From the ecology of soul and body to the ecology of life: development of the BRICS member countries youth cooperation discussed at RUDN

“It is important that the Program aims to bring closer the BRICS peoples, cities and countries, as well as to involve the BRICS partner countries citizens, especially youth, in the development and implementation of positive and life-affirming, multilateral, cultural, social, creative, health-improving, educational, charitable, social, business and other humanitarian projects,” Larisa Efremova, Vice-Rector for International Activities of RUDN University.

The event was attended by 15 speakers from India, Brazil and South Africa, who actively discussed the Program projects, highly appreciating them and expressing their desire to participate in them.

“The life program is fully focused on BRICS youth, who participate in the development and organization of projects and work as a practical educational platform for building positive and open inter-university interaction and exchange of experience. As the father of the Indian nation, Mahatma Gandhi, said, “an ounce of practice is worth more than a ton of preaching,” — Lyudmila Sekacheva, President of the BRICS “World of Traditions”, Program Manager.

This is the second stage of the Program, taking place on the territory of Moscow, Moscow region, Tver and Samara regions, Altai Territory and dedicated to the 195th anniversary of the birth of Leo Tolstoy, the 75th anniversary of the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Nikolay Roerich and the 100th anniversary of the Central Asian Expedition of Nikolay, Yuri and Elena Roerich, the 550th anniversary of the memory of Afanasy Nikitin, as well as the 70th anniversary of the establishment of trade and economic relations between Russia and India.

“Today, especially in light of the upcoming expansion of BRICS, we are faced with large-scale tasks, where public diplomacy plays and, I am sure, will play an important role. It helps strengthen multilateral cooperation, creates a favorable environment of trust and mutual understanding, and promotes the expansion of contacts between citizens of our states,” Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Russia’s Sherpa in BRICS.

“In the near future, Russia will include all BRICS countries, including new members of the association, in programs for teaching the Russian language and subjects in Russian,” Denis Gribov, Deputy Minister of Education of the Russian Federation, said in his speech and in an interview with TASS and “International Life” journal, paying special attention to the implementation of the program for the deployment of centers for open education in the Russian language and teaching Russian abroad.

On the day of the event, two exhibitions — “Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi: a unique heritage” and an exhibition of fraternities of the BRICS countries opened at RUDN, there was also a quiz for students about the five BRICS countries, as well as songs and dances of different nations performed for the guests from the embassies of the BRICS countries in Russia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, and Moscow school No. 1409.

“Numerous events at the Indian stage evoked a wide response among Indian public, educational and business circles,” Alexander Rybas, Trade Representative of Russia in India, wished success to the business block of the Russian stage of the Program and expressed the Trade Mission’s readiness to continue to provide possible assistance.

During the meeting, Kristina Aksenenko, an 11th grade student at Moscow school No. 1409 read a poem in honor of the creation of the Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi Center. RUDN University students performed Indian and Chinese dances and a song about friendship and actively participated in a blitz survey on the Program’s projects. The project to create the “Anthem of the BRICS Youth” was of great interest to the students.

A special event was the signing of the Program Cooperation Agreement until 2028 between RUDN University and the “BRICS. World of Traditions”.