2013 SU Update: US Students introduced to Kazan 2013 Volunteer Program

KAZAN – On March 16 the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate hosted a meeting with US students that arrived inRussia at the invitation of the Institute of Economics, Management and Law – one of University Partners of Kazan 2013. As part of their cultural exchange program, American students were offered to have a look at the preparation process of the 27th World University Summer Games inKazan

Being majors in Russian studies, the US students study Russian history, culture and sports inMoscowunder the program of the International Consortium of Universities and Colleges. They came to visit Kazan for a few days, as it attracted them as a rapidly growing city with an ancient history where two cultures – East and West – meet. «You have a lot of mosques here. It was interesting for us to see how they neighbor Christian churches,» one of the students shared his first impression.

The American guests were especially interested in the 27^th Summer Universiade that is to be hosted by Kazan in 2013 as university sports are as popular and developed in theUS as professional sports. Representatives of the Volunteer Department of Kazan 2013 provided the US students with an insight into the Summer Universiade progress, development of volunteerism in the Republic of Tatarstan and Kazan 2013 volunteer program.

For their part, the American students shared their volunteering experience with the Russian colleagues, having noted that the key benefit of being a volunteer is an opportunity to make a difference in the world and in people’s lives. Besides, one of the main motivations for volunteering is a chance to gain new professional experience and useful skills.

The meeting with Kazan 2013 volunteers and staff members of the Universiade Directorate left the US students deeply inspired and most of them expressed their willingness to come toRussiafor the 2013 Games and work as volunteers. That could be really helpful, considering thatKazanneeds 20,000 volunteers to make the 27th Summer Universiade happen.

To become a Kazan 2013 volunteer, it is required to register online at , pass an interview, get selected and go through a volunteer training. Over 13,000 people from 40 countries of the world have already put their names down to be Kazan 2013 volunteers.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)