In mid-October the first International Youth Forum of the CIS Member States on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was held in Moscow. The main areas of work were education and science, innovative development, social entrepreneurship, volunteering, health and well-being, environmental sustainability and responsible consumption.
The International Youth Forum is part of the Action Plan for 2021-2022 for the implementation of the Strategy for International Youth Cooperation of the CIS Member States for the period up to 2030. More than seventy young people and girls from the Commonwealth countries, youth ambassadors of the SDGs, representatives of youth associations, leaders of youth social movement, young professionals, representatives of government bodies and international agencies actively involved in the promotion and implementation of the SDGs in the CIS space became participants in the forum.
“The Sustainable Development Goals are of interest to young people, they are really in demand in all the CIS countries,” said Grigory Petushkov, the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Russia welcoming participants. According to him, this forum is only a part of large systemic plans for cooperation in the field of creativity, sports, science throughout the Commonwealth.
Forum organizers are the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the National Youth Council of Russia and MIREA – the Russian Technological University – the basic organization of the CIS Member States for working with youth – with the support of the Youth Council of the CIS Member States have set an ambitious goal. This aim is the development of cooperation and consolidation of efforts of youth of the CIS Member States to facilitate the work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and benchmarks for sustainable development in their countries and the world.
The unification of efforts for the development of the scientific and creative potential of youth of the CIS countries was the key idea of the speech of the Deputy Director of the Department of State Youth Policy and Educational Activities of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Olga Negrova during the opening ceremony of the forum.
Her colleague, the Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Kodlubay, is sure that today, when young people are actively involved in new socio-political, cultural and economic relations, they play a decisive role in maintaining friendship and stability in the modern world. Youth participation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is of decisive importance.
Tatyana Minchenko, the Deputy Head of the Department for Youth Affairs of the Main Department of Educational Work and Youth Policy of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus came to the forum as a full participant, spoke about importance of not only to promoting the Sustainable Development Goals themselves, but also promoting young people who are able to make the SDGs achieved by leaps and bounds.
Vladimir Kuznetsov, the Director of the UN Information Center in Moscow, confirmed that youth dimension of activities of the United Nations has now acquired special significance. For four years now the Organization’s new strategy for youth has been in effect, providing that young people should become not only an active participant, but also the author of all the transformations taking place on the planet.
“In order to achieve the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals there is the need to involve young people. We need a dialogue between communities, people from different countries especially among youth. Today young people make up thirty percent of the world’s population. But at the same time it is one hundred percent of the future population of the Earth. The preservation of our planet largely depends on the mutual understanding of today’s youth. The response to the threats and challenges that are now facing all of us depends,” the diplomat stressed.
A place of honor in its projects is given to young people by the United Nations Association of Russia directing efforts to create platforms that bring together talented young people. This is how they will acquire the necessary skills to contribute to sustainable development. “Young people are future leaders who are already getting involved in understanding the processes taking place in the modern world, in finding solutions to global problems. The participation of young people is extremely important in shaping our future,” Alexei Borisov, the First Deputy Chairman of the Russian United Nations Association said.
Speaking about the tasks set by the organizers, Olga Popova, the Deputy Chairman of the National Youth Council of Russia, noted the importance of raising the awareness of youth of the CIS Member States about the Sustainable Development Goals involving them in activities to achieve these goals, stimulating youth activity, supporting and developing youth initiatives in the field of sustainable development in the Commonwealth space.
According to Olga Popova, the forum will facilitate the creation of a pool of active youth leaders involved in the promotion and implementation of the SDGs in the CIS. The event itself will serve as the basis for a regular open dialogue platform. There new ideas will arise, new projects for the development and implementation of initiatives in the field of sustainable development in our states will be formulated.
After the grand opening participants were introduced to the topic of the forum – “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, explained the essence of the Sustainable Development Goals themselves, presented voluntary national reviews of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the CIS Member States and formed a common semantic field. Participants shared their own experience of working in the field of SDGs, and in the evening everyone went on a sightseeing tour of Moscow with a visit to the cable car on Sparrow Hills.
The second working day of the program was devoted to practical issues. The contribution of youth to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was discussed.
The Head of the Laboratory of Geoecology and Sustainable Environmental Management of MGIMO University, the Deputy Chairman of the Commission on Sustainable Development and Ecology of the United Nations Association of Russia, the Associate Professor Natalia Ryazanova held a lecture for participants “National Frameworks of the Sustainable Development Goals in CIS Member States” and the foresight session “Development of a National Sustainability Model”.
We got a lot of impressions during our visits to the All-Russian Ecocultural Project #NEMUSEIMUSORA and the Ecocenter of the environmental company “Sobirator”. During the evening professional networking and presentations of organizations and projects of participants there was something to discuss.
