After completing the business program of the World Youth Festival Assembly in Nizhny Novgorod, 200 foreign participants went on a trip to the regions of Russia. During the trips, they got acquainted with the culture and traditions of our country, achievements in economics, science and education, sports, technology and other fields.

The regional program includes the Ivanovo, Omsk, Yaroslavl, Sakhalin, Chelyabinsk Regions, the Republic of Mordovia, the Republic of Khakassia, the Chechen Republic, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area and St. Petersburg.

Representatives of 67 countries participated in the regional hospitality program. Among them are representatives of Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Italy, Venezuela, Kenya, China, Ethiopia, Morocco, Serbia, Tanzania, Kazakhstan, South Ossetia, Slovakia, Gabon and many other countries.

In the Ivanovo region, foreign guests visited the Polytechnic University, the Lidertex textile factory and talked with local entrepreneurs. The young people also made dolls for children with disabilities and played football with the players of Football Club "Tekstilshchik". In addition, they met with Stanislav Voskresenskiy, Governor of the Ivanovo Region, and learned about the creation of one of the 18 campuses in Russia.

The Sakhalin Regional Program introduced foreign participants to the unique nature, infrastructure and industrial potential of the region. They visited leading universities, as well as the "Gidrostroi" fish processing plant. An important event was a lecture by Governor Valery Limarenko on the development of the island region and a meeting with Olympic champions.

"The regional hospitality program allowed me to get to know the remote corners of Russia more deeply. We visited Sakhalin, at the edge of the world. This is a completely different world, unlike Moscow or the cities of the central part of the country. This is an island with a special lifestyle and rhythm of life. And, of course, there is amazing, amazing nature here. The Western media is completely wrong in their perception of Russia. I can say with confidence that the Russian people are very hospitable and kind, and the President of Russia is working to create a multipolar system in the world. Moreover, Russia actively supports youth projects. Thus, the World Youth Festival and the WYF Assembly became venues that brought together thousands of young leaders from all over the world so that they could present their ideas, share experiences and establish cooperation," said Tamirat Tesfae from Ethiopia, who went on a trip to the Sakhalin Region.

The regional hospitality program in the Omsk region will be remembered for its international flavor. The participants became the creators of the Friendship Alley, planting trees together with representatives of the regional government and volunteers. An equally striking event was a visit to the "Avangard" hockey club match at the modern G-Drive arena and themed days dedicated to Kazakh, Tatar and German traditions.

In the Republic of Mordovia, the events were held under the unique concept of "The Path to Inenarmun", based on Mordovian mythology. The key event was the discussion platform "Peculiarities of national friendship", where young people developed specific plans for the development of international cooperation. At a meeting with the head of the Republic, Artem Zdunov, the young people discussed professional initiatives and exchanged experience.

The regional program of the Republic of Khakassia was built around the concept of the five elements — earth, fire, water, air and history. The participants visited the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station and the ancient museum-reserve "Hurtuyakh-Tas" with its unique stone sculptures. In the final days, young people from foreign countries met with rectors and students of leading universities in the region, took part in a charity event and made dumplings, and also paid tribute to those who died defending the Fatherland by visiting the Memorial Complex on Mount Samokhval.

"Russia demonstrates a unique approach to two key things: preserving heritage and investing in the future. I am struck by the careful attitude to history and culture – this is something that will be available to future generations. The support of young people speaks for itself, and the level of development of universities and projects here is so high that, I believe, Russia is ahead of many countries in this. For me, this is the perfect place to start," said Miryama Ndakolo Mwaniangapo, a participant in the regional program from Namibia, who visited the Republic of Khakassia.

In the Chechen Republic, the program included acquaintance with national traditions, visits to mosques, enterprises and leading universities. The foreign participants visited the Chechen Mineral Waters industrial enterprise, the Sernovodsk-Kavkazskiy resort, and also tried their hand at a master class in robotics and virtual reality. On the final day, a creative evening was held with the participation of the Minister of the Chechen Republic for Youth Affairs, the Minister of the Chechen Republic for National Policy, External Relations, Press and Information, the Rector of the Chechen State University named after A.Kadyrov and foreign students studying in the region.

