From August 12 to 18, the Kaliningrad region will host the first Educational Shift of the SHUM Forum — SHUM.MediaCenter. The event will bring together the most outstanding and ambitious representatives of student and youth-led media centers, young professionals from across Russia, CIS, and the Republic of Abkhazia. A total of 300 participants will attend the event, including 50 young Russian-speaking media specialists from abroad. Registration for international participants is now open on the World Youth Festival Directorate’s platform.
“Last year highlighted the relevance and demand for international youth cooperation. We watched bloggers and journalists from 86 countries and 87 Russian regions create content that resonated with thousands worldwide. Foreign participants of the SHUM Forum proved that media knows no borders, and honesty and sincerity transcend language. In 2025, we’re moving further: strengthening international efforts, expanding the educational agenda, and giving talented young people the chance to learn from the best”, emphasized Grigory Gurov, Head of Rosmolodezh (Federal Agency for Youth Affairs).
SHUM.MediaCenter participants will enjoy an eventful week-long programme focused on developing student and youth-led media – from journalism, copywriting, and SMM to design, photo or video production. The shift will focus on practical activities: participants will develop real media plans, projects, and strategies they can implement in their universities, organizations, and other countries.
“Exchanging experience and cultural values with international participants contributes to shaping a new generation of media leaders capable of creating content that unites people and ideas. We’re proud that the Kaliningrad region is becoming a hub for young professionals from different countries. We believe that such meetings foster a true international media community that is both professional and friendly. At the SHUM Forum, every participant will gain not only knowledge and experience but also confidence in the power of their voice. As a region, we will always support such bold and open initiatives”, said Anna Musevich, Minister of Youth Policy of the Kaliningrad Region.
Throughout the week, participants will learn from media professionals who represent leading Russian and international media outlets, tackling real client cases, working in teams, and developing full-fledged media projects.
The World Youth Festival Directorate (WYFD) is co-organizing the international participants' shift. Foreign attendees will also join the educational programme aimed at developing skills in media, journalism, and communications.
“The World Youth Festival Directorate is consistently expanding its engagement with the international media community, creating a pool of journalists and bloggers who share Russia’s values. One of the key formats of 2025 will be the SHUM Forum summer shift, where the WYF Directorate will facilitate the participation of 50 young representatives from CIS countries. Over the week, they will receive training from leading Russian and foreign experts. As a result, they will co-author a course for experts in media technologies, which can be further implemented based on advanced Russian approaches to media work”, added **Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate. **
Participants will also develop concepts for a course in media technologies, aimed at mastering new media opportunities and modern tools for content production, editing, and distribution.
The authors of the best project will present it at one of Russia’s largest youth platforms – the World Youth Festival Assembly, scheduled to take place from September 17 to 21, 2025, bringing together 2,000 young leaders from Russia and abroad.
The project is organized by the ANO “Youth Center SHUM” with the support of Rosmolodezh as part of the federal project “Russia – Land of Opportunity” under the “Youth and Children” national project, as well as the World Youth Festival Directorate and the Government of the Kaliningrad Region.
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 World Youth Festival Forum, 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.