At the initiative of Sberbank, a special holiday program was organized for children from border regions, taking place at the Artek camp from December 29 to February 11. The bank’s press service confirmed that 43 children and 23 more from the Belgorod region participated, all being the children of bank employees from Belgorod and Kursk regions.
The bank stressed that supporting families with children who live near the borders remains a priority. The aim was to provide them with a memorable New Year’s experience, gifting them a bright, action-filled break at Artek, regarded as one of the best children’s camps. Stanislav Kuznetsov, Deputy Chairman of the Board, remarked that this initiative embodies Sberbank’s commitment to the well-being of families in border areas.
The groups arrived in two shifts, each lasting 21 days. The first shift began on December 29, right before the New Year, and the second shifted started on January 21. During their time at Artek, the children explored festive traditions through a variety of activities, games, and competitions. They crafted Christmas gifts by hand, took part in the DeTvorRa invention fair, joined in the Brave Games team sports and tourism challenges, and participated in the Artek-Belokurikha teleconference and Christmas Meetings music hall. The excursion also included a visit to the Dreamwood theme park, adding a touch of wonder to their stay.
Beyond Artek, the program extended its reach to other major Russian cities. The initiative touched 198 children from border regions in cities such as St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Kazan, broadening the impact of the project across the country.
Artek’s New Year events and related activities in large urban centers form part of a sustained effort by Sberbank that began in 2022 to support children in border regions. Earlier exchanges included weekends in the Moscow region for 130 children of Sberbank employees, held in May and November. In August, 43 children from Kursk, Belgorod, and Voronezh regions spent three weeks in Proektograd camp near Moscow, with a subsequent visit to the capital to learn about the workings of Sber’s offices and the Robotics Laboratory. In December, more than 100 children from Kursk visited Kursk State Circus with their families as part of the ongoing outreach.
In describing the philosophy behind these corporate actions, the executive emphasized that Sber’s culture centers on care and attention to people, particularly the younger generation during these times. The leadership signaled an intent to expand both support and the number of social initiatives for children in border areas in the coming year, reinforcing the bank’s role as a steady advocate for regional families and their wellbeing.