Kharyskhal Children's Center Funded by ALROSA Opens in Mirny

A new building of Kharyskhal Children's Rehabilitation Center, for the construction of which ALROSA allocated RUB 120 million, opened in Mirny on September 3.The opening ceremony was attended by the acting Head of the Republic Aysen Nikolayev, the Head of Mirny District Municipal Entity Rishat Yuzmukhametov, ALROSA's First Deputy CEO - Executive Director Igor Sobolev.

The core tasks of Kharyskhal center will be preservation of family, protection of childhood, eradication of social orphanhood, rendering of social, medical, psychological services, and pedagogical work with troubled adolescents.

Kharyskhal in Yakut means protective amulet, and for 20 years now, the social institution has been protecting our children in the noblest sense of the word. Unfortunately, social orphanhood is widespread in our country. It is a catastrophe when children are subjected to domestic violence, remain without parents while their parents are still alive," said the acting Head of Yakutia.

On behalf of top leaders of the Republic, Aysen Nikolayev thanked the employees of Kharyskhal for their work.He also thanked ALROSA and Target Fund for Future Generations of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and noted that despite economic troubles they found an opportunity to finance the construction of the building within the shortest possible time. Aysen Nikolayev expressed the hope that children will always get assistance and the notion of family comfort in the center.

Kharyskhal is the only institution in Mirny District engaged in comprehensive efforts aimed at the rehabilitation of children from troubled homes. Previously, up to 20 foster children could stay in the center, and another ten attended the day school. Over 20 years of Kharyskhal's existence, more than 90 children were hosted by foster families.

The new Kharyskhal can host 30 children permanently. More children now can attend the center during the day. There is all the necessary equipment for qualitative rehabilitation, and a large sports ground for therapeutic physical training and sports activities, bright spacious rooms and classrooms. New furniture, a dining room and a large gym are only some of the advantages that Kharyskhal can be proud of.

The premises where the center was located until today is one of the first stone structures in Mirny.It was built in 1964.Over the years, its extreme wear and tear have become obvious: cracks appeared, the basement failed, and engineering networks became unfit for use.For several years, the building was maintained and supported by ALROSA's Nyurba Mining and Processing Division that repaired the center at the Company's expense.

Muza Romanova, Director of Kharyskhal rehabilitation center: "We are really lucky that Kharyskhal will not have to change the address. The modern building was erected almost in the same place where the old building was located. Everything is within walking distance here. Foster children from the center can go to gyms and the cinema, and the hospital is not far away. Thanks to ALROSA and the Republic."

Due to ALROSA's donations, social facilities are being built not only in the diamond districts, but also in some other municipal entities, including in the capital of the Republic. Every year, ALROSA allocates targeted donations to the republican budget for the construction of educational, healthcare, cultural and sports facilities.

The total of RUB 521 million were allocated to the Target Fund for Future Generations of Yakutia in 2015, RUB 584 million in 2016, RUB 700 million in 2017, and it is planned to allocate RUB 800 million in 2018.

"ALROSA has always been and remains a socially oriented company.The decision of ALROSA's Supervisory Board to increase funding for the Target Fund for Future Generations of Yakutia for the construction of the center is based on the social investment strategy and corporate social responsibility principles that are consistently followed by ALROSA. We are interested in the prosperity of the region where the Company conducts its core business and in the well-being of its inhabitants," noted Igor Sobolev.