Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
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On the day of the 10th anniversary of the Harmony volunteer center, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University hosted its annual international youth festival, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The event brought together over 500 students from the Polytechnic University and other St. Petersburg universities, as well as young people from around the world, in an atmosphere of intercultural dialogue and mutual respect.
Before the concert program, guests explored 40 booths featuring students, Polytechnic youth organizations, and volunteer and charitable organizations from St. Petersburg. Guests enjoyed vibrant master classes and a fascinating introduction to the cultures of various countries and regions of Russia.
As part of the festival, the organizers invited everyone to participate in the All-Russian charity mutual aid campaign
The concert program in the White Hall was preceded by a vibrant ethnic fashion show featuring representatives from 19 countries and four regions of the Russian Federation: the Republic of Dagestan, the Chuvash Republic, the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra, China, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Turkmenistan, Palestine, Korea, Indonesia, Ecuador, Tunisia, Turkey, Tajikistan, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Iran, India, Yemen, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan.
The fashion show opened with the designer's collection "Imperial Porcelain" in the Russian style, designed by Yulia Skornyakova, a student at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University's Humanities Institute, and a vocal performance of "Mother Earth" by international competition winners Vera Ugai (SPbSPMU) and Milana Kardashova (SPbSUVM). After a spectacular creative performance representing the Russian Federation, other participants in the ethnic fashion show followed. Spectators were treated to a diversity of cultures and national costumes: from traditional Chuvash attire from the early 20th century to the silk-and-gold embroidered Palestinian garments known as "tatriz."
The festival's grand opening began with a performance of the Russian national anthem by vocalists from the SPbPU student vocal studio "PoliVox." Welcoming remarks were addressed by Maxim Pasholikov, Vice-Rector for Information, Youth Policy, and Security; Natalya Chicherina, Director of the Humanities Institute; Ivan Esipov, First Deputy Coordinator of the St. Petersburg Regional Branch of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) and a veteran of the SVO; Igor Zhukov, Director of the St. Petersburg House of Nationalities; Vladimir Garazha, Deputy Head of the Kalininsky District; and Fyodor Vladimirov, Acting First Deputy Chairman of the St. Petersburg Regional Branch of the "Movement of the First."
Friendship and brotherhood are the greatest treasures! What is volunteerism? It's selfless participation in the fate of the Motherland, helping those in need, and a demonstration that the front and home front are united, that only together can we endure and win, says Andrei Goncharov, a member of the SVO and representative of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation in St. Petersburg.
The concert program included performances by youth groups: the Chinese number "Soaring Dragon," a welcoming lezginka from the Republic of Dagestan, the Korean drumming number "Yongchunim Solchangu" using the traditional double-headed changgu drum, "Dance with Arrows and Berry Picking" by the Ob Ugrians' creative folklore group "Uvas Khus," the Vietnamese number "Light of the Eastern Sun," and the Turkmen national dance "Kushtdepdi," which is included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Friendship Festival at the Polytechnic University is more than just a meeting of cultures and peoples; it's an important step toward creating a shared future based on mutual understanding, respect, and solidarity. It's important to remember that events like these help preserve our cultural heritage, foster patriotism, and foster a love of Russia, including among international students, noted Igor Zhukov, Director of the St. Petersburg House of Nationalities.
The festival was attended by foreign dignitaries: Nezmadjon Mamadzhanov, Chairman of the Regional Public Organization "Center for Support and Development of Uzbek Culture," Waddah Al-Jundi, Director of the Center for Russian-Arab Cooperation in St. Petersburg, Asel Rashidova, Director of the Uzbek Cultural Center of the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Ho Minh Nhit, Representative of the Vietnamese Students' Association in St. Petersburg, Gasan Gasanov, Head of the Representative Office of the Republic of Dagestan in St. Petersburg, Valerian Gavrilov, Chairman of the Chuvash National Cultural Autonomy, and others. All were presented with commemorative gifts in honor of the significant event.
It was an incredibly rich and vibrant day! The Friendship Festival once again proved that when we are together, nothing is impossible. Special thanks to our honored guests from the diaspora and cultural centers – your support is invaluable! The SPbPU International Student Community will continue to create a space where everyone can share their culture and learn about others, says Begench Mukhammedov, head of the International Student Community of the Humanities Institute and third-year student at the School of Law and System Engineering.
The festival took on special significance in connection with the 10th anniversary of its main organizer, the Harmony volunteer project center at the Polytechnic University, which began its work in the fall of 2015.
The very first Friendship Festival took place in 2016 and has undergone three rebrandings (in 2017, 2019, and 2022), but it continues to unite young people from all over the world.
I would like to sincerely congratulate the Harmony Center and its director, Tatyana Nam, on this very important and significant event. Being a spectator at the Friendship Festival, it was a pleasure to return to that warm atmosphere and reminisce. Harmony gave me great opportunities for self-fulfillment, new acquaintances, and a cozy atmosphere that I still want to immerse myself in today. I hope and sincerely believe that the center will continue to develop and reach new heights! said Artyom Kononov, former chairman of the Institute of Economics trade union, graduate student at the Institute of Economics, Machine Learning, and Technology, and deputy head of the sales department at Arman.
The celebration concluded with a performance of the song "Polytechnicians Are Us!" by soloists from the PoliVox vocal studio, with lyrics and music written by Maria Guner, a second-year student at the Humanities Institute and head of the PoliNova songwriting club. All the festival organizers took the stage to join in singing the anniversary anthem of the Harmony Center.
The festival's organizing committee would like to express special gratitude to SPbPU Vice-Rector Maxim Pasholikov and the Director of the Humanities Institute, Natalia Chicherina.
The event was held with the support of the Youth Policy Council under the Academic Council of SPbPU, the Directorate of the Humanities Institute, and the Higher School of International Educational Programs of SPbPU.
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