Cooperation between cities and regions is an important component of Russian-German relations, and conducting youth exchanges between twin cities of Russia and Germany is one of the priority tasks of the intergovernmental Agreement in the field of youth cooperation.
At the same time, due to several years of tension in high political circles and the aging of significant players in the city partnership this area needs to be constantly revitalized.
Since 2017 the Russian Coordination Bureau for Youth Cooperation with Germany and the German-Russian Youth Exchange Foundation in cooperation with the German-Russian Forum, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the German Foreign Ministry, have been holding bilateral youth forums aimed at developing youth cooperation within the framework of the partnership of Russian and German cities. During this time forums have brought together about 300 young people from more than 30 city partnerships.
Based on the results of the IV Youth Forum of the partner cities of Russia and Germany held in June last year in Moscow and Kaluga the Russian Coordination Bureau for Youth Cooperation with Germany and the German-Russian Youth Exchange Foundation took the initiative to hold in 2022-2023 the thematic Year of Youth Exchanges of the partner cities of Russia and Germany.
Goals of the Year of Youth Exchange are:
- drawing attention to the diversity, opportunities and potential of youth exchanges within the framework of the partnership between cities of Russia and Germany,
- attracting new target groups to participate in youth exchanges within the framework of the partnership between the cities of Russia and Germany,
- the formation and development of a community of young people involved in the development of Russian-German sister city relations,
- creation of a platform for the exchange of experience and dissemination of successful practices in the field of youth cooperation within the framework of the partnership between the cities of Russia and Germany,
- creation and support of a network of contacts between representatives of local governments involved in the implementation of Russian-German sister city relations and interested in the development of youth exchanges.
From May 29 to June 1 Moscow will host a Conference dedicated to the opening of the thematic Year of Youth Exchanges of partner cities of Russia and Germany 2022-2023 in person.
The topic of the Conference is “Youth exchange as an opportunity for dialogue”.
From the Russian side the Conference will be attended by representatives of cities that have partner and / or sister cities with German cities, three persons from the city including:
- The head of the municipality or a representative of the local administration responsible for the development of twinning relations or youth work.
- Representative of a state or public organization with experience in implementing youth exchange projects with a German partner city.
- Youth representative between the ages of 18 and 35 involved in or interested in youth exchange projects with a German partner city.
To participate in the competitive selection from the Russian side each candidate must fill out an application online at the link https://forms.gle/fnYm4Mqhv74Qwvma9 before 18:00 (Moscow time) on March 25, 2022.
Based on the results of the competitive selection for participation in the conference 10 joint Russian-German delegations representing partner cities will be formed (each delegation has three participants from Russia and three participants from Germany).
Information about participation in the Conference from the German side can be obtained on the website of the German-Russian Youth Exchange Foundation www.stiftung-drja.de.
The application does not guarantee participation in the Conference. Delegations passed the competitive selection will receive information letters by April 1, 2022.
Conditions for participation in the conference are:
- sending organizations cover costs of participants’ travel from their place of residence to Moscow and back,
- organizers of the Conference from the Russian side provide accommodation (1-bed) and meals for Russian and German participants in Moscow.
Conference working languages are Russian and German (translation will be provided).
Organizers of the Year of Youth Exchanges are MIREA – Russian Technological University acting as the Russian Coordination Bureau for Youth Cooperation with Germany and the German-Russian Youth Exchange Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth of Germany, the German Foreign Ministry and the Robert Bosch Stiftung.
Additional information about the Year of Youth Exchanges can be obtained from RTU MIREA:
8 (499) 215-65-65 ext. 1134, dina.sokolowa@yandex.ru, www.intermol.su. Contact person – Sokolova Dina Alexandrovna, the Deputy Director of the Institute of Youth Policy and International Relations of RTU MIREA, the Head of the Russian Coordination Bureau for Youth Cooperation with Germany
8 (499) 215-65-65 ext. 1198, olga-decker@yandex.ru. Contact person – Olga Ivanovna Dekker, the Deputy Head of the International Department of the Institute of Youth Policy and International Relations of RTU MIREA
Reference
The Russian-German Youth Cooperation is carried out in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in the field of youth cooperation of December 21, 2004. Before the Covid-19 pandemic there were an average of 600 bilateral youth events each year with about 17,000 participants.
