Barents Young Leaders explore the Russian North
The Joint Working Group on Education and Research chaired by the Northern (Arctic) Federal University (Arkhangelsk, Russia) and the Joint Working Group on Youth (co-chaired by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of Arkhangelsk Region) have joined their efforts to carry-out a joint international project “Russian North – the Solovetsky Islands” having the overarching goal to promote youth cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region and getting the young Barents leaders acquainted with the Russian North. The project got financial support from the Russian Federal Agency “ROSMOLODYEZH” and the Norwegian Barents Secretariat.
The project got together the representatives of the Barents Regional Youth Council from Norway, Sweden, North-West Russia (Arkhangelsk, Petrozavodsk, Syktyvkar), students from Lapland University (Finland) and Northern (Arctic) Federal University.
The key project events that took place from 28th of August till 2nd of September included a study trip to the Solovetsky Islands, a workshop “Russian North – Solovetsky Islands”, a round-table “Best Practices of Barents Youth Governance”, visiting the Youth House of Arkhangelsk Region and a number of venues set up to mark the Day of Knowledge celebrating the beginning of the academic year in NArFU.
During their visit to the Solovetsky Island that is the UNESCO site and nationally and internationally recognized religious center, the participants could get insights into unique historical, cultural and natural heritage of the area through a diverse execution programme and presentations made by the representatives of the Arkhangelsk Government, the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior and the Solovetsky Museum.
The debates held at the round table on the issues of the youth governance development stressed the increasing role of the youth in the Barents progress and posed such questions as ‘What is the vision of the Barents Region by the young people? How exactly can the young leaders contribute to the area’s sustainability and its attractiveness for living in? What are the tools for this? How can the universities support the young people in this activity?’.
Alexander Falck, BRYC member, Västerbotten, Sweden: “Big thanks to organizers for this amazing trip to the Solovetsky Archipelago! That was an unusual experience to live 2 days in the center of the White Sea. I couldn’t miss that, that’s why I had applied for this project. Thank you for the opportunity to visit the Russian North, to learn youth policy aspects and tell about Swedish ones. I got new knowledge and visited a unique place on the Earth!”.
The participants have agreed to re-ignite the dialogue on how the Barents youth cooperation could be promoted at the Barents Bird Festival that Arkhangelsk is hosting this November.
Joint Working Group on Education and Research