Children from Kazan came to the Academy together with the head of the group, Lira Tazetdinova. She is also the head of the Be Yourself Center for Inclusive, Legal and Educational Projects.
The specialist spoke about the creation of the group and the help of Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva:
"This isn't our first time coming here. Our project, which we started over six years ago, was supported by Alina Maratovna Kabaeva. When this unique facility opened, she invited us to train here. And it's been rewarding, because it's a unique opportunity for our children with special needs to see the idols they knew when they first started practicing rhythmic gymnastics, falling in love with its beauty and grace. And when they saw them in person, when they started communicating with them, it simply motivated them to develop, to try harder and develop willpower, looking at the gymnasts who were practicing on the neighboring carpets. Working with, for example, now champion Yana Zaikina, when she was still a little girl, we saw how empathetic she was, how she, and how all the girls at the Academy, treated our children with empathy. They hugged them, taught them, trained them. And so, having created this group, we later received such support and encouragement from Alina Maratovna. Together with the coaches of the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy and Alina Maratovna, we came to the conclusion that we needed to integrate normotypical, as they are medically correct to be called, children, athletes, into our group. And we began working on it. In Kazan, our group now includes children who are considered normal, and who come after their regular training. They come to fulfill purely their volunteer role, their mission. They themselves want to help our children do the right thing".
Lira also noted the importance of this project:
"Thanks to this unique project, created at the Sky Grace Academy, these girls received the unique opportunity to compete at the Alina Festival alongside Russia's best athletes, without competition. These girls, all normal, performed alongside our children, providing support and encouragement for children with special needs. Since our last visit, our team has grown; we've recruited young children who are here for the first time. Some children are seeing the sea for the first time. Thanks to this trip, thanks to Alina Maratovna Kabaeva".