage. By the way, from the very first day of its existence the award reached an international level: apart from our compatriots the prize was delivered to representatives from Ukraine, Belorus, People’s Republic of China and Cuba. This time the event was attended by foreign guests from CIS and Latin America, Ukraine, Belorus, Argentine and Cuba.

The evening was hosted by PhD in history, Merited representative of culture o the Russian Federation, Deputy Director of the museum Galina Khrabrovitskaya. The awards were presented by Deputy Chairman of the Board of trustees of the «Overcoming» Humanitarian Centre — State museum named after N. A. Ostrovskiy, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary ambassador Evgeny Tyajelnikov and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Unions of the Armed Forces Reserve Officers (MEGAPIR) Olga Savvateeva.

This time the award was given to head of medical and rehabilitation centres of musculoskeletal system diseases Valentin Dikul, an artist and pedagogue, invalid Irina Vitoshinskaya, a professional artist, invalid Alexey Borovinskiy, a participant of numerous charitable contributions, a famous performer of popular romance songs, a laureate of the award of Universal confederation of labor unions, laureate of «My Dear Capital» VII City Awards Victor Solomentsev, doctor of economic sciences, academician Michael Timoshishin, a writer, scenarist, member of the Valour and Humanism Public Council of the International Union, organizer of the Schooner of Peers Historic and Patriotic Association Konstantin Podima, Member of the Board of trustees of the museum — centre colonel Victor Gorodetskiy, the Pionerskaya Pravda newspaper and laureate of the XI and XII Worldwide festivals of the youth and students in Havana and Moscow, holder of the big golden medal named after Arthur Becker and a special Granada House Prize, Order of Bernardo O’Higgens (Chili), Order of Francisko de Miranda (Venezuela) to the Grenada People’s Ensemble of Russia.

In previous years, the award was handed to Hero of Russia, fighter pilot lieutenant — colonel Sergey Sokolov, Hero of Russia, assault brigade commander major Igor Zadorojniy, merited of sports of Russia, double champion of the world of Paralympic Games airborne forces captain Vladimir Vshivtsev, artist Olga Sergeeva, Director of the Institute of Professional Reabilitation and Training of personnel of the Reakomp All — Russian Association of the Blind Sergey Vanshin, people’s artists Vasily Lanovoy, Iosif Kobzon, Vladimir Konkin, Evgeniy Gerasimov and many others.

«Nowadays the state and out society pay little attention to invalids, particularly those maimed in battles," Olga Savvateeva said. «Unlike many other countries of the world, Russian disabled persons are in a miserable state, often leading a wretched existence with veterans of combat operations not an exception either. The government owes these people particular respect," she stated.

«The whole civilized world shows quite a different approach to such people: they are granted wide social guarantees and benefits, given special state programmes and rendered support by public association and business — circles. Many challenged people of the this country succeeded not only in overcoming difficulties, but also achieved a great deal in terms of social life, creative and professional activities. This merits greater respect and social recognition," Olga Savvateeva noted. She pointed out that «Megapir» and its regional representative bodies «would work actively to give support to challenged persons, draw attention of the government and society to the issues and contribute to their settlement.»

«I would like to thank the organizers of the award. Indeed, you are helping challenged people and those doomed to numbness a good deal. Initiatives and events of this kind encourage hope and belief, they prove that disabled persons are needed and their labor is not overlooked… I worship people who haven’t given up hope in proving to our country and the whole world what can be achieved through commitment and patience. I would like to extend my gratitude to them," Valentin Dikul said in his statement.

The speech was followed by artist and pedagogue Irina Vitoshinskaya’s statement. «It is a great day for me. The award is a symbol of victory of mind over matter. The award is of vital importance. Recently I watched a movie about Ostrovskiy and was shocked. The message of the movie reads as follows: to live means to create. Creation is the most important thing for every one of us. If a person creates something, he can get everything. Evidently, it is impossible to create unless you have reliable, good people and friends supporting you. That is why I would like to thank the organizers of the award for their noble work," she said.

Sparkling performance of the Grenada People’s ensemble of Russia finalized the festive evening.