IV Arkhangelsk International Youth Forum “Team-29”

Since 2009 TEAM-29 is annually organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Arkhangelsk Region and attracts hundreds of young people interested in politics, leadership and active citizenship. Since 2011 the foreign participants also became a part of TEAM-29. We already have close friends and colleagues in Norway, USA, Finland and hope to extend international cooperation. Swimming, exciting sports and friendship games, visiting museums, dancing and singing together, making new friends – all these and much more can be experienced during the Youth Forum “TEAM-29”. 

 But TEAM-29 is not only entertainment! It is also very serious work time for young people, who learn to operate in team, to carry out business and social projects, to develop volunteer and mass-media work, to understand what’s happening in the world, to become more socially engaged and responsible. Educational program is divided into sections, depending on the participants’ professional and educational background, and is very rich and various, including lectures, workshops, trainings, meetings with experts and politicians, work in groups as well as role-play games and practical experience. This year the International Section work was devoted to environment issues under the slogan “Think in ECOstyle in the Barents Region!”.Environmental issues are of special concern for young people of BEAR as ecology is their future and heritage, that’s why the representatives of youth ecological organizations from Russia (“Aetas”), Norway (“Natur og Ungdom”) and Finland (“Luonto-Liitto”) came to 

Arkhangelsk to share thoughts and ideas. The peculiarity of the International Section “Think in ECOstyle in the Barents Region!” was in participants ecological way of living: the fellows lived and studied in

 tents in the alternative, nature - friendly and balanced way with using the sun and wind energy, separate collection and recycling of waste, studying and reviving ancestors cultural heritage, practicing in folk crafts and vulnerary plants usage. Additionally foreign participants knew more about modern and ancient Northern part of Russia, its culture and traditions and the Arkhangelsk Region as a part of BEAR.

Due to the grant money of Norwegian General Consulate in Murmansk the Section was equipped with sun batteries and real wind mill, so everybody could recharge their sell phones and other gadgets without electricity. After intensive work with the very proficient experts from Arkhangelsk and Saint Petersburg State University and hot joint discussions the fellows worked out 7 social-environmental projects which are focused on

 sustainable development of the territories where active young people live. 2 projects are supposed to be international: “ECOfashion is our passion” and “Reclaim the nature of Suokyla”. The major result of the Forum “TEAM-29” is a lot of new projects prepared by young people aimed to develop all the spheres of life from mass media to business cooperation.

These projects will be presented to the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as to Arkhangelsk Region government and the best projects will get financial support for further implementation. When many friends work together, there are no impossible things! Looking at the hundreds of joyful, active young peoples, full of new ideas, who dream high and work hard, you can be sure that they will do everything to make life better!  You are very welcome to join us and become a part of TEAM-29 in 2013!

Author: Elena Demidova

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Arkhangelsk Region