In the midst of the harvest campaign, many agricultural enterprises in Belarus are receiving unexpected but highly valuable support – employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) are joining the work in the fields. Among them is 21-year-old Alexander Azevich, a driver at the Lepel District Department for Emergency Situations, who, on his days off from duty, takes the helm of a combine harvester at the Chereyshchina agricultural enterprise.
Alexander hails from the agro-town of Chereyshchina, so he knows firsthand how challenging rural labour is and how important it is to bring in the harvest on time. For Alexander, this is his second season as a combine harvester operator, helping his home enterprise during the busy harvest period. The young rescuer admits that this way he is fulfilling two dreams at once: serving people by saving lives and operating powerful agricultural machinery.
– Whenever I have the opportunity, I am always happy to help, – says Alexander. – In the MES, we are used to acting quickly and cohesively; responsibility is also important in the field. The harvest must be brought in on time, and if I can contribute – why not?!
This desire is also supported by the head of the district department, Ivan Maskal'kov, who visits the field to check the working conditions of his employee and to be convinced once again what good and responsible young men serve in his department.
Such an initiative is not uncommon: many MES employees support agricultural workers during the harvest season. Their skills – attentiveness, discipline, and the ability to work under pressure – prove valuable in the grain fields as well.
The management of the agricultural enterprise highly values Alexander's assistance:
– Guys like him are a real help, – they note at the enterprise. – They know the machinery, are hardworking, and understand the importance of getting everything done on time and within the deadline.
Alexander has set himself a goal: to thresh at least 1,000 tons of grain during this harvest campaign.
Combining two important missions – saving lives