On the third working day forum participants analyzed the Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Commonwealth space, identified challenges and topical issues affecting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Workshops focused on developing the skills and competencies needed to work with the Sustainable Development Goals. This day ended with a rich cultural program. Participants painted nesting dolls and took part in a Russian tea party.
The final day was devoted entirely to the development of project ideas, decisions, recommendations aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the Commonwealth.
Participants made presentations, made plans for further actions for themselves and for their organizations and states.
The CIS Youth Forum on SDGs is a platform where dreams, friendship and new things are born in us, Stefania-Vitaly Vinnichek, the SDG Youth Ambassador No. 17 “Partnership for Sustainable Development” in Belarus believes.
“The CIS Youth Forum on the SDGs is a unique platform for the exchange of experience in achieving the Global Agenda 2030 where not only successes are shared at the local and regional level, but also new ideas and initiatives of the international format are generated under the strict guidance of experienced trainers and speakers!”, Stefania-Vitalia said.
As an example, she named the FRed mobile application project for systematizing and streamlining information about the academic mobility of students and young scientists in the CIS: “Education without borders in just a couple of clicks on your phone. It helps to find a new friend in your specialty or apply in an automated form for an exchange program in the CIS. There is a lot of work to be done to implement the project, but with a huge team of forum participants any difficulties are not terrible!
The Master student of the Kursk Academy of State and Municipal Service Pavel Shikov believes that forums on the SDG Agenda solve a number of key issues for modern society. Among them are socialization and education of young people (not only on issues of sustainable development, but also in cultural, historical and patriotic aspects), establishing inter-ethnic and inter-confessional relations.
Sharing his plans Pavel said that together with friends found on the forum he was ready to develop an electronic trading platform project for the sale of agricultural products from personal subsidiary plots and peasant farms. He will act as a speaker at various scientific and practical events in his region and country. He would like to defend the PhD thesis in the economic block of the SDGs and then become an Ambassador for Goal No. 8.
Denis Bastyrev from the Yaroslavl regional branch of the Russian Union of Rural Youth is sure that such forums at least help many people learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals that are so important in modern society. As a maximum, they allow to establish communication between young people both in Russia and in the CIS.
“I think that the project developed with the team at the forum can be implemented in my region. Even with some changes. And, of course, I would like to hold a couple of familiarization events for youth of the Yaroslavl Region on the Sustainable Development Goals, their importance and significance for modern society,” Denis said.
The Chairman of the Youth Advisory Council of the UN Country Team in Uzbekistan Alisher Asrorov admits that the forum met all expectations and even more. It showed how important it is to cooperate and share experience with each other, regardless of which country you are from and in which direction you are operating. Holding such forums on an ongoing basis will further improve the interaction between the SDG Ambassadors and all those associated with them.
“In my country there is no concept or position of the “SDG Ambassador”, but having studied the experience of youth of Belarus and the Russian Federation I plan to introduce this system in Uzbekistan. Most of our population has no idea what it is. And, given that 60% of the population of my country is young, working with young people in this area will be a big step towards achieving all the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” Alisher stated.
He shared that as part of a team included representatives of four countries he promoted the idea of creating an international project aimed at increasing the level of value of volunteering.
“I hope if we continue to be in contact with each other and gradually begin to act, then we will implement this project which will be another impetus to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals without any doubt. In a short time we were able to work well together thanks to the well-coordinated and high-quality work and the support of organizers and trainers of the forum. They paid attention to every detail and made every effort to ensure that the forum was as pleasant and productive as possible for us. And they succeeded!” the representative of Uzbekistan smiled.
He admits that after returning to his homeland friends and colleagues asked him about how the forum went, and he answered briefly and clearly: “It was the best forum I have ever participated in!”
Azat Medetov, the assistant at the research company SIAR, the graduate of the SDG Academy in Kyrgyzstan, called the CIS International Youth Forum on SDGs a unique opportunity to plunge into the world of the Sustainable Development Goals, deepen knowledge in this area and learn from the experience of young people from other countries in achieving and promoting the SDGs.
“This is a wonderful platform where young leaders from almost all the CIS countries discuss topical issues, exchange ideas and develop joint projects. Each participant has the opportunity to adapt these projects to their country, their community. For example, I have a burning desire to promote the concept of social entrepreneurship, since this phenomenon is relatively new and at the moment in my country, in Kyrgyzstan, it does not have much popularity. Therefore, there is an idea in plans to come to grips with the study of the field of social entrepreneurship and then direct efforts to increase the awareness of their community about this phenomenon, about how this can be implemented, how investments can be attracted,” Azat shares his plans.
