18.01.2008 // Information-Analytical Center of Kursk NPP

About the public work of young employees of Kursk NPP

One of the key points of the development strategy of Kursk Nuclear Power Plant is training of highly-qualified young employees.

The chairman of the Youth Organization of Kursk NPP Viktor Tara has told us about the life and public activities of the young employees of the plant.

We perfectly understand that without highly-qualified young specialists we will not be able to implement the long-term development program approved by the President and the Government. In 2007 our youth organization carried out a number of measures in the framework of Rosenergoatom’s youth policy for 2007–2015. During the Nov conference of the International Association of Young Nuclear Workers, we considered ways to ensure the professional growth of young nuclear workers and to provide them with social support, particularly, with mortgage crediting opportunities. We came to a conclusion that the key problem of the youth movement is financing.

In this light, I would like to thank the director of Kursk NPP Yuri Slepokon and the chairman of the Trade Union Alexander Apalkov for their attention to our problems. Their support is really indispensable. Formerly, we did not need money, everything was based on enthusiasm. Today, when everything is based on market relations, even small projects need big money. The collective agreement of Kursk NPP contains many points concerning youth. Particularly, the “Work with the Youth” section says that the Youth Committee of the Trade Union should provide money for the projects of the youth organization and should help it to carry out the measures stipulated by Rosenergoatom’s youth policy. In our turn, we try to be as active as possible.

Presently, we are forming the scientific-technical council of the youth organizations of Rosenergoatom with a view to help young workers to improve their qualification and to display their talents. In Dec 2007 the Council held its first meeting in Novovoronezh. Our plant was represented by Andrey Kazeyev.

One of our key measures in 2008 is the “Young Professionalism” project, an event comprising regional, international and corporate workmanship contests. We are also considering a project to transfer the experience of older generations and a project to support young workers in their professional career. We are also planning scientific-practical conferences, seminars and other social and cultural events.

As chairman of youth organization, I try to orient our young workers towards public and socially-important activities. Young people should realize that they are also responsible for what is going on around. So, we try to involve our young workers in public, charitable and other actions. Particularly, our youths help to improve the situation in Kurchatov, care for orphans and children from poor families. We follow the example of our older colleagues who have actively supported orphans for over 20 years already.

As regards patriotic education, we have joined the regional youth search detachment and, together with our peers from Leningrad and Smolensk NPPs, are actively involved in the search for the remains of soldiers killed in the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945). We have become good friends and are jointly planning new actions. Ecology is also an important aspect of our work. Last year we took an active part in ecological actions and clean-ups. Last year was very eventful: “Who? Where? When?” intellectual game and KVN humor game. During the 5th international youth festival of KVN teams (Club of the Merry and Quick-Witted) in Kurchatov, our team won the third prize. Last year we commemorated our former director Vladimir Gusarov. He liked fishing very much and we decided to organize a fishing contest in his memory.

This year we have no less plans.