On February 9-13 any Petersburger will be able to find an occupation to his liking. There will be a tree flourishing with volunteer vacancies in the Borey gallery. Each leaf is an address, where kind hearts and skilful hands are urgently needed. This unusual vacancy fair was created by the volunteers from “Nochlezhka” and “Volunteer Service”.

Besides an opportunity to choose some new occupation, the visitors will also have a chance to see a photo show. The exposition “OPEN THE LOCK. THE NEW US” is a photo project about people who actively participate in the life of the society, help those in need, make the world brighter and happier, and not only the world around, but also the one inside them.

Today volunteering is a weighty social phenomenon. The whole world faces problems with which neither charity foundations, nor philanthropists, nor the state, not the business society can cope without volunteers’ support. Lack of human warmth in bunkhouses and asylums, orphanages, hospitals is most felt when a person is alone and needs help.

St Petersburg volunteers have already helped and continue to help many of those in need. The experience and results of non-commercial volunteer foundations’ work during the last 10 years are taken into account by the long-term strategies for the state social and economical development. In St Petersburg development of volunteer initiatives is one of top priorities in the work of the Committee for Youth Policy and Interaction with Public Organizations in 2010.

Authoritative researches show that, on the one hand, social services get more and more in need of volunteers, and, on the other hand, many citizens wish to make good deeds.

Many people suppose that to become a volunteer one has to be special, young, and free. This is not true. There are people of all ages, occupations, and with different social statuses among St Petersburg volunteers. Volunteering is available for everyone. You just need to open the lock.

One can get acquainted with the volunteers, listen to the stories told by the photo show heroes, decorate the Vacancy Tree, take part in the celebration program devoted to the birthday of “Nochlezhka” and “Volunteer Service” foundations on February 9, 2010 at 18:30.