Orsha became the 24th Belarusian city to join the international initiative 'Child-Friendly City'.

An agreement between the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus, the Orsha District Executive Committee, and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the Republic of Belarus on Orsha's accession to an international initiative was signed on the day the district campaign "I Choose Health!" concluded.

The solemn ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Orsha District Executive Committee Nikolai Lisovsky, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in the Republic of Belarus Victoria Lozuk, Director of the National Center for Artistic Creativity of Children and Youth of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus Nadezhda Vasilchenko, representatives of local authorities, and the Youth Chamber.

As the Head of the Education Department of the Orsha District Executive Committee Andrey Zagursky noted, participation in the "Child-Friendly City" initiative opens up new prospects for the residents of Orsha and will allow for more effective implementation of social policies regarding minors, increase the level of legal culture of the younger generation, and solve many problems taking into account the opinions of children and youth.

– Today, about 29 thousand children live in our district, – noted Andrey Vladimirovich. – Preschool and school education institutions meet the demands of students and parents. All conditions have been created for physical education and sports.

The younger generation is also socially active: in April 2015, the Youth Chamber was formed from among the best high school students in the city. The Timur movement has been revived in the district, 11 exemplary ensembles, military-patriotic classes, MES classes, and the military-patriotic club "Rusichi" are operating.

The ice arena has become one of the five largest sports and entertainment complexes in the country. Under the "Gazprom - Children" program, the multifunctional sports complex with a ski-roller track "Olimpiec" has been commissioned.

In the children's park "Fairy Tale Land," an image object of the Orsha City and District Department for Emergency Situations has been opened. The construction of a nursery-kindergarten for 200 places in a new residential area is nearing completion. Children's festivals "I Will Be a Star" have become traditional.

"Orsha Primrose", the "I Choose Health!" campaign, "Istok" and "Student of the Year" contests. Winners of Olympiads and graduates are solemnly honored here. Events for Children's Day, international contests "Sails of Hope", "Orange Birch", and many others are held on a large scale and are spectacular. Young Orsha residents have established friendly ties with children from Russia and Germany, and Belarusian-Chinese relations are actively developing.

Olga Lebedeva, "Vitebskiye Vesti". Photos from open sources.