Interview with Galina Kobzeva

Each year on October 20th, Worldchefs celebrates International Chefs Day. The "Donor's Breakfast" competition was held in the branch of the Penza College of Food Industry and Commerce in the village of Shemysheika, with the participation of the Penza Regional Clinical Blood Center and the regional newspaper "Novoye Vremya". Galina Vladimirovna Kobzeva, head of the Donor's Breakfast project and executive secretary of the Novoye Vremya newspaper told about this competition and the importance of nutrition for blood donors.

How did you come up with the idea of organizing such competition based on an educational institution?

Cooperation of the editorial office of the Shemysheyskaya regional newspaper "Novoye Vremya" with the Penza regional clinical blood center began in 2013. Within the framework of cooperation, various activities are carried out to promote blood donation, including ones in the branch of the Penza College of Food Industry and Commerce. Students of the college, upon reaching adulthood, can join the ranks of blood donors. The college has different courses, including culinary arts. We decided to use the knowledge acquired by the students to develop a delicious and healthy breakfast for donors. The idea was supported by the masters of industrial training Olga Leonidovna Mochalova and Svetlana Viktorovna Egorkina. That is how the Donor Breakfast project was born.

How important is nutrition for blood donors?

The donor must adhere to certain rules of nutrition and behavior, for blood to be successfully examined and subsequently used for transfusion to patients or for the preparation of various drugs. That is why the topic of nutrition is so important.

How was the "Donor's Breakfast" competition at the branch of the Penza College of Food Industry and Commerce in the Shemysheika village?

Girls-contestants prepared for the competition responsibly. They independently studied information about donors' nutrition, chose and prepared several dishes that can be used for donors before donation, and also recommended meals after. A colorful presentation with a detailed recipe and tasting of all prepared dishes was held.

Who organized the competition? How did the students respond to the idea of holding such an event?

The regional newspaper Novoye Vremya and the managers of the Penza Regional Clinical Blood Center organized the competition. Great help was provided by the masters of industrial training and the administration of the college branch: Valery Petrovich Shashkin, the head of the branch, and Irina Alexandrovna Manbetova, the head of the educational department. Students enthusiastically responded to the opportunity to present their cooking and decorating skills to the judgment of fellow students and the organizers.

What did you especially remember during the competition? What dishes made a strong impression?

I would like to note the aesthetics of the competition - the nice uniform of the competitors, professional table setting, beautiful presentation of food and drinks. The entire menu was made up of the simplest, cheapest and most affordable products. The calorie content of each dish was calculated, which is also necessary to create a healthy diet menu.

What would you advise your colleagues in other institutions when organizing similar events?

To hold such an event, there must be interest from all sides. I believe that such events are necessary, they help young people to better understand what blood donation is, teach them to take a responsible approach to this procedure. And I am very pleased to see at donor campaigns the guys who were once participants in our propaganda events, and now they have joined the ranks of people who share a part of themselves with others, help save someone's life and health.

And our traditional question: what would you wish to donors and people, who are going to join the donor program?

I would like to thank the donors who save people's lives and help restore health to our compatriots. Giving a part of themselves for the sake of others, they are an example for people, regularly performing a quiet and inconspicuous feat. I wish all donors, present and future, good health, family well-being. A responsible attitude towards oneself and one's health can be a happy chance for someone to save a life.

Other interviews

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19.02.21

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22.01.21

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Interview with Elena Stefanyuk

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06.07.20

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23.06.20

Interview with Elena Gubanova

An information booklet about women’s donation was presented by The Stavropol Regional Blood Transfusion Station to the All-Russian Competition of the Professionalism of the Blood Service. It became one of the winners. Elena Gubanova, pr manager of the Stavropol Regional Blood Transfusion Station will tell us about creation and development of the “Women’s Donation” project.

15.06.20

Interview with Alexander Bashminov

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25.05.20

Interview with Tigran Muradyan

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16.04.20

Interview with Maxim Galimov

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27.03.20

Interview with Tamara Mamontova

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25.02.20

Interview with Irina Pavlenko

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10.01.20

Interview with Denis Sinyaev

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10.12.19

Interview with Konstantin Pashkov

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27.11.19

Interview with Anna Dragina

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04.09.19

Interview with Pavel Boev

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Interview with Nelly Chomyakova

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23.07.19

Interview with Tatyana Yeremeeva

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Interview with Ramil Khamitov

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22.04.19

Interview with Alexander Vlasov

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