Russia

"Nadia is an amazing person. I don't know how she found the time for all of us, but she did. She took us on errands outside of our planned field trips, and was always there to talk to us. She helped me on numerous occasions, really going above and beyond."

Yvette Lopez, Russia Volunteer

In-Country Staff in Russia

CCS Russia Staff Local CCS staff in Yaroslavl will welcome you to the community, make you feel at home, and help you better understand Russian culture. They will help facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to answer any questions that may arise. CCS staff is always from the region where we operate—they provide a local perspective, help you learn the local language, and guide you in what to do in your free time.

All of our in-country staff members are warm, loving people who will make sure you are well cared for. Each CCS program site has a Country Director or Program Director and a full staff to take care of all programming, administrative, and logistical needs, as well as housekeepers, drivers, house guards, and cooks. Because the staff office is typically located at the CCS Home-Base, a helping hand is never far. Learn more about our Russia staff below.

Country Director: Nataliya Gubina Nataliya Gubina, Country Director for Russia
A native of Yaroslavl, Russia, Nataliya proudly joined the CCS staff in 2008. She earned a doctorate in the field of Applied English and has over 25 years of experience in education and management in cross-cultural settings. Promoting cultural exchange and understanding through teaching and management has been the hallmark of her career.

Nataliya graduated from the Yaroslavl State Teacher's Training Institute and became a nurse of public defense before becoming a teacher of both English and German. She taught various courses at high schools and vocational schools across Yaroslavl including marketing, methodological research, Business English, and Cross-Cultural Management in International Business. An expert on Russian culture, she later lectured at Demidov Yaroslavl State University where she taught in the departments of economics, history, and law.

Before joining CCS as the Country Director for Russia, Nataliya served as the manager of Exeter House, a hotel and business center in Yaroslavl designed to promote the exchange of Russian and English culture, for seven years. At the Exeter House, she hosted many international guests, arranged English lessons for children and adults, planned cultural events, and managed a staff while also establishing and maintaining working relationships with the Exeter City Council and the Yaroslavl Friendship Society.

During her career, Nataliya also taught on the Ethics and Psychology of Men/Women Relations and Married Life and became a correspondent after attending the Public University of Worker and Peasant Correspondents.

Senior Translator: Olga Tichonova
Olga translate for volunteers at work placements, orders food for the volunteers at the hotel, teaches Russian, meets the volunteers at the airport, and prepares orientation packets for the volunteers.

Translators: Katya Toropova and Asya Voronina
Katya and Asya translate for the volunteers at the work placements and travel to Moscow to see the volunteers off. Katya is an English teacher and now works with us full-time as a translator. Asya is a recent and great addition to the CCS staff.

Accountant: Olga Karulina
Olga keeps and maintains all the accounting books and legal papers for the staff. She also loves going to her dacha (country house).

Transportation: Nicholai Krooglikov and Vladimir Egorov
Nicholai and Vladimir are in charge of safely transporting volunteer to and from your volunteer placement and the airport. Nicholai is a wonderful father figure for the volunteers and loves apples. Vladimir has a great sense of humor and loves working with the volunteers.

CCS offers the following programs in Yaroslavl, Russia:
Volunteer Abroad -- 2 to 11 weeks | Click for Start Dates
Insight Abroad -- 1 week | Click for Start Dates

Request more information about volunteering in Russia or read more about the CCS Experience in Yaroslavl, Russia from the topics below:

Read stories and testimonials of participants who have volunteered in Russia or watch one of our videos on volunteering abroad.