The "Time of the First. The First Among the First" festival brought together youth from four countries.

      On July 28, 2025, at 16:37 [105], SocietyParticipants of the specialized shift "Time of the First. The First Among the First," which is part of the national project "Youth and Children," learned about different countries' cultures and languages at the International Cultures Festival. Representatives of the International Friendship Club, established at the "Vysota" youth center, visited the children at the "Lazurny" children's center. "It is very important to introduce young people to the cultures of different countries from an early age, teaching mutual respect, understanding, and friendship. And in the year when our region will become a gathering spot for youth from all over the world, we couldn't miss the opportunity to introduce the guests from the International Friendship Club to the participants of the First shift! This experience turned out to be very useful and interesting for everyone: everyone had the chance to communicate with foreigners, learn more about their culture and way of life, and the foreign students gained the opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge with the children. We hope to include this practice in our future projects and continue promoting international friendship," said Svetlana Anufrieva, Minister of Youth Policy of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. Students from Nigeria, Egypt, and Iraq brought their programs featuring practical and creative master classes in Zumba, origami, football, and Eastern dance. "Today I conducted an origami master class, where I taught the kids how to make butterflies and hearts from paper. We had a great time. It was my first experience working with teenagers, and it turned out very well, beautifully, and usefully. I wish every participant success in their studies, life, and everything else! And I hope to see you again," shared Aland from Kurdistan (Iraq). The festival's finale was an evening event where participants engaged in a thematic rope course to learn about the cultures of various countries and played traditional games. Throughout the shift, children also attended foreign language classes: French, German, Arabic, and Chinese. "At the festival, I was able to have a relaxed conversation with foreigners and learn a little more about how they live and spend time at home. I was learning English, and it was a great practice for me. There were interesting master classes during the day, which helped us learn about different cultures. I would like to see foreign guests more often at events so we can communicate even more," said Anastasia Zaruba, a "Media" participant from Nizhny Novgorod. The International Cultures Festival took place ahead of the World Youth Festival Gathering, which will be held this fall in Nizhny Novgorod and will host 2,000 young people from around the world. The shift was organized by the "Vysota" youth center and the regional branch of the "First" Movement, with support from the Ministry of Youth Policy and the Ministry of Education and Science. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay informed about major events, exclusive content, and timely news. © 1999–2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." Hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory when republishing. This resource may contain 18+ materials.