What makes the urban settlement of Kopys in the Orsha district unique?
In this extraordinarily beautiful place on the left bank of the Dnieper, the past and present are organically intertwined, erasing all temporal boundaries. This is a true concentration of history and a real "village" of the future: small but precious. The ancient city of craftsmen lives its measured life, not lagging behind everything new and progressive. Its unique historical heritage is the "Petrovsky Val" with an ancient settlement, where Peter I spent a lot of time defending the borders of a great power. Today, the restored "Petrovsky Val" is one of the most beloved and visited places by tourists in the Vitebsk region. Builders, together with scientists, have restored wooden towers with observation decks.
From the high bank, a bridge connecting the Vitebsk and Mogilev regions is visible, opened thanks to the care of the head of state Alexander Lukashenko for his small homeland.
Despite the cyclones that have recently hit the northern region of the country, Kopys greets visitors with cleaned and sprinkled roads and sidewalks, and neat streets: at 8 am, it is clean and quiet here. On the way to the Kopys Village Council of Deputies and Executive Committee, I strike up a conversation with a local resident, Elena Vinarskaya, who, despite the early hour, is already hurrying to her workplace at the House of Culture to prepare for another event. The woman says that she moved to the settlement with her family from Kaliningrad at the age of one.
– I grew up here, got my education here, and got married. My husband’s grandfather left us a house as an inheritance, which we renovated over time, – she adds. – In the 25 years my husband and I have lived here, I’ve never even thought about moving somewhere else. Why would I? Kopyś has everything you need for life. And in recent years, the village has truly transformed. Just look how clean, cozy, and comfortable it is here. You go outside in winter and you’re not afraid of getting stuck in snowdrifts on your way to the store or to work. My elder son, who is 23, went to Russia for a "better" life, and now he wants to come back to his hometown. Believe me, there is work for everyone here, if there's a desire. My daughter has been attending vocal and choreography classes at our House of Culture since she was three. She’s a local star. Everyone finds something to do according to their tastes and interests, I’m telling you this without any embellishment, both as a local resident and as the artistic director. Without involving outside performers, we prepare numerous events for all age groups on our own. They are all original creations of our creative director of the House of Culture, Victoria Zezyulina. In the auditorium during concerts, competition programs, and theatrical performances, there are no empty seats. Sometimes we even have to bring in extra chairs.
The Chairperson of the Kopyś Village Council, Ekaterina Vatsuro, fully confirms Elena’s words: residents of the village, from young to old, spend their leisure time in a varied way – with benefit and from the heart.
– As of January 1, 2023, the population of Kopys is 795 people, of whom 436 are of working age, and over a hundred are children. The era of revival for our village began in 2003 – the first agro-towns were built using our example. Everything that turned out to be less in demand found a better use. For example, one of the consumer services buildings in the center of the urban-type settlement, which housed a tailor's shop and a hairdresser's before 2003, was rebuilt and turned into a House of Culture. The building that housed the household goods store was re-equipped and now houses the post office, an automatic telephone exchange, and a comprehensive reception point. In other words, nothing was demolished or destroyed, but it was brought into proper condition and preserved. As early as 2017, a concept for the development of a "village of the future" was developed, and the village received a second wind. Necessary engineering communications, power lines, and communication lines were laid and equipped on every street, houses were supplied with gas. Centralized water supply and our own iron removal water treatment plant with an additional reservoir also appeared.
– It was a big celebration for the entire village, – notes pensioner Olga Mitskevich. – Previously, we had to walk a considerable distance to the well for water. Now the need for wells has disappeared – the water is good and clean.
All roads in Kopys, and there are over 15 km of them, 21 streets and 2 alleys, have been asphalted, private houses along the roads have been painted, fences have been installed, and sidewalks have been put in order.
– Our task is to preserve, protect, and multiply what we have, – emphasizes Ekaterina Vatsuro. – The brigade from the Orsha Special Motor Transport Base, which fully serves the communal sphere of the village and tourism facilities, provides enormous assistance. The population, seeing the care of the authorities, strives to maintain everything in order.
The village truly has everything needed for a regular, not even rural, but urban lifestyle. A hospital and polyclinic with modern equipment are located next to a pharmacy. Local residents note that they don't need to travel to the district center for medical assistance, treatment, and examinations – there's even their own ultrasound machine. There is a House of Culture and a Center for Folk Art and Crafts with numerous clubs and associations, and children's playgrounds. The library, a branch of Belarusbank with an ATM, a post office, a household services point, and even a public bathhouse with a wood-fired sauna are always in demand.
