The international project "Sails of the Spirit," implemented by the "White Cane" NGO with the support of the State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom" and the Federal Agency "Rossotrudnichestvo," was held this year in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey. The Turkish expedition served as the culmination of the annual "Movement Towards Mutual Enrichment" cycle.
The main goal of the project was to form an international Extrability-business community where mutual enrichment becomes the driving mechanism for sustainable partnerships.
The expedition started in Trabzon. On October 15-16, Extrability Days were held here, bringing together representatives of public organizations, civil servants, teachers, students, and activists. Among them were members of the Society of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Association of People with Autism, the Community of Parents of Children with Down Syndrome, the "Without Barriers" organization (Russia), and the association of families of those killed in military actions.
The seminar "Sails of the Spirit as a Platform for International Interaction" was conducted by Oleg Kolpashchikov, President of White Cane NGO and head of the project; Alina Tosun, the project coordinator in Turkey and a volunteer of the movement; and Dursun Arslan, head of Tarsus Disability Platform.
The next day, workshops were held at the city's yacht club: "Journey Between Worlds," "Tying Sea Knots," "Plasticineography" – practices that develop trust, coordination, and team spirit. Consul of the Russian Federation in Trabzon, Valeriy Timashov, delivered a welcoming speech.
The seminar "Sails of the Spirit as a Platform for International Interaction" was conducted by Oleg Kolpashchikov, President of White Cane NGO and head of the project; Alina Tosun, the project coordinator in Turkey and a volunteer of the movement; and Dursun Arslan, head of Tarsus Disability Platform.
The next day, workshops were held at the city's yacht club: "Journey Between Worlds," "Tying Sea Knots," "Plasticineography" – practices that develop trust, coordination, and team spirit. Consul of the Russian Federation in Trabzon, Valeriy Timashov, delivered a welcoming speech.
Among the honored guests were Savas Yol, Head of the Disability Chamber of Trabzon City Council and Head of the Blind and Visually Impaired community; Ibrahim Yilmaz, member of the Disability Chamber Board and Head of the Disability Community of the Yomra District; Süheyla Kuvvet, Deputy Head of the Disability Chamber; Beyza Sarı, Board Member and Head of the Community of Mothers of Children with Disabilities; Ensar Ozturk, Board Member and Head of the Community of Families with Children with Down Syndrome; Şeref İşler, Head of the Community of Families of Those Killed in Military Actions; and Adil Duman, Director of the "Akyazı Yachting" water sports club.
This very diversity – representatives of different communities, professions, and cultures – confirms the formation of an international Extrability-business community.
This very diversity – representatives of different communities, professions, and cultures – confirms the formation of an international Extrability-business community.
A unique feature this year was the division into male and female yachts, but with an unexpected twist: the female yacht had a male captain, and the male yacht had a female captain. During the passages, the teams continued the business game "Gift Design": participants were preparing gifts for each other – from material to emotional – and exchanged them between yachts.
Two inclusive regattas were organized, during which beginners controlled the yachts under the guidance of experienced captains – this became an important part of the learning and trust-building process.
"For the first time, we entrusted management to beginners, and they achieved a truly impressive result. As an experienced project participant, I can say that the whole team deeply immersed themselves in the essence of yachting," shared Sandra Krumina, a yachtswoman from Latvia.
In Antalya, an Extrability Day was held, including an inclusive regatta with the participation of representatives from a local center for people with Down syndrome. The victory was won by the crew of the yacht "Instant Zero," which had the largest number of representatives from the center – vivid proof that different people are stronger together.
After the regatta, master classes and a concert were held at the "Mukaddes Aksoy" center, uniting center residents, participants from Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Turkey. The performance concluded with energetic Zumba by İlkay İlmaz, co-organizer of the Extrability Festival in Mersin. The organizers expressed gratitude to Marina Sorokina, head of the center, and translator and volunteer Alina Tosun for their invaluable support.
After the regatta, master classes and a concert were held at the "Mukaddes Aksoy" center, uniting center residents, participants from Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Turkey. The performance concluded with energetic Zumba by İlkay İlmaz, co-organizer of the Extrability Festival in Mersin. The organizers expressed gratitude to Marina Sorokina, head of the center, and translator and volunteer Alina Tosun for their invaluable support.
"I am immensely happy that there are such people, organizers of the international movement 'Sails of the Spirit.' I was particularly impressed that visually impaired people from nine countries are participating in the project and enjoying life. This movement helps to understand oneself and the unlimited possibilities of people," shared a senior volunteer, member of the Russian Society, Rakhat Akhanovna Shaisultanova.
