The New Year Tree of Wishes: A Beacon of Kindness and Light
On the eve of the New Year, HSE is once again helping make the dearest wishes of less-fortunate children come true. For several years now, the New Year Tree of Wishes charitable initiative has brought together students, lecturers, and university staff who want to spread a little magic during the winter holidays.
The New Year Tree of Wishes is a nationwide campaign carried out with the support of Rosmolodezh.Dobro and initiated by the Movement of the First. It has been held both online and offline since 2018. Over this time, more than 320,000 wishes have been fulfilled: children have received a wide variety of gifts—from construction sets and microscopes to ski equipment and cameras. For example, last New Year Lisa Tsaregorodtseva from the Saratov Region wished for a visit to HSE, and in February 2025 her dream came true. She learned first-hand how to apply to one of Russia’s leading universities and why studying here is challenging yet exciting.
This year, in the HSE building on Pokrovsky Bulvar, those wishing to take part in the initiative could pick a special bauble from the Christmas tree in the atrium, each bearing the name of a child and their wish.
‘I have children myself and I know very well how much they look forward to the New Year,’ said Irina Martusevich, Vice Rector of HSE University, who is a regular participant of the event. ‘For our family, this initiative is a way to give a little love, kindness, and warmth. Often, the letters sent to the New Year Tree of Wishes come from families who cannot always afford to buy what their child dreams of.’ It is important to maintain children’s festive spirit and sense of magic, she believes, so that they feel welcome, loved, and supported.
The New Year Tree of Wishes campaign is kind and uplifting, noted Veronika Minina, Vice Rector of HSE University. ‘Everyone who takes one of these baubles and fulfils a wish shares good feelings with others. Sometimes parents later call to say thank you, and that is very touching,’ she said.
Felix Azhimov, Dean of the HSE Faculty of Humanities, is taking part in the campaign for the third year in a row. ‘This year a girl is dreaming of a tracksuit. That is wonderful—we need to help young people get into sport. Doing something good is always important, especially when it concerns children,’ he said.
Anna Bezukladnikova, Deputy Director of the HSE Legal Office, is participating in the campaign for the first time. ‘I picked a bauble with a wish from a girl from Perm Krai. That is where I am from, so I am especially happy to help a child from my home region. Seven-year-old Sofia dreams of a set of skis. It is snowy and cold there, and she wants to go skiing,’ Anna shared.
Ekaterina Albegova, Director for Youth Policy Partnerships and Projects
‘The New Year Tree of Wishes is not just a campaign—it is a beacon of kindness whose light we proudly support year after year, and we will continue this touching tradition. With each passing year, the scale of good deeds reaches new corners of our vast country—from Primorsky Krai to the Donetsk People’s Republic—weaving the whole of Russia together with invisible threads of care. For students and staff of HSE University, this is a unique opportunity to become part of a real miracle, to lend a helping hand and to give a little warmth to those who need it most. After all, New Year is the time when the most cherished wishes must come true!’
The wishes of the young dreamers will be fulfilled by February 28, 2026.
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