During the World Youth Festival Assembly in Nizhny Novgorod, the booth of the presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities" became one of the centers of attraction for guests and participants from regions of Russia and different countries. They attended master classes and professional games, received career advice, and became a united team for four days, brought together by Russian hospitality and culture. The "Warm Russian Embrace" campaign, which has become a symbol of Russian hospitality and openness, set an impressive record.
Hundreds of guests in a special area next to the booth of the presidential platform “Russia – Country of Opportunities” shared friendly hugs, while volunteers counted the number of people participating. The result not only exceeded all the organizers' expectations, but also became a vivid testimony to intercultural dialogue.
"The record of 2,858 hugs is the most sincere and warm indicator of trust and openness that young people from different corners of the world have given to Russia. Behind this record are hundreds of stories of friendship, overcoming language barriers and cultural boundaries. The booth of the presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities" became a real home for dialogue, where new joint projects rather than only vivid emotions are born. It proves that sincere human communication has been, is, and will remain the strongest foundation for international cooperation," Andrey Betin, General Director of the presidential platform "Russia - Country of Opportunities" and Chancellor of the Senezh Management Workshop, emphasizes.
At the booth of the presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities”, festival participants tried on 2,000 kokoshniks, completed 13,800 quest tasks, and stamped 13,800 seals. They took 3,156 instant photos as souvenirs and received 500 balalaikas and 200 roly-poly toys as gifts. 1,150 people took part in activities organized by the TopBLOG, Flagships of Education, Professional Development, and Other Business projects, and 250 people participated in master classes.
In addition, guests at the booth sent 4,000 "From Russia with Love" postcards with messages to their relatives, friends, and colleagues around the globe. These unique collectible postcards were printed in a limited edition and were only available at the World Youth Festival Assembly.
Russian culture is rich in traditions and symbols that are understandable and familiar to people from all over the globe. Festival participants shared their impressions of the Assembly, Russia, and the opportunities for young people that they discovered for themselves.
"At the World Youth Festival Assembly, I really liked how traditional Russian symbols were presented at the booth of the presidential platform " Russia – Country of Opportunities”: a roly-poly toy and Russian tea, clothes with Russian ornaments. I sent several collectible postcards to my grandmother, mother, and friends in Slovenia, which will arrive directly from Nizhny Novgorod", Mark Tamash from the Republic of Slovenia, says.
Guests from Russia and abroad took an active part in a varied program at the booth of the presidential platform " Russia – Country of Opportunities" throughout the days of the Assembly. They were able to share experiences in their respective fields with Russian participants and learn more about the opportunities available to young people in Russia.
"Russia is the best country in the world! My friends from Albania are studying in Russia at universities such as MGIMO, Moscow State University, and St. Petersburg State University. Here you can study for free and get a quality higher education. And indeed, Russia offers a wide range of opportunities. Here, at the WYF Assembly, you can talk to anyone from around the world, as well as establish ties and cooperate with Russia and other countries. I really liked the booth of the presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities," especially its wonderful atmosphere. The staff here are very friendly, and there is delicious tea and bagels," Dana Murtada, a participant from the Republic of Albania, shares her impressions.
Among the foreign participants of the World Youth Festival, there are those who are visiting Russia for the first time. They come not only to exchange experiences with people from other countries, but also to demonstrate their desire to strengthen friendly relations.
"Last year, I participated in the World Youth Festival, which was held in Sochi, and I am very happy to be back in Russia, happy to communicate again with Russian guys and young people from all over the globe. Russia and China are great friends, family, we are together! And I hope that we will join forces to communicate and cooperate. In Sochi, I subscribed to the news of the presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities" and saw what is happening in Russia. I really hope that the audience of the presidential platform will grow so that more people will learn that the people of Russia are very kind. I hope to be back in Russia next year," Rong Zhu, a participant from People's Republic of China, says.
The friendly relations between Russia and the Republic of Abkhazia are further strengthened at the Assembly. One of the highlights of the festival was the presentation of the "Samovar of Friendship" to representatives of the delegation from Abkhazia. The samovar has become a symbol of peace and hospitality, embodying the partnership between the presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities" and the Republic of Abkhazia, which is being implemented through joint projects.
"I have been working in the field of education and science for nine years. The World Festival of Youth and Students was a useful experience for me in terms of my professional development. The main idea of this Assembly and similar events in general is the awareness that Russia is a country of opportunities and is always ready to open its doors to every talented and creative person. In addition, here you can find like-minded people and new ideas. This Assembly is a venue where ideas are born and hearts are ignited! I liked that Russia is very actively developing work with cutting-edge technologies and it has understanding how to implement them in the field of education. For example, this includes the effective and competent use of artificial intelligence. Despite all the technical innovations and global trends, I realized that Russia's most important asset is its people, its young, creative people who are ready to work. And the state fully supports them in thуыу endeavors. For me, this is the main idea and discovery," Inal Adleyba from the Republic of Abkhazia says.
The World Youth Festival Assembly is not only a platform for foreigners to get to know Russia, but also a unique opportunity for Russian participants to share experiences, knowledge, and inspiration.
