On the eve of March 8, participants of the International Friendship Clubs of the World Youth Festival Directorate held dozens of cultural, educational and creative events in the regions of Russia. Russian and foreign students as well as young professionals joined the celebration. Together they talked about the role of women in modern society, learned about the cultural traditions of different countries, participated in workshops and social events.
The WYFD International Friendship Club participants of St. Petersburg discovered the cultural traditions and artistic motifs of the peoples of Tunisia, India, Vietnam, China, Algeria and the CIS countries. The central event was a workshop on ethnic painting, where the students created their own works, inspired by the national ornaments of different countries.
Representatives of the WYFD International Friendship Clubs from all over the country joined the festive campaign "To you, our beloved ones!" So, in the Voronezh Region, activists gifted flowers to women on the streets, in the Altai Territory, children from India and Afghanistan congratulated employees of the regional hospital and the temporary detention center for juvenile offenders, handing them flowers and postcards, and also held a workshop.
"The action brought together activists of the International Friendship Club from Guinea, Mali and Bangladesh. For our participants from all over the world, this was a great opportunity to express their respect and appreciation for women who inspire us every day. We are glad to be a part of this kind unifying movement," said Artem Ryabtsev, leader of the WYFD International Friendship Club of the Voronezh Region.
The international team of the Nizhny Novgorod Region got acquainted with the traditions of celebrating March 8 in Russia and other countries. The participants of the WYFD International Friendship Club took part in a workshop on painting fans in oriental and European styles, and also made greeting cards in foreign languages.
The poetry evening "Poetic Globe" was held in the Republic of Mari El: children tried their hand at the "Around the world with poetry" quiz, musical performances, and also took part in the "Origami of Wishes" workshop. More than 80 representatives from Russia, India, Algeria, Pakistan, Mali, Turkmenistan, the Republic of the Congo, Angola and Nepal joined the event.
"In India, on International Women's Day, we express appreciation and gratitude to the women in our lives. People take time to celebrate their contribution and make women feel valued and respected. I was most surprised by the active participation of children in the celebration of this day in Russia. I especially remember the moment when I watched the boy, despite his young age, play the guitar with confidence and talent. It was really impressive," said Nirzara Ugale from India.
The WYFD International Friendship Club of the Tyumen Region, together with the United Russia Women's Movement, held the event "Dialogue with Inspiring Women. Women's Leadership in the modern world", which included discussions and workshops. Experts from the fields of public administration, sports, media, business and culture shared their experiences, and the participants developed ideas for new social initiatives. The event was attended by more than 100 representatives from Russia, El Salvador, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Vietnam.
"Participating in this event was a real discovery for me. In El Salvador, March 8 is primarily a day of solidarity and struggle for women's rights. We march and hold conferences. But here I saw a different, very warm and inspiring format: success stories of women from different fields, their sincere advice, lively dialogue — these things created an atmosphere of support and trust. I especially remember the workshop where we came up with social projects in groups: our ideas combined cultural, sports and educational aspects. I was surprised by how much attention in Russia is paid not only to the festive side, but also to the real development of women's leadership. I felt like not just a guest, but a part of a community where your voice is appreciated. And I am greatly thankful to the International Friendship Club for this experience!" said Marquez Chavez Milagro Day Pilar from El Salvador.
Participants of the WYFD International Friendship Club of the Republic of Adygea held an event "Inspire and Act", which included a national fashion show, workshops on decorative and applied arts, a meeting with a representative of the media sphere and a dialogue with the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Development of the Republic within the framework of the project "State.Start. Dialogue". In the Republic of Tatarstan, the participants of the International Friendship Club attended the musical "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Kachalov Kazan Academic Russian Bolshoi Drama Theater, one of the most popular theater projects in the city.
The stories of famous women were discussed by the participants of the WYFD International Friendship Club of the Republic of Bashkortostan in the format of the discussion club "Daughters of the World". This way, foreign youth learned the legend of Bandebike, who in the 15th century stopped the bloodshed between Bashkir and Kazakh clans with a wise word. The young people also discussed the role of women in public diplomacy, got acquainted with the folklore of different cultures, and also painted "portraits" of cities in a female image.
"I was very interested in learning about local women's heroic stories. And I am especially pleased that I was able to share with the participants the legend of our Indian warrior Unniarche – few people outside of India know about her. Such meetings help to see how much our peoples have in common. In Russia, March 8 feels like one of the main holidays of the year, it has really taken root and has become an integral part of the culture," said Sidhant Tiwari from India.
Foreign students and club activists in the Republic of Buryatia held a Russian language conversation club, a workshop on painting and presented flowers to the residents of the city.
The participants of the WYFD International Friendship Club of the Republic of Mordovia held a tea ceremony: they got acquainted with the tea traditions of different countries, took part in meditation practice and tasting of aromatic tea.
Overview:
The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024 at “Sirius”, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.
In accordance with the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on preserving and developing the legacy of the World Youth Festival, festival events on the territory of the Russian Federation will be held annually. The World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod in 2025 and brought together 2,000 young people from 120 countries. In 2026, the International Festival of Youth will be gather 10,000 participants. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will be held in 2030.
The World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation and developing a community of young people who care about the future of the world.