No excuses: "Are you afraid? Do! "- an interview with a public figure Daria Kuznetsova
Motivation Inspiration / / December 19, 2019
In the rhythm of dance
- Hello, Dasha! Welcome to Layfhaker!
- Hi, Nastya! Thanks for the invitation!
- Dasha, where were you born?
- I am a Muscovite. From the middle of the XIX century of my relatives live in Moscow. (Perhaps in the past we lived, but so far I have his family tree, unfortunately, I do not know.) So I appreciate and respect this city.
- What has been filled with your childhood?
- Dancing! In all sorts of forms. Before school studied ballet (the girl is important to put the posture), school - rhythm. In adolescence, attracted to breakdance. This is a sport and work in one bottle. Then there was a period of Latin dances.
In short, childhood - it is sheer creativity, dance, music, speech.
- All of these creative activity pushed you parents?
- I am no one ever does not forced to deal with. Parents just shows what possibilities there, and supported my endeavors.
- What else but love of freedom, taught my mother and father?
- A huge number of things. I still continue to learn from them. And every year more and more want to absorb their wisdom and experience, all the more interesting to chat with them.
Stress
- And they were there when there was a car accident?
- Yes.
I was 19 years old. I studied at the Moscow State Technical University of Radio Engineering, Electronics and Automation at the Faculty of Cybernetics, and I had a grand career plans (going to work in Intel). My life was so intense that it seemed to me after the accident, though she stopped.
I had stress. I did not know what to do next. I did not know if I can restore vitality. And I do not imagine that in a wheelchair, my life will be even more active.
through the lens
- How's your new active life began?
- Before the injury I did not know anything about people with disabilities. Once in this fairly closed community, I saw amazing people with amazing life stories. Contrary to stereotypes, it's interesting, beautiful and successful people. Someone realized in business, someone in sports, someone in the works, some just a great family man. I wanted to society, too, has seen it. So began my passion for photography.
But then I had no idea that I was so engulf and that I'm going to do photography professionally.
- Are not you afraid that you can not stand the light or catch a certain frame?
- At first it bothered me. I thought, how am I going to cope? But if there is a desire and resourcefulness, any problem can be solved. For example, you need to remove the top. OK, put the camera on a tripod, take the hand button synchronizer makes the frame.
I have a studio photographer, I love to work with technology, build lighting schemes, coordinate people (make-up artists, stylists). Now I work with an assistant, but first she moved all the lights, soft boxes collected. It was hard, but the desire was stronger in times. His head was not thinking about the difficulties, was the goal.
Many complain about how I'm going to be engaged in something, even when out of the house can not go - in the entrance steps. In my house the stairs, too, as there is no technical possibility to make a ramp, but I simply did not notice.
The aim should be to overcome the steps, and something more. I believe that everyone in life has a guiding star, the work which inspires and ignites inside. We just need to find it.
integration club
- Dasha, you're not only the filming, but also kuriruesh fotokruzhok in a rehabilitation center "Overcoming". Tell me about it.
- Not only fotokruzhok. I am a fifth year I have led the integration club "Overcome". This is an amazing place! There are people who have lost their health, re-gain their place in society.
The club has three basic areas: sports, work and training.
Sport is big and rich program. Table football, table tennis, billiards, arm sport, bocce, bench weights, wheelchair rugby - anyone can do any sport or sports games, which appealed to him.
The most developed have table football and rugby on wheelchairs. For both types there are teams that play at the international level. (I myself three years ago became the champion of table football in Europe.) And both of these areas, we develop from scratch.
For example, rugby - Paralympic sport. But four years ago, there was nothing like that in Moscow. To us came Anatoly Kozyrev (Now head coach of the Russian national rugby on wheelchairs. - Approx. author) and I said, "Guys, let's team will collect ?!". We held a charity event "Sport of unlimited possibilities", attracted public organizations, business. We collected money to buy a sports wheelchair for rugby (each worth about 300 thousand rubles). Now our guys who started to engage the enthusiasm - professional athletes: train five times a week, represent the country in international competitions.
Recently, we took another one for the Paralympic direction - archery.
- And what is your club doing creative nature?
- What we have is not only for them! :) decoupage, batik, painting, embroidery, felting - everything that can be done hands and what you can earn money. Our goal - not just the creativity and communication. We want the person, having mastered one or another kind of applied art, was able to make it their profession (Show works at exhibitions, participate in trade fairs, handmade by, selling products at online stores).
Also in the creative direction includes a photograph. Equipped in 'overcoming' studio, where I and my fellow photographers conducting master classes, lectures and so on. Recently began to carry out the so-called beauty days. Makeup artists transform our girls, as they pose for the participants of our photo club. As a result, the girls see themselves completely with the other hand (this is an important psychological moment), and novice photographers stuffed hand.
By the way, the work of many turn out quite professional. Some years we are working with the project "objective opinion"Holds competitions and organize an exhibition in the Zurab Tsereteli Gallery.
- Dasha, and it's all free?
