Public diplomats from all over Russia gathered in the capital in the last days of April. International students, representatives of youth public organizations, councils of young scientists, youth governments and parliaments – in total 35 participants represent different parts of Russia: Moscow and St. Petersburg to Kaliningrad and Vladivostok. All of them took part in the educational seminar on the development of international youth cooperation and public diplomacy for representatives of youth organizations and youth leaders “Public Diplomacy Corps” (PDC).
The history of the Public Diplomatic Corps began in the already distant 2009. Since then, the PDC carried out by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the National Youth Council of Russia and the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “MIREA – Russian Technological University” has become a pool of young leaders, international public figures who are able to contribute to the promotion of a positive image of our country, to building and strengthening fruitful foreign cooperation with youth participation.
As we can see, now the work on establishing direct contacts with foreign socio-political, expert and business communities has received wide recognition. Such an informal dialogue is especially in demand at the time when many mechanisms of interaction with Western states remain frozen on their initiative.
The ceremonial opening of the seminar took place in the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation. Participants were welcomed by well-known politicians in the country, representatives of state authorities, scientists. Denis Ashirov, the Director of the Department of State Youth Policy and Educational Activities of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, emphasized the importance of acquiring as many skills in international relations as possible for young people, since it is new international figures who will determine the foreign policy agenda of our country. Elena Rodionova, the Chairperson of the Commission of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation for Youth Affairs, Development of Volunteering and Patriotic Education, called the PDC a platform where excellent civil initiatives are born. Grigory Petushkov, the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Russia, noted that the Public Diplomacy Corps is steadily confirming its relevance, because every year the importance of public diplomacy – a key instrument of our country’s foreign policy – is constantly increasing.
“I was generally impressed by the organization of the seminar, its content and the level of invited speakers! I remember very much the visit to the Public Chamber! ” – Diana Krylova, the student of Petrozavodsk State University, said after the event.
Parting words sounded during the opening ceremony, wishes to systematically participate in the formation of the agenda in international relations set the proper working mood. But in foreign policy only the intention to act is not enough. It is important to fully master the theoretical base. Therefore, participants listened with special attention to the lecture by the director of the Academy of Diplomacy and Business Protocol, Ekaterina Dronova, on international rules of business etiquette.
“Throughout the lecture there was no monologue of the lecturer, we had a dialogue. We were told how to greet, dress, walk, even how to sit properly in the car. You subconsciously adhered to many of these things all your life and did not even think that many of them are rooted in the distant past, such as who is the first to go up stairs or enter the elevator. High manners are a sign of good taste!” – the Chairman of the Committee on International and Interregional Relations, Security and Law and Order of the Youth Parliament under the Kaliningrad Regional Duma Yakov Busorgin noted.
By the end of the first working day the presentation of organizations and projects of participants in the field of public diplomacy and international youth cooperation facilitated learning more about each other.
The second day of the seminar started under the sign of Asia. Ekaterina Koldunova, the Director of the ASEAN Centre of MGIMO University, Candidate of Political Sciences, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Oriental Studies at MGIMO, shared the experience of the ASEAN Centre in the field of youth cooperation between our country and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Some of participants were lucky enough to become guests of the real diplomatic mission. The Embassy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Moscow cordially opened its doors to them. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the Russian Federation Mr. Sin Hong Chul highly assessed the level of bilateral relations. They are systematically developing, they have acquired the character of truly friendly. Moscow is a traditional economic partner of Pyongyang, and cooperation in the field of culture and education is growing stronger. North Korea supports Russia and appreciates the long friendship between our countries.
The meeting with the Director of the Department for Relations with the Subjects of the Federation, Parliament and Public Associations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Semyon Grigoriev was devoted to the tasks of youth organizations in the new international situation. The diplomat spoke about how the Foreign Ministry deals with issues of international cooperation with youth and other non-governmental organizations, gave advice on building cooperation with new partners – in the CIS, BRICS, Asia-Pacific, SCO, Africa and Latin America.
