Working with Teachers

On October 26, 2020, Empathy announced a program for teachers in Verkhnyaya and Nizhnyaya Salda, Sverdlovsk Region, and allocated 63.2 million rubles (916 000 USD) over the course of the academic year to provide monthly assistance to 530 teachers from 16 Salda schools. In September 2022, the program was extended for a third academic year, with each teacher receiving a monthly payment is almost equal to 50% of their salary.

“Teachers are the foundation of our society. We want to strengthen this foundation and create a new format for in-demand modern teachers who can set high standards for themselves and their students. By assisting talented young teachers as well as experienced educators in the regions, we not only preserve and develop education but also cultivate a new generation of in-demand graduates and future professionals who will shape our ‘tomorrow’,” noted Mikhail Shelkov, founder of the organization.

In September 2022, Empathy expanded its support for teachers in Verkhnyaya and Nizhnyaya Salda through a new program. An expert jury will select 100 teachers based on a special competition, and they will receive monthly payments of 15,000 rubles (217 USD)  throughout the academic year in addition to the payments from the foundation’s main program.

The Olympiad is organized by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation with the support of the Empathy Charitable Foundation, established by Mikhail Shelkov. The Olympiad involves teachers and instructors of the Russian language from educational institutions in the various regions of Russia.

The all-Russian (final) stage in 2023 will be held at the Oktava Cluster in Tula, from December 6 to 8 The foundation will provide a monthly grant of 50,000 rubles (724 USD)  for the duration of 12 months, to each winner. The total prize money donated by Empathy will amount to 18 million rubles.

“Teaching as a Calling” will be held for the third consecutive year in Tula Region. This competition for teachers was first held in 2021 at the initiative of Governor Alexey Dyumin and the founder of the Empathy Foundation, Mikhail Shelkov.

In this special year for teachers – 2023 is the Year of the Teacher and Mentor in Russia – it was decided to increase the total prize money donated by Empathy from 11 to 14.5 million rubles and award the top 63 teachers in the region.

In September 2022, Empathy announced the launch of a support program for over 600 employees of pre-schools in the two cities. The administrators, teachers and assistant teachers from 23 pre-school institutions will receive monthly payments throughout the calendar year.