Multinational Team of International Friendship Club of Leningrad Region Took Part in Preparations for 80th Anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War
On January 26–28, the Leningrad Region hosted the Interregional Conference of Volunteer Organizations commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The event brought together 100 Volunteers of Victory and activists of the International Friendship Club of the Leningrad Region from 9 countries.
During the conference, the participants did a training course on facilitating events celebrating 80 years of Victory, met with veterans and experienced virtual reality as part of a history quest. Representatives of the International Friendship Clubs, foreign delegates and Volunteers of Victory laid flowers at the Memorial Complex “To Soviet Civilians Who Perished During the Great Patriotic War” in the Leningrad Region. On the closing day of the conference, the international team developed projects aimed at preserving the memory of the war and strengthening international cooperation. The participants also visited the diorama museum “Breaking the Siege of Leningrad” where they were introduced to the history of the city’s liberation and saw unique exhibit items reflecting heroic deeds of Leningrad residents and soldiers.
"At the Interregional Conference of Volunteer Organizations, members of the International Friendship Club of the Leningrad Region joined educational sessions, expanding their knowledge of key events of the Great Patriotic War. This helped them understand the importance of preserving historical memory. The participants also showcased their creativity by designing posters and mural sketches visualizing the memory of the past events for future generations. On the closing day of the conference, they successfully presented their projects", said Yulia Vasilyeva, Leader of the International Friendship Club of the Leningrad Region.
According to her, one of the Club's goals is to preserve the memory of the heroic past of our country and create a platform for international cooperation that will promote the development of the volunteer movement and the preservation of historical memory internationally.
The conference brought together foreign participants of the International Friendship Club of the Leningrad Region from Abkhazia, Algeria, Belarus, Benin, Bulgaria, Spain, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Moldova, and Tajikistan.
For instance, Gennady Drozdov, Club member from Belarus and member of the Youth Parliament of the third convocation at the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, emphasized the importance of preserving the historical memory of the Great Patriotic War and passing it on to future generations. Elizaveta Ivanova, Club representative from Spain, noted that she would continue collaborating with the International Friendship Club of the Leningrad Region and strengthen ties between the region and her country.
“Memory is always important as it helps us not to forget the past and avoid making mistakes in the future. It is essential to remember history so that we don’t forget who we truly are. Over these days, I learned a lot and want to share this knowledge in my country, as well as organize events dedicated to Victory Day. Overall, I want to keep on reviving the Russian culture and promoting everything that links our countries”, said Elizaveta Ivanova, member of the International Friendship Club of the Leningrad Region from Spain.
Let us remind you that International Friendship Clubs are a flagship project of the World Youth Festival Directorate, which is implemented on the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on the preservation of the post-festival legacy. The Clubs bring together youth from Russia’s regions and foreign countries.
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 International Youth Festival, and in between, international themed gatherings and events will be held under the auspices of the WYF. 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.