"I'M WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE"
      Marina Leiko
It would seem that there is nothing extraordinary in the words of Natalia Logunova, the chairperson of the Femina charitable society for aid to the family, that she is committed to working for the benefit of the people. In effect, what's so surprising in that the leader of a charitable organization whose programs are aimed at helping single mothers, mothers with many children, low-income families and single elderly people? After all, that's what the Femina Society has been set up for. The majority of Natalia Logunova's colleagues-the leaders and activists of more than 170 Moscow-based public organizations for low-income families with more than three children and families with disabled children-would characterize their activities in the same way.
These organizations do have much in common and they address the same problems, distributing humanitarian aid, helping people find jobs, and so on. What is special about them is that, as a rule, only very creative and energetic people become their leaders, as only they are capable of not only generating ideas but also implementing them despite all odds.
As if her numerous responsibilities as the society's chairperson weren't enough, Natalia Logunova decided to set up an information desk at Femina to provide people with information and counselling on a wide range of issues. She says: "I'm gathering all kinds of information that may be useful from all available sources; I hear some things from the people I know and find a lot of information in various directories and handbooks. In the six years in my position as the Society's chair I have established contacts with the Ministry of Social Protection (we have especially close ties with the ministry's section for work with non-governmental organizations, which has an extensive database) and with the prefectures, the State Duma, the City Duma, other non-governmental organizations and even banks. I make a point of making the information that I manage to dig up available to all citizens covered by our programs and everybody who needs it."
Life itself suggested the idea of collecting information that may be vital in certain situations and giving everybody access to it. In 1989, when Natalia was on a maternity leave after the birth of her third child, a tragedy happened in her family: her husband and two older children had a car accident. They were in hospital for a long time. The accident left her husband and one of the children disabled for life. "At that horrible time I felt nobody needed me and my problems and grief. I was lost and had no idea what to do, how to live with it and where to get the money to feed my family. And there wasn't anyone I could turn to for help," Natalia Logunova recalls.
That is precisely why she was determined to set up an information desk-not to leave people out in the cold, alone with their tragedies and problems, and in the hope that as many of them as possible would have the comfort and support they needed. How is the organization being financed? Natalia Logunova explains: "We operate on private donations, on whatever the people can give us. For my part, I do a lot of fund-raising and, surprisingly, I do get help!" For example, she told me about the manager of a department store in Moscow, a wonderful and compassionate woman, who distributes free food packages and even pastry and confectionery, and organizes parties for the youngsters and elderly people who are covered by the Femina Society's aid program.
Natalia Logunova is working for the benefit of the people, and the people are always willing to give their help and support to her.
BACK TO THE CONTENT
BACK HOME