С From April 18 to May 3, the All-Russian "We are for the Unblemished Memory" cleanup week took place. It was organized by the "Ecosystem" Movement together with Rosmolodezh as part of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. The initiative was joined by both international and Russian youth, including members of International Friendship Clubs, activists, and international partners of the World Youth Festival Directorate.

"The All-Russian campaign “We are for the Unblemished Memory” is taking place on the eve of Victory Day for the second year in a row, reviving the tradition of uniting caring people around a responsible attitude to nature and cultural and historical heritage sites. This year, over 10,000 environmental events have been held in more than 45 countries worldwide, joined by over 1 million people – members of children's and youth organizations, students, veterans of the Special Military Operation, teachers and mentors, and active citizens. Only through personal example and creative labour can we foster a culture of responsibility for the environment, one where everyone can make their own personal contribution to a common cause,” – noted Grigory Gurov, Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs.

Participants of the campaign carried out cleanups of urban spaces and natural areas, painted over walls, and helped elderly people and veterans. A special focus was placed on cleaning memorial sites, war graves, and mass burial grounds. In several German cities, activists from the World Youth Festival Directorate cleaned up memorial sites: in Cologne, they tidied the city park where a memorial to fallen Soviet soldiers is located, and in Hurth, Schwerin, Hesse, and Rostock, they cleaned the graves of Soviet soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War.

"We see how initiatives born in Russia resonate far beyond the country's borders. Thanks to the partners of the World Youth Festival Directorate abroad, the campaign has reached an international level and united over 600 participants of the World Youth Festival movement across 28 countries – Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Serbia, Abkhazia, Ghana, Ecuador, Libya, Georgia, Mexico, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Zambia, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa, Nicaragua, and many others. Just as importantly, the campaign actively took place in Russia as well, where nearly 650 Russian and international participants from the WYFD International Friendship Clubs, representing 22 countries, joined in. This clearly demonstrates that young people around the world are ready to unite around meaningful values and work together to do real, good deeds. Such initiatives foster a culture of responsibility, mutual support, and global unity – it is on these principles that we are building international youth cooperation,” – emphasised Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.

In Serbia, in the city of Kragujevac, international partners of the World Youth Festival Directorate honored the memory of the Red Army heroes who took part in the liberation of the city.

“We have gathered at this place to pay tribute, through this symbolic act, to the soldiers of the Red Army who gave their lives for the freedom of our city. As early as 1941, the people of Šumadija rose up against the fascist occupiers, who responded with brutal reprisals, resulting in the deaths of several thousand people in the city. The people's liberation struggle continued, but it was only in 1944, with the advance of the Red Army, that our country met its freedom. We are pleased today to honor their memory through this action and to thank the heroes,” - said Nenad Marković, head of the “KOS” Science and Culture Center from Serbia.

In Spain, activists of the World Youth Festival Directorate held a digital cleanup: they educated elderly people about sustainable consumption of online resources and the responsible use of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence. In China, a participant of the WYFD projects cleaned up the grounds of the Harbin Conservatory of Music.

"I really love nature and our city, so I was happy to join this event – for me, it's an opportunity to make a personal contribution and make the surrounding space cleaner and more beautiful. It seems to me that such initiatives truly bring people of different ages and views together, foster a sense of responsibility, and help preserve nature carefully for future generations. I am confident that young people from different countries should take care of the planet together. It is through such projects that friendship and mutual understanding are strengthened, and we come to realize that we all share responsibility for our common home," said activist Chen Xingheng from China.

Partners of the World Youth Festival Directorate, together with representatives of the Russian Embassy in South Africa and volunteers, held a cleanup event at the burial site of Russian Lieutenant Boris Strolman. Activists from Argentina cleaned up the Perito Moreno Glacier, in Slovakia they cleaned the central park in Bratislava, and young people from South Ossetia held a cleanup event in the Oak Grove forest area.

“Today, a nationwide cleanup is taking place in South Ossetia, and it is important for us that young people are joining the “We are for the Unblemished Memory” campaign. We chose one of the residents' favorite recreational spots – Oak Grove – to contribute to keeping it clean. The significance of such initiatives goes far beyond just cleaning up an area. When people see that others care about nature, they themselves begin to treat it more carefully. Ecology knows no borders, and the desire to preserve nature unites young people around the world. By participating in such actions, we show that we care about the future of the planet – regardless of which country we come from," noted Anna Sanakoeva from South Ossetia, an activist of the World Youth Festival Directorate projects.

Children also joined the campaign: in Bulgaria, students went out to clean their school grounds, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a children's football team, led by Archpriest Dragan, tidied up a monument in Višegrad.

In Russia, participants of the World Youth Festival International Friendship Clubs held cleanup events in 32 regions. Approximately 650 young people took part in cleaning significant locations, including 170 foreign citizens. Among them were representatives from Mongolia, China, Kyrgyzstan, India, Egypt, Mexico, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, Vietnam, Indonesia, Canada, the Republic of Belarus, Venezuela, and other countries.

Thus, participants of the World Youth Festival International Friendship Club from India and Russia in the Khabarovsk Territory held a cleanup at the monument "To the Young Defenders of Khabarovsk of 1921" and the memorial "In Memory of Prisoners of Fascist Concentration Camps 1941–1945." Activists in Zaporozhye Region together planted 50 Crimean pine trees on the grounds of a kindergarten.

In Zabaykalsky Territory, participants of the World Youth Festival International Friendship Club from Russia, Mongolia, and China together cleaned the area around Lake Kenon and collected 50 bags of trash, while in the Yaroslavl Region a cleanup took place on the banks of the Volga River. Activists of the WYFD International Friendship Clubs across the country held territory cleanups, helped elderly people, and provided support to animal shelters.

“For me, participating in cleanups is an important contribution to preserving nature. As a volunteer, I take part in such initiatives in Russia with great enthusiasm. We are inseparably connected with nature, and by taking care of it, we take care of ourselves. When people come together regardless of their country or nationality and work toward a common goal, it brings real benefits to both the environment and society as a whole," noted Kantala Sansi Louis-Premier from the Republic of Congo, a participant of the International Friendship Club of the Kaluga Region.

Overview:

The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024 at the “Sirius” Federal Territory, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 broughttogether 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 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.