Vitebsk and Smolensk residents will create a joint coordination council for youth cooperation

This conclusion was reached by the participants of the final specialized session "Union Brotherhood" in Smolensk. This project is being implemented by the Center for Psychological, Pedagogical and Social Assistance to Children and Families "For the Future" and the Vitebsk Regional Committee of the BRSM.

Head of the Smolensk Center "For the Future" Natalia Polushkina and 2nd Secretary of the Vitebsk Regional Committee of the BRSM Vyacheslav Khrol

The organizers hope that the new structure will not be nominal, but a truly working unified platform for the border regions, where young people from neighboring regions will meet and discuss common plans. Moreover, "Union Brotherhood" has many joint events to its credit, and even more are ahead. This was also shown by the recent meeting. For three days, in the format of open dialogues, master classes, and foresight sessions, students and working youth from the border regions discussed possible joint projects that would be of interest to both sides and would become another point of contact between Smolensk residents and Vitebsk residents, in addition to geographical proximity.

Specifically, the next generation is all about movement, which is why the greatest number of agreements have been reached in the fields of sports and tourism. Thus, ecological and local history tourist routes are planned – hiking, cycling, and water routes, passing through the territories of Vitebsk and Smolensk regions, with visits to and improvement of military burial sites, memorials, and cleaning of river banks and forest areas. The plans also include a mountain climbing expedition in Crimea together with the Smolensk Olympic Reserve School, whose students have already developed their route. In addition, friendly football and volleyball matches, sports competitions, quizzes, intellectual games, creative contests, and patriotic and charity events are planned.

By the way, the first competition took place during the current visit of our youth to Smolensk, namely in karting. Moreover, initially, the participants were divided into teams regardless of which country they represented. Speed, extreme, and excitement united all the racers, so there was no talk of winners and losers; friendship prevailed – two teams took first place. The youth forum concluded with a walk around the city and a collective selfie at the walls of the Smolensk fortress.

Natalia Ryzhkova. Photos by Elena ALIMOVA, "Vitebskie vesti".