The 15th regional youth educational forum "Format" is taking place in Kaluga from November 13 to 16, 2025. This year, more than 200 activists have become its participants.

The forum unites seven key areas: "Governor's Groups", "International Cooperation", "Student Youth", "Working Youth", "Youth Policy Specialists", "Young Entrepreneurs", and "Youth Councils of Enterprises". The organizer of the "International Cooperation" track is the WYFD International Friendship Club of the Kaluga Region.

"The main goal of the forum is to show international students the life and hospitality of the Kaluga region. They can learn about the region not just from booklets, but also through interaction with the young people of the region. This creates a strong foundation for fostering friendship", said Ekaterina Karlovskaya, the leader of the WYFD International Friendship Club in the Kaluga Region.

25 young people from Russia, China, Angola, Saudi Arabia, and Togo are participating in the "International Cooperation" track. Over the course of three days, they will get acquainted with the activities of the International Friendship Club, learn about different types of international cooperation, and develop new models of cooperation.

The track program includes an introduction to effective volunteer practices, training in design, sketching and noting, and participation in a workshop on developing communication skills for life and business. Participants also receive information about migration policy and discuss prospects for youth cooperation between Russia and Africa.

"For us foreign participants, the 'Format' Forum has become a true gateway to the Kaluga region. We are not only learning but also discovering a region with immense opportunities and unexpectedly open-minded people," said Wang Xinyuan, a participant from China.

Overview:

The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024 in 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, which took place on the Sirius Federal Territory in 2024 and united 20,000 young people from 190 countries of the world, festival events on the territory of the Russian Federation will be held annually. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will be held in 2030. In 2026, there will be a smaller event, an International Youth Festival with 10,000 participants. In between, the World Youth Festival’s themed Assemblies will be held annually for 2,000 participants.

The first World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod from September 17 to 21, 2025 and brought together 2,000 young people from 120 countries. The World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.