"Victory Dictations," distribution of St. George's ribbons, community clean-ups, and memorial ceremonies: participants of International Friendship Clubs (IFCs) – World Youth Festival Directorate’s flagship project – have joined the efforts to organize and run patriotic, cultural, and educational events in honor of the 80th anniversary of Victory.
“As part of the activities of the International Friendship Clubs, efforts are underway to continue strengthening and developing the international youth community, that considers respect for historical memory and the heroes who gave their lives for our freedom as one of its guiding principles. Both Russian and foreign students and activists from more than 20 countries, including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Serbia, China, Uzbekistan, Congo, Cameroon, Egypt, Algeria, Turkey, Jordan, and others, have joined the commemorative events organized by the IFCs in Russia. By participating in celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Victory, young people from across the world not only pay tribute to this great feat, but also create bridges between generations and cultures, contributing to historical memory preservation, and a barrier against revisionism and attempts to rewrite the Great Patriotic War history”, said Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
For example, at Syktyvkar State University, the International Friendship Clubs of the Samara Region and the Komi Republic hosted an online lecture titled “Young Scientists Against Nazism”, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. Foreign students from CIS countries and India listened to talks by experts from several Russian universities. Danila Danilovic, Chairman of the Youth Sector of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in Serbia, also spoke to the participants, discussing the close ties between the peoples of Russia and Serbia and combating attempts to falsify history.
“The nations of Serbia and Russia are close relatives. We value our shared history, and young people are ready to build a future based on this truth. Participants of international projects, such as the World Youth Festival, prove that we will not allow falsifications of our own or shared history”, shared one of the event's key speakers, Danila Danilovic, Chairman of the Youth Sector of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in Serbia.
At Kaluga State University, foreign students learned about the symbolism of the St. George's ribbon and the heroic feats of war veterans. In the Sverdlovsk Region, IFC activists visited an exhibition of military equipment, operated drones using VR headsets, ran a quiz on the Great Patriotic War, and sent postcards to participants in the special military operation. Guests from Africa and Asia also played in a football tournament and recorded a video of themselves reciting Vladimir Vysotsky's famous poem “He Did Not Return from the Battle”.
In Melitopol (Zaporozhye Region), “Victory Readings” were held, while in the Kursk Region, IFC participants joined the “Victory Train – Road of Memory” campaign. In Buryatia, students from Mongolia, Libya, and Benin danced the “Waltz of the Heirs of Victory”, and in Chukotka, 200 people lined up in a living installation to form the number “80” and the word “Victory”.
Participants of the IFC of the Voronezh Region took part in the “Garden of Memory” campaign. Together with other activists, the IFC members planted 35,000 pine seedlings grown in the region's forest nurseries. Alongside their colleagues, IFC members from the Perm Territory also joined the campaign.
In the Perm Territory, foreign youth toured the “Weapons of Victory” exhibition, which showcases wartime production: artillery, shells, ammunition for the famous “Katyushas”, military equipment, medals and other decorations and items produced at the Krasnokamsk Mint as well as Perm and the Perm Territory factories.
In the Irkutsk Region, ahead of Victory Day, the local International Friendship Club organized a walking tour called the “Victory Route” around memorable sites in Irkutsk. Russian and foreign students participated, learning about the city's history during the Great Patriotic War.
On Victory Day itself, May 9, representatives of the IFC in the Tambov Region plan to take part in the “Victory Waltz” event, featuring themed poems, songs, and dances from the war years. In the Astrakhan Region, Russian and foreign students will sing and create a music video for the world-famous song “Katyusha”. In Tuva, Friendship Club participants will march as part of the parade. In the Republic of Mordovia, young people will visit an interactive platform featuring an exhibition of wartime letters. Foreign participants of the Friendship Club will write and share stories about heroes from their own families who bravely fought in battles and show how representatives of other countries contributed to defending the world from Nazism.
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.