
The Baikal International Youth Forum is taking place in the Irkutsk Region from August 11 to 15. In 2025, the event is dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals.
600 young people from 16 countries took part in the forum. During the event, they attend panel discussions and workshops with leading experts, as well as develop projects concerning ecology, education, tourism, entrepreneurship, public administration and international cooperation.
One of the key tracks of the forum was the platform of International Youth Clubs, which brought together participants of the WYFD International Friendship Clubs from different regions, international students, and young specialists from Russia and abroad.
"For the first time, a separate thematic platform has been presented at the forum. It provided an opportunity to introduce young people from around the world to the activities of International Friendship Clubs and discuss key issues related to the development of a multipolar world and humanitarian cooperation," said Alexandra Zueva, leader of the WYFD International Friendship Club.
The platform hosted a panel discussion and project work dedicated to creating an ecosystem for the formation of unique competencies in the international environment, as well as master classes and quizzes from the WYFD International Friendship Club of the Irkutsk Region. Konstantin Malyshev, Head of the Department of International Youth Cooperation and Tourism at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, told the forum participants about the activities of the WYFD International Friendship Clubs in Russia. Foreign representatives of the regional club also took part in the opening ceremony with creative performances.
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.