IGORA /Leningrad Region/, December 25. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed support for establishing an international association of volunteer and non-profit organizations within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
"I believe we should support the proposal to create an international association of volunteer and non-profit organizations within the CIS," Putin stated at an informal CIS summit. "We should also organize annual forums for volunteers from our countries and establish individual grants for the most impactful volunteer projects through the CIS Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation," the president added.
He noted that this year was declared the Year of Volunteer Movement in the CIS. "The Russian presidency has worked to establish a system of collaboration in this area," Putin remarked. "A dedicated interstate working group has been created, and more than 170 volunteer events, missions, and charitable activities have been organized," he added.
The Russian leader also highlighted that "CIS member countries now have access to Russia's ‘Dobro’ online platform, which enables volunteers worldwide to share experiences and collaborate on joint initiatives.".