For some, this autumn will mark the start of a great educational adventure. Very soon, more than 1,300 children of Metinvest employees will be sitting at their school desks for the very first time. To ensure this important event brings families even more joy, the company has been running the "First Time – First Grade" programme for many years, taking some of the preparatory burden off their shoulders.
By 1 September, the children of Metinvest employees who are just starting their school journey will receive essential school kits.
This year, as part of the programme, which is implemented with the support of the "Rinat Akhmetov to Children!" charity initiative, 1,284 future first-graders – the children of employees at Metinvest’s Ukrainian enterprises – will receive gifts. The kits prepared for the first-year pupils contain exercise books, pens, pencils, paints, brushes, diaries and other items they will need from their very first days at school. A further 49 children of employees at the Group’s overseas assets will receive school kits or vouchers to purchase them. The school kits are tailored to the specific characteristics and needs of each country.
For parents, this is a great practical support, whilst for children it’s yet another reason to look forward to starting school. The first-year pupils themselves shared more about what they’re expecting from their first day at school.
"I’m really looking forward to starting school. I want to make new friends there, learn, draw and discover lots of new things. I really liked the gift because it contains lots of useful and lovely things. Especially the coloured pencils and paints. Now I’m almost ready for school!” shares her impressions Valeriia ZARUBA, daughter of a Metinvest Machinery employee.
Seven-year-old Ihor STRUNGARU, whose mum works at Kamet-Steel, feels much the same way.
"I’ve already learnt to count and can read a short story on my own. At school, I’m most looking forward to art and maths lessons. I also want to make lots of new friends. I really liked my kit – it has such cool pencils and exercise books with dinosaurs on them" says the boy.
For many families, this kind of support is particularly important, especially during wartime.
"When a husband is defending the country on the front line, all day-to-day responsibilities of running the home and bringing up a child fall on the wife’s shoulders. Getting our daughter ready for her first year at school today is both emotionally stressful and a significant financial burden. This gift has been a vital source of support for us. My husband knows that the company is supporting his family, and that gives him peace of mind there on the front line. We’re truly grateful to Metinvest for the care!" says Svitlana DROZDOVA, the wife of a soldier and steelworker.
Her daughter, Polina DROZDOVA, is already well prepared for school.
"I can write my first name and surname neatly, and I can count numbers too. I hope my teacher at school will be kind, and that the lessons will be interesting. And I was given an incredibly lovely school kit – there are so many colourful things in it for school! Thank you for the gift!"
We sincerely wish all future first-year pupils an engaging education, new friends and wonderful experiences of school life. And to their parents – patience and many happy moments celebrating their children’s successes. Have a peaceful new school year!