"Russia has almost unlimited opportunities! They are diverse and develop along with technology, communications, cooperation in the international arena, and cooperation within our regions. Our young people are engaged and enthusiastic, they are already experts at their "tender" age, and I am inspired by them, admire them, and am confident that all roads are open to them! I am a historian and I am involved in social design, preservation, and promotion of the avant-garde architectural heritage of Novosibirsk. I really liked the booth of the presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities" - the booth that showcases Russian culture and integrates cutting-edge technological solutions to introduce this culture and engage participants in the World Youth Festival. It is clear that the kids want to participate in every activity and be a part of this event," Ksenia Zakharova, a participant from Novosibirsk, says.
Master classes on weaving wreaths from fresh flowers, painting samovars, kokoshniks, and traditional whistling toys were packed. Foreign participants were very interested in creating their own souvenirs to remember Russia and enthusiastically studied the history of Russian folk crafts. Participants in the music master class successfully mastered the basics of playing the balalaika and spoons and performed several well-known compositions together.
"When you enter the fair building, the booth of the presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities" really stands out! It is brightly decorated in the style of Russian culture, but with a minimalist design. I really liked the folkloric stylization, the birch trees, the Russian-style clothing of the stand staff, and the samovar painted by the participants of the Assembly attracted my attention in particular. And the main character of the booth, of course, is the bear! The booth is always bustling with life and full of young people from Russia and other countries who participate in activities. When I myself attended a master class on painting whistling toys and looked at the kids, I noticed how excited everyone was! Russia is truly a country of opportunities," Anastasia Egorovskaya, a participant from Nizhny Novgorod, says.
Throughout the all days of the festival, the projects of the presidential platform – "Other Business", "Flagships of Education," and "TopBLOG" – talked about their activities. The projects "Professional Development," "SportTrack," and "I Am a Professional" were integrated into the main program of the Assembly. With the help of an interactive panel, guests learned about all the platform's projects and could immediately apply to participate.
The World Youth Festival Assembly once again confirmed its status as a key platform for international youth cooperation, and the presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities" became one of its core events, demonstrating its role in creating a space for dialogue and friendship without borders.
The general partners of the WYF Assembly 2025 are the Russian Music Union, JSC Russian Railways, and Phygital Games. The general information partner is the international television channel RT, and the general media partner is ANO “Dialog Regions”. The partner for the excursion and regional programs is the “More than Trip” program. The strategic partner is VK Tech. Co. The following participants have also joined the partnership program: the “New Generation” program arranged by the Federal Agency for Affairs of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Residing Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), Movement of the First, the presidential platform “Russia — Country of Opportunities”, Sovcombank, the Avito Tech. Co., State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, the Russian “Znanie” (Knowledge) Society, the Film Studio Soyuzmultfilm, the Government of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Central Bank of Russia, the program for young entrepreneurs “Rosmolodezh.Undertake” and the Knowledge Center “Mashuk”. Information support for the event is provided by Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Argumenty i Fakty publishing house, the African Initiative and the Window to Russia project of ANO “TV-Novosti”.
The organizer of the World Youth Festival Assembly is the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), the co-organizer of the event is the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the event operator is the World Youth Festival Directorate. The Festival pursues the goals of the Youth and Children national project.
Overview:
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 World Youth Festival Directorate continues its work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation. The presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities" was established upon the initiative of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on May 22, 2018. The platform's mission is to create Russia's future by opening up equal opportunities for everyone. The platform helps anyone, regardless of where they live, what profession they have chosen, or what family they grew up in, to gain opportunities for their development. It is an open platform for talented and caring people of all ages to communicate and exchange experiences between schoolchildren, students, specialists, entrepreneurs, managers, and volunteers. The supervisory board of the platform “Russia – Country of Opportunities” is headed by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The presidential platform " Russia – Country of Opportunities " has been operating for seven years, and during this time, people from 89 regions of Russia and 150 countries around the world have participated in its projects. Participation in projects, competitions, competitions, and educational programs helps participants find like-minded people and make useful connections, enroll in a university, complete a promising internship, advance their career and find their dream job, receive media support, win a grant, and find a personal mentor who will help them hone their skills and develop leadership qualities. Today, the platform features projects and competitions for people of different ages and interests—from schoolchildren to experienced managers, for specialists and workers, representatives of the talent pool and those who are just planning to join it. As part of the activities of the presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities", the Senezh Management Workshop was established. Participants in the platform's projects and competitions, active young people, as well as managers and civil servants undergo training there. The workshop serves as a center for consolidating the training of management personnel in three key areas: government, business, and society. All-Russian educational and youth events are held at the workshop, including the All-Russian Youth Educational Forum "Territory of Meanings" Based at the country's leading universities, the presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities" is developing Competence Centers, where students undergo diagnostics of their super-professional skills and receive tools for their development. Young professionals who have undergone universal competency assessments can now confirm their skills on HeadHunter, Russia's largest online recruitment platform. The presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities" has offices in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. They are equipped with lecture halls for educational events, information centers, and co-working areas, providing residents of Donbass and Novorossiya with additional opportunities for personal and professional development. CONTACTS FOR MEDIA: Olga Dobrina, Director for Communications, Head of Federal Communications for the presidential platform "Russia – Country of Opportunities", +7 (903) 597-60-46; olga.dobrina@rsv.ru
