The «Children Instead of Flowers» nationwide charity campaign is once again gaining significant momentum across Russia. This heartwarming initiative encourages students, on September 1st – the traditional Day of Knowledge – to present their teachers with a single, collective bouquet instead of numerous individual ones. The money saved from purchasing multiple flowers is then donated to charity.
Campaign`s Growing Impact and Goals
Last year, the campaign, primarily supported by the Vera Hospice Charity Fund, achieved a record-breaking sum, raising 96 million rubles to aid seriously ill children. This year, organizers are ambitious, aiming to increase that total by an additional 24 million rubles.
Today marks one of the most active days for the «Children Instead of Flowers» campaign, with participation already exceeding 227,000 schoolchildren from 900 different localities across Russia.
Parents have until October to contribute their donations, as explained by Anastasia Marentsova, Director of Fundraising and Communications at the Vera Hospice Charity Fund.
Anastasia Marentsova
Director of Fundraising and Communications, Vera Hospice Charity Fund
«Today is the eve of Knowledge Day, a time when hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren throughout Russia will attend their first-day ceremony carrying one flower instead of many. The money saved on these bouquets will be directed by their parents, in collaboration with teachers, towards charitable causes, specifically to assist seriously ill children and young adults under the care of the Vera Fund and the Lighthouse Children`s Hospice. We have already received over 9,500 applications from classes across the country, with thousands of communities participating. The campaign`s active period doesn`t end on September 1st, as many participants in the first-day ceremonies observe neighboring classes joining the `Children Instead of Flowers` initiative and also wish to contribute. Therefore, we gladly welcome new participants even after September 1st, and donations will be accepted until the very end of October.»
Logistics and Educational Aspect
In major cities, parents are actively collecting special campaign materials from fund offices and distribution points. These kits include a distinctive ribbon for the teacher`s collective bouquet, stickers for the children, a thank-you card for the teacher, and a letter of appreciation. Furthermore, participating teachers receive educational resources for conducting «kindness lessons,» where they engage students in discussions about the importance of charity during class hours.
A Participant`s Perspective
Diana Chabanova, an employee of Business FM and an enthusiastic participant in the campaign, shared her experience from the Vera Fund`s office:
Diana Chabanova
Business FM Employee
«I just picked up the campaign materials for our class from the Vera Fund. Parents are arriving one after another; there’s a steady stream of people collecting the items that signify a class`s involvement in this initiative. In previous years, there might have been one or two tables, but now, as the campaign grows and scales up, there are significantly more distribution tables to prevent overcrowding and queues. Just while I was there, about a dozen parents came and collected their kits. Our class participates traditionally; it has become a custom. The teacher herself now asks us, `Let`s do this campaign again; one bouquet is enough for me.` This year, participating was incredibly convenient. After we submitted our application, we were given a link for parents to transfer funds directly. Crucially, every parent could see the total amount our class had accumulated. This meant no single parent had to collect the money, send it, and then report on it; all parents could track the progress via the link. The campaign has never caused any conflicts for us; we immediately followed recommendations not to pressure anyone, emphasizing that participation and the donation amount are entirely voluntary. As a result, no conflicts arise – those who wish to participate, do so. Typically, this approach works well, especially when the initiative originates from the teacher. We`ve been part of this campaign for five or even six years, and this year we managed to collect more than in all previous years combined.»
Nationwide Recognition
The «Children Instead of Flowers» campaign receives support at the highest levels. This year, just as in the previous year, information about the initiative is prominently displayed on the facade of the Ostankino TV Tower, which stands at an impressive height of 540 meters, ensuring widespread visibility and recognition for this meaningful cause.
