Russian-Balkan Youth Forum (archive event)

The Russian-Balkan Youth Forum was held from December 13 to 16, 2022 (December 12, 2022 is arrival day, December 17, 2022 is departure day) in Ryazan. It brought together youth leaders from Russia and the Balkan countries motivated to develop youth cooperation and launch joint projects.

The purpose of the event is the development of Russian-Balkan youth cooperation, the strengthening of friendly and professional ties between youth leaders of Russia and the Balkan countries.

Tasks:

• to establish friendly and professional relations between youth leaders and youth public associations of Russia and the Balkan countries,
• to discuss the current state of Russian-Balkan youth cooperation and the role of youth in strengthening relations between Russia and the Balkan countries,
• to create conditions for the exchange of experience, further cooperation and development of joint projects between youth leaders and youth public associations in Russia and the Balkan countries,
• to talk about the existing opportunities and resources for the development of Russian-Balkan youth cooperation,
• to develop proposals and recommendations for the development of youth cooperation and forms of interaction between youth leaders of Russia and the Balkan countries.

The work of the forum was carried out in the following areas:

• international cooperation: state and prospects,
• academic cooperation: state and prospects,
• joint initiatives in the field of culture, tourism and media.

Participants: 51 people. They were representatives of youth public organizations, representatives of informal youth associations, public organizations dealing with international youth cooperation, student organizations, young scientists, students and graduate students majoring in “International Relations”, young journalists, bloggers, young entrepreneurs, authors of startups, young compatriots living abroad.

Key results: During the forum the participants discussed the current state of Russian-Balkan youth cooperation and the role of youth in strengthening relations between Russia and the Balkan countries, exchanged experience and ideas for the further development of cooperation between youth leaders and youth public associations of Russia and the Balkan countries. The participants also met with representatives of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, the National Youth Council of Russia, the Fund for Creative Technologies “Ulyanovsk – the Cultural Capital”, the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodyozh), the All-Russian Public Movement “Volunteers of Victory”, “Smart Travel Bureau” and discussed possible mechanisms for supporting youth projects and current trends in international youth cooperation. The master class on building effective communication and self-presentation techniques was also organized for the participants. As a result of the forum they improved their skills and competencies in the field of social design and developed joint projects that will facilitate the development of Russian-Balkan youth cooperation. Among them they were such projects as holding the Russian-Balkan ethno-festival of music and fashion for youth, creation of the platform for the study of the Balkan and Russian languages with master classes and conferences (online), creation of the platform for professional networking of young people from Russia and the Balkan countries as well as for the development of competencies (for employees of NGOs operating in the field of youth policy and international youth cooperation). Such projects as creation of the platform for the implementation of youth activities (education, culture, business, etc.) in order to develop the Russian-Balkan dialogue, the economical and eco-friendly travel project “The guide will simplify the route for himself” aimed at acquainting tourists with the history and culture of Russian and Balkan cities were also developed.