“Strength is in unity, unity is in peace!” A youth forum-festival was held in Orsha
The event became a starting point for uniting this particular category of young people, who remain not fully engaged, – noted Vladimir Babichev, First Secretary of the regional organization of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union. – This year, based in Orsha, we plan to launch the regional project "Student of the Year. College," which will involve students from vocational schools of the Vitebsk region.
Belarus is peaceful and people-oriented, Belarus is hospitable and youth-oriented. The forum-festival, hosted by the Orsha State Medical College, was divided into four thematic blocks. Speakers and students performed in each block.
Opening the event, Viktor Kolochov, Deputy Chairman of the District Executive Committee, emphasized that patriotism is extremely relevant today.
– Look at how they want to rewrite our history now, – said the Deputy Chairman. – But our present and future lie in its lessons. It won't be long before you, sitting in this hall, will have to make decisions about which path to take. You must not be led – every step you take, every path you choose, you must clearly understand and move purposefully.
Andrei Bobrov, Chairman of the Orsha District Organization of the Belarusian Union of War Veterans in Afghanistan, was invited as a speaker for the "Peaceful Belarus" block. He spoke about what they, very young, felt knowing that they were not just serving the Motherland, but going to war. The internationalist soldier answered questions from the forum-festival participants.
– The most precious thing a person has is their life, – summarized Andrey Bobrov. – No one has the right to take it away. I had two grandfathers who died in the war. One near Berlin, the second is buried in a mass grave near Gorki. The traditions we were raised with are inviolable and the most valuable. Now we must pass these traditions on to our children and grandchildren. It is easy to lose, difficult to regain and restore. Belarus is our home, and we want to be full owners of it, to be proud of our history and to look to the future with confidence.
The students of the medical college from Turkmenistan were entrusted with representing "Welcoming Belarus". They spoke about their culture, traditions, performed national dances and songs, and shared their impressions of studying in Belarus.
– This is a wonderful country where hospitable, generous, open, and kind people live, – said third-year student Suray Berdeymuradova. – I like studying and living here, although there are still some difficulties with the language. But these are trifles compared to the warmth and understanding with which we are treated here. Everything is for the people, for their peace and well-being.
– Belarus is truly a country for living, – emphasized Elena Semenkova, a delegate of the VI All-Belarusian People's Congress, a methodologist-teacher at the Educational Institution "Auxiliary School No. 24 of Orsha". – The most important things are the social orientation of our state's development and sovereignty. The words chosen as the slogan for the VI All-Belarusian People's Congress – "Unity. Development. Independence" – are the main vectors for the next five-year period. Among the main directions of the state's development, great attention was paid to working with youth, their patriotic and civic education. The topic of glorifying fascism, the absence of certain motives for learning historical lessons – this is something that should not be. Behind us, unseen, stand those who died for peace and the future. It is important how much we remember them and preserve, cherish their legacy.
The guests of the forum-festival were welcomed and seen off by the participants of the "Rodnoye-Narodnoye" campaign, who tied red and green ribbons on the wrists of all who wished and presented souvenirs with the symbols of our state. Also, an exhibition of the creativity of the youth of Belarus and Turkmenistan was held in the foyer of the medical college.
Maria Shmatova, First Secretary of the Orsha District Committee of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union:
– For the first time, we have combined two seemingly different forms of work, and it has been a complete success. After all, our youth are creative and initiative-taking, capable of expressing their thoughts and emotions not only in words but also through songs, dances, recitations, and playing musical instruments. I think that forums-festivals will now become popular in the region and will unite students of secondary vocational educational institutions.