Social focus of “Tom Sawyer Fest: Walking on the Scaffolding” film discussed at the Presidential Library

On the eve of the Annual Integration Forum the Presidential Library opened “Tom Sawyer Fest” multimedia exhibition, which highlighted notable results of cooperation between a voluntary movement and sponsors. After that, Demyan Morgachyov's film "Tom Sawyer Fest: Walking on the Scaffolding" was shown at the meeting of the Presidential Library Cinema Club.

A smart American boy – the character of Mark Twain’s book, who came to the rescue of friends and family on time, became the symbol of the “Tom Sawyer Fest” project. This youth voluntary movement appeared in Samara in 2015. Over the past three years young people from 28 cities of our country have joined this association. And now they are restoring facades of old houses, some of them have an exclusive decor.

Pyotr Yakovlev, representative of St. Petersburg Government Committee for the State Preservation of Historical and Cultural Monuments, opened the film  discussion and noted that the voluntary work of facade restoration in St. Petersburg has its own particular features. He stressed that cultural heritage sites protected by the government can be restored after careful examination only, provided there is scientific guidance at all work stages. As to ordinary old buildings, they are currently being monitored, after that certain addresses will be offered to young enthusiasts. The Year of Volunteers is closing soon, but the noble work, which is called to improve the urban environment, goes on”, Pyotr Yakovlev said.

“Tom Sawyer Fest: Walking on the Scaffolding” film is about the civil initiative for restoration of ramshackle, mainly wooden houses of historical significance. There are a lot of such buildings in the very heart of the present-day multistory Samara. Many were deserted and started to decay under the contrasting climate of Volga Region. But one day the youth called for the necessity to restore wooden houses in the center.

Sergey, wood carver, said: “Facade carving is the face of the house. It would be boring and simple without carved windows. Look at the beauty created by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. We can do that, too. Look, we are preparing parts for the new window surround…”

Mikhail, teacher of History and Social Studies, said: “No longer am I puzzled at what to do in my free time. I came here voluntarily, fell in love with our centuries-old Russian wooden architecture and now I am convinced that we are to share our attitude with children”.

After watching the film cinema club participants summed up the results of completed work, addressed main problems, opportunities and prospects of the future work of voluntary projects. “Tom Sawyer Fest” activists from Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov and other cities joined the discussion in real time.