I inquire: "There used to be a bakery in Kopys that was famous for its aromatic bread. Why was it closed?"
– If initially they baked exceptional bread with coal firing here, then with the introduction of new technologies and the change of generations of bakers, the traditions were lost. Moreover, a wide assortment of bakery products appeared in stores, and the need for a bakery disappeared, – replies Ekaterina Vatsuro.
Kopys has woodworking section No. 2 of the Orsha Forestry, where about 40 people work. In 2016, the Kopys Forestry changed its location. A modern office was built next to the Center for Folk Art and Crafts on the site of the former tile factory, as it fell into disrepair and closed in the 1990s. However, a new enterprise has grown in its place, providing work and decent earnings to over 30 residents of the urban-type settlement.
As for the old building where the forestry was previously located, the Orsha Forestry has put it up for sale.
The former cheese production workshop of OJSC "Savushkin-Orsha" has today acquired a new owner. It was taken under the wing of a farm enterprise. In October of this year, the workshop was registered as a separate enterprise, UP "MILKKOP START," for milk processing and cheese production. Its opening will take place in the near future.
A new owner for the former consumer union cafe "Bistro". A local individual entrepreneur plans to delight not only with national cuisine but also with their own baked goods. The future of the former cafe "Spadchyna" was discussed by the residents of the settlement with "Orsha-Service". After the pandemic, it became unprofitable and has now been transferred to the Center for Folk Art and Crafts.
Perhaps the most native resident of Kopys is Viktor Nezderov. He has done a lot of good deeds for his small homeland and is proud of it.
– Life in the settlement has changed dramatically recently. If before 2003 it was a practically dying village, now it is an example to follow. This applies to both the social sphere and citizens' life support issues, – noted Viktor Ivanovich. – Take trade, for example, which is represented by two "Evroopt" grocery stores, the "Korona" shopping center, and one industrial goods store. The choice of goods is huge. We, pensioners, are also provided with a 10% discount on basic types of products. Pay attention to how well-maintained our school is, where children go with great pleasure. Yes, there are fewer children studying there now than in my school days. But it's not surprising – there were no ten-year schools in the area before. Children came to us from Zubovo, Alexandria, Khimy. And the birth rate was also very high. For example, there were 7 children in our family. This is no longer the case. Nevertheless, we have 13 young large families. Despite being offered state housing in cities, most of them stay here. And this is wonderful.
I couldn't help but visit the aforementioned Yanka Kupala Kopys Secondary School. Here, as in the entire settlement, there is ideal cleanliness, order, and coziness.
– As of today, we have 72 students, whereas last year there were 68. In the primary grades, there are 33 students. Unfortunately, this year we do not have 10th and 11th grades, – states the head of the educational institution, Galina Podberezkaya. – It so happened that all the graduates of the 9th grade from last academic year went to pursue professions. There are 13 children in the preschool department in 2 groups. The educational process and upbringing work are at a high level. On the sixth school day, no one needs to be specifically forced – the children themselves gladly come to engage in sports, creative activities, local history work, and participate in numerous events.
The Loginov family moved to Kopys in September of this year from the Russian Federation and are currently looking for a house in the settlement to settle down here.
– We found this spot on the map of Belarus online, – says Irina Loginova. – Based on descriptions, photos, videos, and reviews, we liked this particular place. We were also impressed that it is the birthplace of the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. And we are not disappointed – it is a wonderful place to live, we have been welcomed here like family. Our two children are delighted with the school – they feel calm, surrounded by attention and care. The meals for them, as primary school students, are free. They gladly attend dance and theater clubs, and participate in events. I have already been offered a job, my husband is still looking.
By the way, there are no problems in Kopys with acquiring land of no more than 0.25 hectares in private ownership or lease for construction purposes.
I find a map with 54 available plots on a stand in the settlement council: now there are almost half as many as there were five years ago – people are taking them for gardens and construction. All of them are in a residential area with gas and water.
It is also possible to purchase a ready-made house inexpensively, which was taken advantage of by a mother and her three daughters with their families who arrived from Kazakhstan. The large, friendly group also chose the settlement via the internet. After purchasing the house, they expanded it with an extension. And now they have also chosen a plot of land nearby – they have started building a house for their son. It is noteworthy that a relative from Germany visited them in the summer, who liked staying in Kopys so much that she also applied for a plot of land for house construction.