In the Chelyabinsk region, foreign youth immersed themselves in the Ural flavor: foreign participants went to the Kurgazak cave on boats along the Ai River and saw dry waterfalls. On the final day, they attended a hockey match and met with Alexey Texler, Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region.

"Stereotypes about Russia are not true. This is not a cold country, but a very welcome one, primarily because of its hospitality. Kind people live here who are sincerely happy to welcome foreigners and create many programs so that guests can see the whole of Russia. I feel from my own experience how young people are supported here: they don't just listen to the ideas of the young, but really help to implement them. Unfortunately, there is no such system support in Europe as here. Various festivals and projects are what constantly motivate young people to be active and develop," said Vladimiros Gorin, a participant in the regional program in the Chelyabinsk Region from Cyprus.

In the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area, the "Yamal Warms" hospitality program introduced the guests to the culture of the indigenous peoples of the North. The foreign delegates traveled to the Gornoknyazevsk natural and ethnographic complex, crossed the Arctic Circle, attended workshops on national crafts and met with Governor Dmitry Artyukhov.

In St. Petersburg, young people met with veterans, made commemorative bracelets, and also went on a trip through the public spaces of St. Petersburg. On the final day, the participants visited the Festival of National Cultures and the famous museums and sights of the city.

"Thanks to the regional program, I realized that some ideas about Russia are completely true. For example, the stereotype of a "big Russian soul" is true and very positive. In general, Russia impresses with its beauty and level of development – it has all the European culture and amenities, but every time you look at it it turns out to be a new one. I really like it here, I would like to come back again. This country opens up a lot of opportunities in education, science and cultural cooperation," Mark Tamas Repasky from Hungary shared his impressions.

During the final days of the program in the Yaroslavl region, participants went to the village of Vyatskoye and got acquainted with its production, visited a Russian bathhouse and class on cooking national dishes, and also visited the Dobrynino estate and the St. Vvedenskiy Tolga Convent. The youth of the region introduced their peers from foreign countries to the national games: They played Yaroslavl lapta, ultimat, ringo and other games together.

Participation in the regional program has opened up a completely new image of Russia for young foreigners. They were able to see and touch firsthand the unique nature, rich culture and great history of our country. Now each of them brings with him not only vivid impressions, but also a personal, vivid perception of Russia, which they are already sharing on social networks and will definitely tell their peers in their homeland.

The general partners of the WYF-2025 Assembly were the Russian Music Union, JSC Russian Railways and Digital Games. RT international TV channel became the general information partner, and Dialog Regions ANO became the general media partner. The partner of the excursion and regional programs is the "More than Trip" program. The strategic partner is VK technology company. The partnership program has also been joined by the Rossotrudnichestvo "New Generation" program, the "Movement of the First", the presidential platform "Russia – the Country of Opportunities", Sovcombank, Avito technology Company, Rosatom State Corporation, the Russian "Znanie" (Knowledge) Society, Soyuzmultfilm Film Studio, the Government of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Central Bank of Russia, Rosmolodezh.Undertake, as well as the Mashuk Knowledge Center. Information support for the event is provided by Rossiyskaya Gazeta, "Argumenty I Fakty" publishing house, the African Initiative and the Window to Russia project of TV-Novosti.

The World Youth Festival is organized by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), the co–organizer of the event is the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, and the operator is the Directorate of the World Youth Festival. The event is being implemented within the framework of the national project "Youth and Children".

Overview:

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, which took place on the Sirius Federal Territory in 2024 and united 20,000 young people from 190 countries of the world, festival events on the territory of the Russian Federation will be held annually. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will be held in 2030. In 2026, there will be a smaller event, an International Youth Festival with 10,000 participants. In between, the World Youth Festival’s themed Assemblies will be held annually for 2,000 participants. The World Youth Festival Directorate continues its work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.