Participants later admitted that communication with a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry dispelled some doubts. They managed to find many answers to questions.
Today the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund makes an important contribution to the implementation of Russian foreign policy. Victoria Karslieva, the Deputy Executive Director of the Fund, spoke about the key areas of organization’s activities. She shared her experience in implementing grant projects and gave advice to young leaders of NGOs.
“At the meeting at the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund I got necessary contacts, decided on an understanding of the new direction of work of my organization. I know that I will create a partner international network and fund within the framework of international cooperation”, – Elvira Ten, the General Director of the Volunteer Agency of the Khanty-Mansky Autonomous Okrug – Ugra said.
The third working day was opened by the meeting with the Head of the Department of International Activities of the Department of Youth Projects and Programs of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Valeria Chernogorodova who spoke about policies taken to support public diplomacy by Rosmolodezh. Then the PDC participants moved on to full-fledged seminars. Having familiarized themselves with the basics and principles of social design in the field of public diplomacy and international youth cooperation they identified modern challenges and the most pressing issues in this area, generated project ideas to solve key problems during a creative session and then proceeded to their detailed development.
“On the one hand, I realized that doing projects is not so difficult. The main thing is to understand mechanics. On the other hand, I would like to make a project that will respond to modern challenges and meet current trends, and this is already more difficult to do”, – Yakov Busorgin threw up his hands.
On the fourth day of the program, Valeria Gorbacheva, the Director for Relations with State and Public Organizations of the Russian National Committee for BRICS Research, gave a lecture “Introduction to BRICSology”. Then the comprehensive analysis of Russia’s “soft power” was offered by Leyli Rustamova, the Senior Lecturer at the Department of World Political Processes at MGIMO University. She presented the very concept of the term and its components, assessed prospects of this foreign policy instrument in the increasingly complicated international environment.
The worthy end to the educational program of the day became the visit to the “Feat of the People” exposition at the Victory Museum on Poklonnaya Gora.
And now it is April 30, the last day of the PDC. Almost eight hours of hard work in project teams. Experts arrange a merciless crash test for the developed projects, only the brightest and most interesting pass this test, after the teams finalize the projects taking into account the feedback from the experts and make the final presentation. In conversations with organizers participants noted a high motivation to initiate and implement projects. If someone was afraid before, then the fear is gone, but the desire remains. If someone did not have the necessary contacts, they were able to establish them. The vector in which direction to move was not clear – it was found.
Participants note the atmosphere reigned throughout the seminar. It encouraged creativity in terms of project activities, helped to believe in oneself thanks to the successful examples of other participants and to get rid of the “imposter syndrome”.
“For myself, I took away a lot of useful information, ideas and thoughts. In the next couple of months, right after the state exams, I plan to start implementing my project in my hometown. I have already set up a meeting with the department of the university that deals with international relations, and we will discuss establishing partnerships with the university in Egypt and regular student exchanges. The seminar gave me a huge boost of motivation, energy and enthusiasm to create my own event! ” – Diana Krylova said.
“I have received a lot for my organization and have already begun active work in the direction I need,” Elvira Ten joined the conversation. “I am delighted with the social design from our experts! I learned new techniques and insights on writing grant applications!”
“I met many interesting people, with some of them I have already planned a couple of projects. For myself, I determined areas in which I would like to develop and create projects. So, everything was not in vain!”, Yakov Busorgin is sure.
According to the Head of the working group on international youth cooperation of the Youth Parliament under the Duma of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra Alexandra Zvereva, the completed seminar was a confident step forward for all its participants – all those who want to connect life with international activities, with public diplomacy.
“The Public Diplomacy Corps helps young people to have the opportunity to broadcast the foreign policy agenda of our country on the world stage, and this is one of the priority tasks today. Strengthening the image of active youth at the international level, the country declares that we are preparing a decent work shift. It is very honorable to be aware of the fact that I stand with these people in the same ranks!”, – summed up Alexandra Zvereva.
