The 8th PRO100 All-Russian Student Forum has started in Saratov Region with the grant support of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs. The main topic of the event is mentoring among young people. This year, the forum is dedicated to the Year of Teachers and Mentors. Saratov State University acts as the forum site and has been providing comprehensive support to the event since 2015.
The forum will last until July 5. On the first day, more than 100 students arrived at the Chardym SSU sports and recreation. This year, the participants from 40 regions of Russia have gathered there – from the Republic of Crimea to Primorsky Krai, including those from Volga, Central, Northwestern, Southern, and North Caucasian Federal districts.
The grand opening of the PRO100 was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of the region, Minister of Education Mikhail Orlov, Minister of Youth Policy and Sports of the region Oleg Dubovenko, as well as Head of the Grant support Department of the Office for Finances and Economy of Rosmolodezh Alexandra Pervova. SSU was presented at the event by Chair of the Rectors’ Council of Saratov Region, SSU Rector Aleksei Chumachenko, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Organisational Work Anton Golovchenko, and Vice-Rector for Secondary Vocational Education and Social Work Olga Nesterova.
On behalf of Governor of Saratov Region Roman Busargin, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Education Mikhail Orlov greeted the participants from the stage. ‘Saratov is a student city. Every 16th person we meet here on the street is a student, and this is one of the biggest indicators in our country. Surely, our students are the best and the most creative. We will see those who will represent their universities at the 2024 All-Russian Student Spring, which will be held in Saratov, again in May next year. Now, you are in the Saratov State University camp. I hope you will implement all your ideas, find new friends, and have a rest so that you will always want to return to our city, which will be waiting for you.’
Chair of the Rectors’ Council of Saratov Region, SSU Rector Aleksei Chumachenko recalled the first forums and noted the scale of the event this year. ‘I am glad to have the opportunity to welcome you to such a wonderful place on the embankment of the Volga. I remember the first forums that took place here, they were intra-university. Every year, the event has gained momentum and expanded its borders to the All-Russian status, begun to win prizes and grants. Of course, we participate in the life of the forum, help in the organisation. Surely, each of you will benefit from taking part in this forum. And we thank the Government of Saratov Region, which always supports it.’
The opening ceremony was hosted by Sophia Tsyganova, Head of the SSU Department for the Development of Youth Initiatives, and Nikita Krivosheyev, a winner of the 2023 All-Russian Student Spring. They noted that Saratov Region regularly became the venue for youth events of various levels – the Touriad, the Delphic Games, and the 2nd Cup of Eurasian countries in diving. In 2024, the region is to host the All-Russian Student Spring for the first time.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the flags of Russia, Saratov Region, and Saratov State University were hoisted. The Russian flag was hoisted by an owner of a 2022 grant from Rosmolodezh, a 5th-year student of the Institute of Clinical Medicine, Samara State Medical University, Regina Saitgareyeva.
‘I remember how in 2022 I organised my forum on countering extremism and terrorism among young people. It was cool and incredibly interesting. I found out about this forum last year, applied, and became a participant in the delegation of my university. This is the second time I have been to the PRO100, and, this time, I especially like the topic,’ Regina said.
The director of the forum, Head of the Department of Patriotic Education and Preventive Work, SSU, Julia Ilyashenko, meeting the guests, told them about the forum agenda. ‘In the Year of Mentors and Teachers, we decided to make a platform dedicated to informal education, the development of coaching among youth. We want to teach them to create their own trainings and courses aimed at developing supra-professional skills. This knowledge will help them in the future when teaching students-activists in their regions.’
The start of the PRO100 forum was given by ringing the bell, which would accompany the participants during the event. The ceremony ended with singing the anthem, after which the participants took a common photo.
On the first day of the event, its members got acquainted with the curators and the camp, educational blocks began, a panel discussion was held by Mikhail Orlov, a member of the expert community of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Georgii Bolotov, and the head of the RYU Team central programme Julia Martynenko. The programme of the forum includes educational trainings and lectures from speakers of the Association of Trainers of the Russian Youth Union, as well as a meeting with experts of Rosmolodezh.
Georgii Bolotov, a member of the expert community of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, a speaker of one of the educational blocks, commented on his role at the forum. ‘We are giving a lecture together with Head of the Grant Support Department of the Office for Finances and Economy of Rosmolodezh Alexandra Pervova, who will talk about the opportunities that exist in the ecosystem of Rosmolodezh development. This year, young participants have time to apply for full-time and part-time grant competitions. As a mentor, I will show by examples what types of mentoring there are and the specifics of preparing to grant application.’
To remind, a grant from the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs for 740 thousand roubles was received to hold the PRO100 forum. The project is organised by Saratov State University and the Government of Saratov Region.