His compatriot Aidana Eshimbekova, the employee of the Center for Environmental Research, Consulting and Audit, said as part of the team she was involved in a project to prevent excessive pollution of wastewater covering many CIS countries that is very important. She hopes that the project will be implemented in the near future together with the state bodies of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.
Hrach Aghajanyan, the project coordinator of the Association of Young Historians (Armenia), considers forums on the Sustainable Development Goals indispensable, since in the modern era states face a number of problems, and one of the main options for solving them is the introduction and implementation of sustainable development initiatives. Thanks to the implementation of these goals citizens of our countries will receive prosperous, protected and developed states. Here the efforts of today’s youth are very significant, and holding such forums can become an incentive for more effective implementation of programs related to the Sustainable Development Goals through joint activities of representatives of different states.
“After the forum I want to launch an educational program aimed at increasing the level of media literacy among people aged 18–35. We are going to hold lectures and forums that will facilitate the implementation of our program,” Grach said.
Alexander Tolochenko, the Deputy of the Council of People’s Deputies of the Pridnestrovian village of Ternovka, the member of the commission on education, science, childhood and health, has no doubt that the CIS Youth Forum on SDGs should be held annually. The fact is that the relevant work is being carried out in all the CIS countries, but there is no consolidation and coordination among the Ambassadors and Envoys of the SDGs. The forum makes it possible to understand how colleagues in other countries work, to unite their efforts.
According to Alexander, one of the projects proposed during the forum will be implemented in Transnistria. We are talking about an application or public in a popular social network with opportunities for internships, volunteer projects in the CIS and the EAEU.
“And, of course, I would like to hold the CIS Forum on SDGs – 2023 in Transnistria,” Alexander smiled.
The Assistant to the Head of the Diplomatic Club of Astana (Kazakhstan) Aigerim Zhumanova notes that the first CIS Youth Forum on the SDGs in the CIS was very productive. The Organizing Committee managed to bring together young people who have extensive experience in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and those who are just starting their journey in their implementation. All seventeen SDGs are of high relevance and require careful work until 2030. They are relevant for every person on the planet, every person to one degree or another can and does take part in the implementation of the SDGs.
“I am a young specialist who is studying the EAEU. I wrote a scientific paper on this topic and plan to continue research in this area. I believe in the strategic development of our organization, in the promotion and expansion of the EAEU. Undoubtedly, in order to achieve these goals it is important to be united and create more common projects especially between young people. The CIS Youth Forum on SDGs provided a unique platform for establishing new connections, for finding like-minded people. As it turned out, we are all alike, we think in the same direction, most of us see a common future, safe and developed. We are consciously moving in this direction and will achieve great results. I express my deep gratitude to the organizing committee for the opportunity, for the contribution to our development, for establishing links between youth of our countries. This is priceless. This is a contribution that will be justified and will bring worthy results.
I also thank you for the informal part of the event, for games helped us get in the working mood and join the team, in an informal setting this is done faster and more efficiently. We were not only inspired by each other and gained professional experience that cannot be compared with anything, but also had a rest with new friends felt complete freedom. This is possible only in a positive environment, in the company of people you trust. Thank you again for the work done and opening new doors for all participants, everything was great!
I hope that soon we will announce our project which we worked on with the thirteenth group, the project will involve the 4th and 17th goals of the SDGs and will increase the scientific literacy of youth of the countries participating in the Eurasian Economic Union,” Aigerim said.
Mirzobakhrom Yakubov, the project coordinator of the Youth Group for Environmental Protection from Khujand, Tajikistan, said in his public organization all projects are developed and implemented taking into account the Sustainable Development Goals. But he plans to step up activities to promote the implementation of the SDGs in his country. In many ways established ties with other forum participants will facilitate it. In a team with them we managed to develop important initiatives, now it’s up to grant support.
The wonderful atmosphere of the forum is emphasized by all its delegates. “I would like to note the organizers who in such a difficult time managed to bring us together to resolve important issues. The first CIS Youth Forum on SDGs was excellent, more than fifteen initiatives in the CIS countries will be implemented by participants,” Alexander Tolochko promised.
“During the forum we actively worked with all participants in a very close-knit and friendly, and, most importantly, safe environment. All this thanks to the respected organizers. Despite the turbulent times organizers managed to hold such a large-scale event bringing together young leaders from all over the CIS!”, Aigerim Zhumanova joined.
Stefania-Vitalia Vinnichek thanks the organizers “for the impeccable organization of the CIS Youth Forum on SDGs, great presentation and warm welcome.”
