On August 29th, the WYFD Pskov Region International Friendship Club celebrated its first anniversary. The event was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere, and was a bright reflection of one year of work to strengthen international relations and develop youth diplomacy.
"It was exactly one year ago when this amazing friendship journey began. We saw that the world is full of beautiful people, and distance is not an obstacle. I wish the club many, many new friends, ideas and unforgettable moments!" - Dmitry Yakovlev, Acting Minister of Youth Policy of the Pskov Region, addressed the participants of the club with a welcoming speech.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, international students and youth diplomacy activists. The guests of the holiday were already greeted at the entrance by symbols of friendship — Cheburashka and the mascot Barsik in the WYF-2024 merch.
The main event of the program was an open dialogue on the topic "Youth diplomacy within the framework of the International Friendship Club". The moderator of the discussion was Maria Yakovleva, the leader of the WYFD Pskov Region International Friendship Club. Together with the activists of the club, they discussed the achievements of the first year of work and the prospects for the development of youth public diplomacy in the region.
The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry in Pskov, Valentin Sazonov, noted that the WYFD International Friendship Club of the Pskov Region is especially important for the region, where a large number of foreign citizens study.
"Many of the students are far from their relatives. Communicating with their peers, they socialize, gain the necessary knowledge about Russia, its culture and traditions. This is a very important project, and we fully support it. We congratulate all the IFC representatives and wish you prosperity in you work!" said Valentin Sazonov.
The concert program was organized by the activists of the International Friendship Club, international students of Pskov State University. It became a highlight of the festive evening. Creative performances introduced guests to the culture of foreign countries. The holiday ended with a master class in Russian folk dancing.
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.
On the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, the WYF will be held in Russia on a regular basis – once in six years. Also, every six years 10,000 young people from all over the world will get together at the International Youth Festival, and in between, international themed assemblies for 2,000 participants will be held under the auspices of the WYF. The first Assembly is scheduled to take place in September 2025 in Nizhny Novgorod. Festival events of various formats will be held in Russia annually.
According to the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation on the preservation and development of the Festival legacy, the World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.
