The Young Geologist Center in Arkhangelsk
The Young Geologist Center carried out a project called "Children and Teenager Geological Movement" in 2008, which was funded by ConocoPhillips Russia Inc. This project was designed for occupational guidance of school students and included classroom and field training. Having completed the classroom course, the students participated in teenager geological expeditions where they got acquainted with geological occupations.
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| Young geologists’ mine visit |
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| Spelean expedition in Pinega cave |
Special Olympics Russia
ConocoPhillips Russia Inc. is one of the key supporters of Special Olympics Russia, a national public charity organization benefiting persons with mental retardation. It is authorized and accredited by Special Olympics International, Inc., created by the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation. The support of this organization contributes to the rehabilitation and social adaptation of children with mental retardation.
The goal of the program is not only to achieve excellence in sports but also to change the attitude of people with intellectual difficulties, teach them to act as a single team in competitions and become friends. The program and the single team idea were supported by the Moscow Department of Education. Sport is an effective instrument to overcome social barriers among healthy and intellectually challenged children. The Unified Sports Program offers significant assistance to people in social adaptation without damage to their psyche. We believe that a chance to display and share human warmth and tolerance is of great benefit to players from general schools who interact with Special Olympics participants.
The European Cup took place in Helsinki on June 6-10 2007 among the teams from 15 European countries. The Russian team was represented by the Moscow team with trainer V.A. Kuprianov from Moscow correctional school students. The Russian team won in its division not missing a single ball. The Moscow team got a chance to participate in the European Cup thanks to the financial support by ConocoPhillips Russia Inc.
The All-Russia Special Winter Games for intellectually challenged persons were held in St-Petersburg in March 2008. About 400 athlets from 34 Russia regions competed in 7 kinds of sports: downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, ice hockey, figure skating, ice-skating. snowshoes walking. The winners will participate in the World Special Winter Games in Idaho, USA, in 2009.
In 2009 ConocoPhillips Russia Inc. has sponsored purchasing of road racing bicycles for disabled athletes of Special Olympics organization for participation in All-Russia and International competitions. In the same year, Moscow table tennis tournament has taken place among children with mental retardation, which has been supported by ConocoPhillips. More than 100 athletes from 14 Moscow special boarding schools and orphanages took part in the tournament.
Arkhangelsk and Murmansk American CornersIn 2006, ConocoPhillips Russia Inc. became the first corporate sponsor of Russian American Centers and Corners Program in Arkhangelsk and Murmansk, jointly conducted by Arkhangelsk and Murmansk city administration, Pomor State University, the American Corner of Arkhangelsk Regional Academic Library, Murmansk Regional Library and the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg.
These corners created in Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regional libraries attract university and high-school level students, teachers, businesspeople, and well-educated Russian professionals through programs and activities that include lectures, film showings, tours, exhibits, conferences, seminars, workshops, discussion clubs, English-language classes, TOEFL tests and holiday celebrations.
In 2007, donations by ConocoPhillips Russia Inc. to the Arkhangelsk American Corner were spent to support the events of America Week in Arkhangelsk. The program featured the celebration of the American Corner’s 5th anniversary, debate tournament, musical contest “Singing America,” seminars on Education in America, and Pomor University’s student conference devoted to the 200th Anniversary of U.S.-Russian diplomatic relations.
On April 18, Mr. Stuart Snow participated as a judge in the finals of American-style public debate tournament among local students. During March and April 2007, ten teams competed in the tournament and only two made it to the finals.
Students debated in English in front of the audience of 150 people and jury, who gathered at the conference hall of Arkhangelsk Regional Academic Library. At the end, Mr. Snow, together with the U.S. Consul General Ms. Mary Kruger, awarded prizes and certificates to the winners of the tournament. Also, Mr. Snow used this occasion to award certificate of ‘adoption’ to the American Corner of Arkhangelsk Regional Academic Library.