The official opening of the first meeting of the youth policy expert discussion club «Gagarin club» took place in the Moscow Palace of Pioneers on March 24. The initiative to organize the site was made by the National Youth Council of Russia. The goal of the club was to intensify the dialogue between the state and society about the past, present and future of the country’s youth policy.
A welcome address was sent to the organizers and participants of the meeting from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov:
«I cordially greet the organizers and participants of the Gagarin club, I congratulate all the members of the National Council on the significant date — the 25th anniversary of the foundation. Today, when our country faces large-scale tasks in various fields, creative energy, fresh ideas, and innovative projects of the younger generation are in high demand», the message says.
The welcome address also noted, that among the important activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the support of international youth cooperation, the focus was on the successful holding of the XIX World Festival of Youth and Students in Sochi in October this year.
The welcome address also noted, that among the important activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the support of international youth cooperation, the focus was on the successful holding of the XIX World Festival of Youth and Students in Sochi in October this year.
Addressing the meeting participants, the uniqueness of the event was underscored by the Chairperson of the Association of NGOs «National Youth Council of Russia» Grigory Petushkov:
«Today we have gathered in this format for the first time, our idea is to unite on one platform people who oversaw the implementation of youth policy in Russia in different years. Everyone who has gathered here today has a rich experience in the field of SYP, they know firsthand how to work with young people and how it lives. I am confident that by consolidating the experience and wisdom of these people, we will be able to develop new approaches to the implementation of Russian youth policy».
«Today we have gathered in this format for the first time, our idea is to unite on one platform people who oversaw the implementation of youth policy in Russia in different years. Everyone who has gathered here today has a rich experience in the field of SYP, they know firsthand how to work with young people and how it lives. I am confident that by consolidating the experience and wisdom of these people, we will be able to develop new approaches to the implementation of Russian youth policy».
The program of the first meeting included a panel discussion on the formation of the state youth policy in the Russian Federation. The agenda is based on the history of making strategic decisions in the field of state youth policy, the creation and development of the system of bodies for youth affairs, the formation of mechanisms for state support for youth and children’s public associations.
«This is the first time when we were all gathered together, on the same site. I consider it as a very good idea. I am glad to see everyone and let us meet more often!», said Oleg Rozhnov, Deputy Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy of the Russian Federation (2008-2012)
An important place in the discussion took the need to adopt a law on state youth policy.
The Chairman of the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Youth Affairs (1996-1998), Tatyana Novikova, noted the need not only to adopt a new document, but also to improve the Federal Law «On State Support for Youth and Children’s Associations of Russia», which is still in force today. «This law was adopted for a number of reasons «on the knee» and needs serious rework! In addition, it no longer meets the challenges of time.», — she expressed her opinion.
The second part of the Gagarin club meeting was devoted to the discussion club «Conversation with the President», within which framework key aspects of the state youth policy were discussed in three directions: «the status of youth policy», «youth policy — industry or section», «the main functions of the youth policy».
Commenting on the status of the youth policy, Yulia Ogloblina, the Chairperson of the Central Council of the All-Russian Youth Public Organization «Russian Union of Rural Youth», stressed: «The status of youth policy is not as great as it could be! Now, as never before, a rethinking of state youth policy is required! »
Discussing the agenda of the second issue, experts concluded that youth policy is an industry, not a section.
Discussing the agenda of the second issue, experts concluded that youth policy is an industry, not a section.
«We can not talk about youth policy as a separate piece, as this is an integral industry!», noted the head of the department of global social processes and work with the youth of the faculty of global processes at the Lomonosov Moscow State University Natalia Smakotina.
As a result of the discussion of the third issue on the agenda of the discussion platform, the themes for priority research within the Gagarin club were developed: the socialization of the youth, the creation of a favorable information environment, the unified sex education, the socio-economic participation of young people in society, threats and challenges of information technology, their impact on the formation of a young person.
Summing up the results of the first meeting, the Chairperson of the National Council Grigory Petushkov outlined the main directions of the Gagarin club’s work. It will be: updating the SYP; regulatory and legal; provision of SYP, status, model and quality of the SYP industry; staffing and continuity of the SYP; modern challenges; youth public associations and children’s social movement; national projects in the field of SYP; resources and infrastructure of the SYP; research in the field of SYP; informational support of the SYP; international cooperation of the SYP.
The functioning of the Gagarin club is planned on a permanent basis. The results of the meetings will be the recommendations to the state bodies and public associations on the actualization and development of their activities in the field of youth policy. In addition, one of the main tasks of the community experts is to prepare a public report on the condition of youth in the Russian Federation
