Russia hosts a dynamic regional program for World Youth Festival participants
After completing their journey in the federal territory of Sirius, festival participants extend their cultural exploration through a substantial regional initiative in Russia. Beginning on March 10, about two thousand young people from abroad will embark on a thoughtfully designed tour across thirty cities, opening up deeper connections with Russia’s people, landscapes, and heritage. The organizers of the festival shared this plan, emphasizing a broad educational and cultural mission that goes beyond the initial event.
Throughout the journey, international guests will acquire a more vivid understanding of Russia’s cultural wealth, historical layers, and the rich tapestry of national traditions. They will also experience the country’s diverse nature and its growing economic potential, all while engaging with local communities and institutions that drive Russian innovation and creativity.
The program unfolds along five thematic routes that guide encounters with science, history, and everyday life. The paths are Living and Working in Russia, Memory Trail, Land Without Borders, We Returned to Russia, and an international exhibition and forum titled Russia. Each route is crafted to reveal different facets of the nation while fostering cross-cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
Regardless of the destination chosen, foreign guests will spend three days in Moscow to immerse themselves in the Russia exhibition. There, visitors will discover the country’s main scientific and industrial achievements, as well as cultural traditions spanning all regions, creating a holistic snapshot of modern Russia.
Ksenia Razuvaeva, head of Rosmolodezh, highlighted that the regional program will offer a clearer view of how Russia’s youth live, what they pursue, what they value, and what plans they are formulating for the future. The experience is designed to be transformative, connecting participants with authentic Russian life and enabling them to appreciate the energy behind student life, creativity, and development here.
Razuvaeva conveyed that foreign guests can expect intense emotions, lasting impressions, and new insights about Russia as a dynamic nation. She expressed confidence that after the festival, participants would enthusiastically share stories with friends and colleagues about the joy of living, studying, creating, and growing in Russia.
On the Living and Working in Russia route, participants will explore the country’s industrial hubs, technological centers, scientific laboratories, and educational institutions. They will visit universities and enterprises, come face to face with historic sites, and sample major tourist attractions. Seventeen cities are involved in this route, including Korolyov, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, and others, each offering distinct insights into regional innovation and everyday life.
The Memory route emphasizes heroic cities and places of military glory. Stops include Volgograd, St. Petersburg, Smolensk, Tula, Kursk, and Belgorod, where visitors can connect with the region’s powerful historical narratives and commemorative sites.
The Land Without Borders route traverses four cities spread across Russia’s vast geography. Participants will visit Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in the Far East, Kaliningrad in the west, Makhachkala near the Caucasus, and Khabarovsk in the far east, illustrating the country’s geographic and cultural diversity.
On the We Returned to Russia route, young people from overseas will have the chance to explore new territories within the federation, broadening their understanding of Russia’s evolving regional landscapes and communities.
In addition to the main program, the global partner of the WFM-2024 training initiative, the Russian organization Znanie, has prepared its own regional activities, contributing further depth to the participants’ experience.
Interregional travel for foreign participants of WFM-2024 will continue through March 17, offering a wide window for discovery, interaction, and learning across Russia’s many regions and cultural circuits.