Representatives of Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno took part in the Congress of small towns of Grodno and Nizhny Novgorod regions

From August 13 to 15, the V Congress of Small Towns of Grodno Region of the Republic of Belarus and Nizhny Novgorod Region of the Russian Federation was held in the village of Diveyevo, Nizhny Novgorod Region. The event, which brought together more than 400 representatives of the two regions, was devoted to a comprehensive approach to solving the problem of staff shortages in industries developing the countryside.

More than 300 delegates from Nizhny Novgorod Region and over 100 from Grodno Region took part in the discussion of the main topic of the meeting. The Belarusian delegation included representatives of the youth parliament, among whom were students and graduates of YKSUG: Angelina Khaletskaya, a second-year student of the Faculty of History, Communication and Tourism; Yulia Bahdzevich, a fourth-year student of the Faculty of Philology; graduates of the Faculty of History, Communication and Tourism Mikita Akudovich and Daniil Boguslausky, as well as graduate of the Faculty of Biology and Ecology Siarhei Eromchik.

Immediately upon arrival, the guests went on an excursion to the Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveyevo Convent.

The official opening of the congress took place on August 14. After the official part, the participants laid flowers at the Eternal Flame in the Victory Park of the village of Diveyevo, paying tribute to the great feat of their ancestors. The key event of the day was the work of thematic sections. Representatives of YKSUG showed high activity in the section "The Role of Youth of Russia and Belarus in Preserving Historical and Cultural Heritage and Establishing Intergenerational Dialogue." Experts and young people discussed the practice of involving the new generation in preserving the cultural code, regional party building, the contribution of labour collectives to the common heritage, the activities of the "Iskra" movement of the Belarusian party "Belaya Rus," as well as issues of patriotic education and rural development.

During the off-site programme, participants visited the community centre of the Gaidar Park of Culture and Recreation, where they joined a master class on making wooden window frames. The delegates also visited the Resurrection Cathedral, the Museum of Russian Patriarchate, and laid flowers at the Eternal Flame in the Gaidar Park of Culture and Recreation.

On the closing day of the congress, an exhibition-fair of enterprises of Grodno and Nizhny Novgorod Regions was held.

The V Congress of Small Towns of Grodno Region of the Republic of Belarus and Nizhny Novgorod Region of the Russian Federation became an effective platform for exchanging experience and establishing close business contacts. Following the forum, a number of partnership agreements were signed. In particular, the Association of Youth Councils of Grodno Region and the Association of Youth Parliaments under the Legislative Bodies of State Power of the Volga Federal District approved a roadmap. Under this document, the parties plan to jointly implement personnel, social and lean initiatives, form volunteer units and preserve common historical memory.