- Everything that is done in the integration club, free of charge. We are based in a rehabilitation center "Overcoming". Referring to it, you can not only improve their health but also to socialize through our club.
I believe that our club - it is a universal carrying case, which can be implemented in any region on the basis of any rehabilitation center. The main thing is that there were three areas: sports, work and training.
The problem with many disability organizations - lack of staff. The salary is small, work hard - people do not go to them. We have the majority of employees - former "wards" of the club.
That is, people like us, something polepil, to paint, to improve health, and then was discharged from the center, back to work. Every year someone leaves, someone comes. Staff turnover - is the influx of new forces and ideas.
- Dasha, ask a bit provocative question. If it happens that you get rid of the wheelchair, you will cease to engage in social sphere?
- Sitting in a chair, I opened my eyes to many things, and they can not be shut down. Now there is no division for me: people with and without disabilities. I am a good organizer and I know that, getting to his feet, would have even more work. You might have had other projects that are not related to the disability community, but on the solution of their problems, I would not have refused.
Angel flying away
- Tell me about the "Karting without borders."
- This is a new incredibly disturbing my project. Surely every city has kart clubs, and many rode on small sports car - maps.
I love to drive. And not only the car, but also tricycles, bikes. Recently Moscow bikers took me into their community, and I understood all that singing in a rock ballads of freedom, and the wind speed - the truth! :)
Several years ago, my colleagues from MAMI remade three cards on the hand control. And organized a karting event last year. I took part in them, and I loved it! After another month and a half we have organized sports with his friends party to promote karting among people with disabilities. It was cool: playing DJ, organized a delicious buffet, held competitions.
You should have seen the faces of people when they remove the helmet after the race: their eyes were burning, they excitedly told us what a feeling of freedom experienced! Seeing this response, I realized that I did not do it for nothing.
It is important to make it clear to people with health problems, especially the young, that these emotions, this atmosphere is a party, a relaxed chat - all this is available to them.
- And more such races will be held?
- Yes, we are planning to repeat in the future, the competition year. I think will be even more interesting. And in the long term - to build a team, the members of which will be on a par with the healthy part in karting competitions. I think it would be right "brain explosion" of the public: a man in a wheelchair arrives at the card sits in it, makes all the heat, and then transplanted back into the carriage. Need to break stereotypes, if a person in a wheelchair slowly, unsportsmanlike and dim.
- Dasha, you got injured in a car accident. And now once again drive a car, on maps, on bikes. It was not afraid to drive after the incident?
- It was. To be honest, I had no idea how to again sit behind the wheel, because even just to sit in the front seat was uncomfortable. But at some point I was ripe for it. Tired of using a taxi, I wanted more to keep pace. Together with the desire fear left.
- You have to move a lot, and not only in Moscow but also in the world. Tell me, why are you traveling?
- Travel - the best way to get to know people, their knowledge and culture. I close the European culture, so a trip to Germany, England, France and other European states to me - it is, firstly, broaden their horizons. Secondly, in these countries, you recognize what an accessible environment. It turns out that even historical towns can be adapted to all be comfortable, without compromising their cultural values. I'm inspired when I like all can move freely around the city.
- In Russia there is no such?
- Yes, but less and less. In the spring I had the Sochi Paralympics torchbearer. I was pleasantly surprised by how changed the central part of Sochi. Railway stations, the airport, all the Olympic and tourist facilities became available. Hopefully, the example of Sochi will become contagious to other cities.
- In Asia, were you?
- Yes, several times was extended trips to India. This is a completely different civilization. It is interesting to observe how religion and culture shape people's lives. Asia inspires me to work, absorbs her identity, and then it is reflected in the photographic works.
In general, any journey gives new strength to live.
Out comfort zone
- You know, our special project in something similar to your mission in the photos. We also try to talk about people with disabilities without pathos, to show what they are strong and beautiful. Therefore we chose the name "No excuses." What is life without excuses for Daria Kuznetsova?
- First, I want to say that I like your project: and style, and pitch, and slogan. Indeed, there can be no excuse to live with dignity, find their job and to benefit people. It is available to all, whether or not the walking legs.
What is a "no excuses" for me personally? It is the desire to do good and to live your life so that it is not a shame.
- Dasha, what do you dream about?
- Correctly distribute the forces to be effective and is constantly fed with new knowledge. My dream is to go their own way, every day, expanding horizons.
- Finally covet anything Layfhakera readers.
- There is a phrase "comfort zone." And there is the phrase "out of the comfort zone." In the comfort zone of our good and quiet, but after a while we stop to get information about the boundless possibilities of life. I do not want to be afraid to go out of your comfort zone.
Many people say in doubt - do. I think this is wrong. When in doubt, then you need to think more. But if you're afraid - do it! Do not be afraid to go out of your comfort zone!
- Dasha, thank you very much for the interview! You loaded up me with his energy, and I think the mood will be transferred to readers.
- Also I am counting on it! :) Thank you, Anastasia!