Another international shift has started at the All-Russian Children's Center "Ocean". From August 7 to 27, the children's camp in Primorye Territory will host the International Association of Children's Organizations (IACO) Meeting, which is attended by 200 representatives from 11 countries. The “Movement of the First” and the All-Russian Children's Center "Ocean", as the organizers of the programme, offer young leaders the opportunity to share experiences and learn how to effectively communicate in teams with representatives of other countries, implementing interesting projects.

"It is a great honor for the "Movement of the First" to bring together 200 representatives of 11 countries at the IACO Meeting. Among them are people from Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, the USA, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Equatorial Guinea, Switzerland and Russia. Together, children will develop projects in 12 areas of IACO's activities, from volunteering, ecology, sports and science to education, culture, media and entrepreneurship. The participants will focus on the preservation of historical memory and traditional values. Today, Russia gathers children and youth from different countries to join efforts in building a just world in which every country and every nation can have equal opportunities for their development and their future," said Artur Orlov, Chairman of the Board of the "Movement of the First".

The main goal of the shift is to develop children's diplomacy, build international cooperation, and create projects that are really interesting to children from all over the world and can be equally implemented in any country.

The International Association of Children's Organizations Meeting has established a partnership with the Directorate of the World Youth Festival for its international shift.

"The interest of foreign children in Russian recreation centers, educational and cultural programs remains unabated – we have received applications from 42 countries for this shift. The development of a children's track within the framework of international events is very important for the Directorate of the World Youth Festival. Through friendship, joint projects and cultural exchange, we are raising a generation for whom dialogue, mutual understanding and creativity will become the natural basis of international relations. Modern children are the ambassadors of peace and our multipolar future," said Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the Directorate of the World Youth Festival.

The official opening of the shift took place on August 9. The mentors of the participants and Natalia Solovey, director of the All-Russian Children's Center "Ocean", delivered kind wishes and inspiring parting words.

"We are launching the program of the International Association of Children's Organizations Meeting together with our long–standing partners - the All-Russian Public-State Movement of Children and Youth "Movement of the First". It is attended by children of different cultures, traditions, beliefs, and children who speak different languages. But today everyone will become a part of a large ocean community, where friendship and mutual understanding are more important than any borders. We are confident that our cooperation with the "Movement of the First" opens up new opportunities for all children vacationing in the Ocean. Together, we are creating a unique educational environment in which every child can find interesting projects and build a relevant development trajectory for themselves," Natalia Solovey said.

The opening ceremony will be remembered for its bright and cheerful performances of shift participants. They managed to prepare their own dance and vocal performances. And after the celebration, the children shared their first impressions.

"Everyone I've met so far is cool, I’d like to chat with all of them. I hope that I will become friends with someone for real and we will continue to communicate. I am sure that this friendship will bring me a lot of interesting things in the future. I hope that this shift will be a new step in international diplomacy. Thank you very much!" said Diana Polezhaeva, a participant in the shift from the Moscow region.

Anna Makoy, who came from Texas, USA, said that she was very impressed by the nature of Primorye Territory and the atmosphere that prevails among the guys who came on shift.

"It's very good that we can all make friends and chat here. I really like it here! It is very good that we can all make friends here, communicate and exchange cultures. We are all really looking forward to the opportunity to work on projects!" said Anna Makoy.

Alexey Nikitov, a participant in the "Movement of the First" shift from the Republic of Belarus, says that he has not yet become familiar with all the projects, but plans to participate in all the activities of the international shift.

"I really like the atmosphere. There are very nice people here. The nature is very beautiful here. There is an incredible sea, incredible mountains. There are a lot of foreigners to talk to. And everyone is very kind and friendly. I would like to take advantage of the shift as much as possible, as much communication as possible and, of course, acquaintances. The topics closest to me are sports, culture and diplomacy. Most likely, my project will be related to these topics," Alexey Nikitov shared his plans.

The guys have new acquaintances, participation in team-building activities, trainings, master classes, and a business game ahead of them until August 27. The most striking event of the shift will be the “Games of the Peoples of the World” and the pavilion, where participants will present national costumes, share the traditions of the regions of Russia and countries, and exchange souvenirs.

At the end of the shift, each participant will not only present a social project, develop teamwork skills, expand international contacts, but also receive tools to implement ideas in their region or country.

The projects in 12 areas of IACO, which the shift participants will work on, will begin to be implemented in their countries this year.

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.

The All-Russian Public-State Movement of Children and Youth "Movement of the First" is the largest community of children, adolescents and adults in the Russian Federation, uniting state and public institutions to form a unified educational environment for schoolchildren and students of professional educational organizations.

More than 12 million people participate in the "Movement of the First". About 50 thousand primary branches operate on a regular basis in 89 regions of Russia. The Movement's work is implemented in the voluntary activities of children and youth outside of school hours in educational organizations, cultural organizations, physical education and sports, youth policy, social protection and enterprises.

The "Movement of the First" implements a program of educational work with children and youth based on traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, national cultural and historical heritage and the principle of the inseparable connection of generations, in order to create a single educational space of equal opportunities for the comprehensive development and self-realization of children and youth. The formation of skills among participants useful for practical application and career guidance.

The projects of the "Movement of the First" are implemented within the framework of the National Project "Youth and Children" of the federal projects "We are together” (education of a harmoniously developed personality) and "Russia - a country of opportunities". Among them are the All-Russian project "Bolshaya premena" ("Big Shift"), the All-Russian project "First Aid", the All–Russian military-patriotic game "Zarnitsa 2.0", the All-Russian project "Young Naturalists of the First", the All-Russian project "Guardians of History", the All-Russian theater project "School Classics", the All-Russian project "MediaAttraction", the program "We are citizens of Russia!", the All-Russian project "Challenge of the First", the All-Russian project "Campaigns of the First. More than a trip", the educational and tourist program "University shifts", the All-Russian project "Blago Tvori" ("Create the Good"), the All-Russian project "Zvuchi" ("Sounds"), the All-Russian project "The First in science", the All-Russian project "Safety in Motion".