On October 25, the International Extrability Festival was held in Mersin. The regatta included the yacht "My Story" from the Mersin Marina yacht club, known for training Paralympians. The yacht sailed from Mersin to Antalya, participated in the first regatta, and then returned to Mersin, where it set sail again under the command of Sedat Çelikcan, commodore captain of the "Rota" yacht club.
Throughout the day, over 300 guests experienced the practices of "Journey Between Worlds," plasticineography, and learned to tie sea knots. All master classes were conducted by "Sails of the Spirit" volunteers who participated in the expedition. The stage featured performances by the rock band "Pole Chudes," the dance group "Temporitmy," pianist Cem Gürkem Gündoğdu, vocalist Hasan Onay, Anatolian rock musician Hasan Esmer, and others – representatives of different countries and cultures whose joint creativity became another manifestation of mutual enrichment.
Throughout the day, over 300 guests experienced the practices of "Journey Between Worlds," plasticineography, and learned to tie sea knots. All master classes were conducted by "Sails of the Spirit" volunteers who participated in the expedition. The stage featured performances by the rock band "Pole Chudes," the dance group "Temporitmy," pianist Cem Gürkem Gündoğdu, vocalist Hasan Onay, Anatolian rock musician Hasan Esmer, and others – representatives of different countries and cultures whose joint creativity became another manifestation of mutual enrichment.
From October 26–28, inclusive excursions around Tarsus, visits to social institutions, and meetings with students took place. Six parallel Extrability master classes were held at the Mersin University Branch in Tarsus. At Çağ University, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the university, Tarsus Disability Platform, and the White Cane NGO. Immediately after the ceremony, a friendly chess match took place between participant Kamila Serikbolkyzy from Kazakhstan and a Turkish student.
A meeting held on board the yacht with representatives of JSC "Akkuyu Nuclear" was of particular importance. The company, a subsidiary of the State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom," is implementing the project to build the first nuclear power plant in Turkey. Ivan Blinov, a representative of the "Akkuyu" NPP Youth Council and an expert in construction works, greeted the mission participants on behalf of the "Akkuyu Nuclear" management. He also discussed the potential involvement of the "Akkuyu" NPP youth movement in future "Sails of the Spirit" events.
Thus, step by step, meeting by meeting, passage by passage, "Sails of the Spirit" doesn't just talk about community – they build it. Here, there is no "help from above" and no "objects of care." There are equal participants, each of whom is a bearer of a unique gift. And this is precisely the essence of the Extrability-business of the future.
Project Partners:
· State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom"
· Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation "Rossotrudnichestvo"
Medscan Group of companies
· Sverdlovsk Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society
· Extrability Movement
· OOO (Limited Liability Company) "Institute of Management Design and Competitive Strategies" (Russia)
· Tarsus Disability Platform
· Turkish Federation of the Visually Impaired
· Mersin Municipality
· Tarsus Municipality
· Mersin City Council
· Disabled Assembly of Mersin City Council
· Disabled Assembly of Tarsus City Council
· Disabled Assembly of Trabzon City Council
· Private Patient Care Center "Mukaddes Aksoy" (Turkey)
· Mersin Marina (Turkey)
· Water Sports Club "Akyazı Yachting" (Turkey)
· Eurasian Association "Life Without Barriers" (Russia)
· Russian Society in Antalya
· "Doctor Volkova's Rehabilitation" Clinic (Russia)
· OOO "Eldorado-Tour" (Russia)
Project Partners:
· State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom"
· Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation "Rossotrudnichestvo"
Medscan Group of companies
· Sverdlovsk Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society
· Extrability Movement
· OOO (Limited Liability Company) "Institute of Management Design and Competitive Strategies" (Russia)
· Tarsus Disability Platform
· Turkish Federation of the Visually Impaired
· Mersin Municipality
· Tarsus Municipality
· Mersin City Council
· Disabled Assembly of Mersin City Council
· Disabled Assembly of Tarsus City Council
· Disabled Assembly of Trabzon City Council
· Private Patient Care Center "Mukaddes Aksoy" (Turkey)
· Mersin Marina (Turkey)
· Water Sports Club "Akyazı Yachting" (Turkey)
· Eurasian Association "Life Without Barriers" (Russia)
· Russian Society in Antalya
· "Doctor Volkova's Rehabilitation" Clinic (Russia)
· OOO "Eldorado-Tour" (Russia)