Interview with Marat Khapman

How did you come up with the idea of the project "Minutes to give life"?

It comes quite naturally. We wanted to draw the attention of young people to the importance of donating blood. It was necessary to start with pupils, so that young people would move from volunteering to gratuitous donation. The education of parents and at school plays a huge role. This is how the three main components of the project came to mind - family, school, donors.

What goals and objectives did you set while implementing this project?

First of all, to raise the prestige of donation among young families and teenagers, to stimulate the emergence of donor dynasties. And, of course, to emphasize the role of personal example of parents in the raising of children. In addition, we wanted to dispel the stereotype that donating blood is a long and painful procedure. Our video shows how little time you need to spend on it, and what a tremendous effect you achieve. You donate blood for only ten minutes, and you give someone a lifetime.

What difficulties did you face during the implementation of the project? How did you manage them?

There were no particular problems. The project team worked on the same page, we understood each other perfectly. The hardest part, perhaps, was our little heroine - Christina, who demonstrated her real acting talent. The schoolgirl got used to the role perfectly, although, probably, it was not easy for her to work on an equal basis with adults. With the actors who played the role of her parents, Christina met only on the day of filming. However, they quickly managed to find a common language, and in the video they looked like a real family. By the way, the role of the girl's parents was played by the Stozhkovs couple. They are our constant donors. Young active people responded with great pleasure to the offer to take part in the shooting.

Family dynasties are very important for blood donation. How is work with such families organized at your station?

The Ulyanovsk blood transfusion station has been working with donors for over sixty years. During this time, many dynasties have appeared in our files. Active donors themselves involve their children and grandchildren in this noble cause. For example, the Vasiliev family has been actively donating blood and its components for 23 years. The head of the family, Honorary Donor Valery Gennadievich Vasiliev, and his wife, Honorary Donor Natalya Vladimirovna Vasilieva, show by personal example that donation is safe and honorable. The couple brought their two sons to the station. Now they have become participants in the charitable donor movement. An equally significant contribution to the development of donation in the Ulyanovsk region was made by the Shevtsov and Kichemasov dynasties.
The blood of these families saved many lives in the Ulyanovsk region.

Blood donation needs high-quality social advertising. As a creator of such an advertisement, what recommendations will you give to colleagues from other regions - those who want to shoot social video content?

Social advertising of blood donation, first of all, should be simple and accessible, understandable to people of different ages. Its main message is that donation is vital and noble. Instead of teaching address to people's feelings. It is necessary to break stereotypes, to awaken compassion and a sense of duty.

Tell us about the results of the project "Minutes to give life". What channels for promotion did you choose, what kind of response did you get?

We were able to show the video on local television, albeit briefly. It is no secret that advertising in the media is a commercial story, and only minor exceptions are made for social projects. Of course, I would like to see social videos dedicated to donation regularly broadcast on central television channels. It is the right thing to do.
Now the video "Minutes to give life" can be seen on the Internet. It received many positive responses from young people and married couples, who expressed their warmest support to the topic of gratuitous donation.

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

Not to be afraid of anything. Move forward. Love life and share this love with others! Give life to people in need.