Nizhny Novgorod residents can take part in the federal special project "SVOi. Conversations with Heroes."

      In the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland, the organizers of the Flagships of Education project of the presidential platform Russia — the Land of Opportunities prepared a special project, “SVOi. Conversations with Heroes,” in the format of a series of video interviews. The goal of the special project is to help teachers and education administrators in the Nizhny Novgorod region organize meetings between young people and participants in the special military operation (SMO), and to build an honest, tactful and trusting dialogue with children and youth about difficult but truly important topics — patriotism, duty, coping with loss, heroism, and responsibility.

      Meetings with participants in the special military operation are taking place across the country. The creators of the new project emphasize that the “SVOi. Conversations with Heroes” format is not an academic retelling of stories but an example of a live, sincere conversation that can be relied upon when preparing one’s own events. The topics raised by the heroes in the interviews are the real questions teenagers ask, and the answers are honest and personal accounts — living human experience. Through stories about combat operations and extreme situations, the heroes explain what love for the Motherland, patriotism, heroism and inner motivation mean.

      The special project “SVOi. Conversations with Heroes” was developed by the Flagships of Education team of the presidential platform Russia — the Land of Opportunities in cooperation with the Znanie Society and the development program for participants in the special military operation, Time of Heroes.

      The interviews touch on topical issues and raise questions that teenagers most often ask at meetings with fighters and officers: how to make a meeting with a hero informal and sincere, whether it is necessary to speak to the new generation “in a new way,” what adults can learn from children, whether letters from the front are actually read and carefully preserved, how service changes a person and what was the hardest thing during the SMO, how to cope with loss and remember those who did not return, and how to maintain resilience and courage in a difficult situation?

      Participating in the filming were Hero of the Russian Federation Artur Orlov, Chairman of the Board of the all‑Russian public‑state movement for children and youth Movement of the First; Hero of the Russian Federation Vladislav Golovin, Chief of Staff of Yunarmiya and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Movement of the First; Hero of the Russian Federation Igor Yurgin, Director of the Department of State Policy in the Sphere of Upbringing, Supplementary Education and Children’s Recreation of the Ministry of Education of Russia; and Hero of the Russian Federation Baldan Tsydypov, Director of the Department for Patriotic Work at the Znanie Society. Each of them knows firsthand what it means to be an example for young people; their words become an important support for those who are just forming their attitude to life, service and the Motherland.

      “I believe that a personal story is the strongest way to reach the heart. When teenagers ask direct questions, they are not looking for pomposity but for truth. And our task is to speak that truth,” Igor Yurgin said.

      The Flagships of Education team of the presidential platform Russia — the Land of Opportunities also invites residents of the Nizhny Novgorod region to share their stories and footage to inspire the whole country.

      The Flagships of Education project will create an online gallery dedicated to meetings with SMO heroes. If such a meeting has already taken place at a school, college or university, you can share the story and fill out the form at: https://clck.ru/3NgCFC. In the questionnaire you can indicate the region, locality, name of the educational institution, class or year, tell about the hero of the meeting, the most interesting questions and attach a link to photographs. The stories will be posted on the project’s official social media so that not only colleagues but all citizens of the country can be inspired by the experience.

      “Today it is very important not only to organize a meeting with a hero but also to fill it with meaning, warmth and trust. We created ‘SVOi’ as a tool for teachers and mentors so that they can confidently and honestly talk with children about difficult matters. This special project is not an instruction but an invitation to a frank dialogue that changes both those who ask and those who answer,” said Artem Mironov, head of the Flagships of Education project of the presidential platform Russia — the Land of Opportunities.

      The special project “SVOi. Conversations with Heroes” is available to watch at: https://clck.ru/3NkM8J.

      Flagships of Education is a project of the presidential platform Russia — the Land of Opportunities that helps students, teachers and education administrators develop professional and leadership competencies. It brings together competitions, educational programs and digital services, forming a community of active professionals.

      Since 2019 more than 370,000 people have taken part in the project. Winners gain access to training at leading educational centers in the country, are included in the personnel reserve and implement their own initiatives at regional and federal levels.

      In 2025 the project opened four thematic competitive tracks: Media, Government, Culture and Mentorship, as well as the special educational project “SVOi. Conversations with Heroes.” In addition, a call for applications has been opened for the expert community Constellation of the Flagships of Education, which reveals leadership potential and scales the best practices in education. Registration is available on the official website.

      The Flagships of Education project is implemented within the federal project Russia — the Land of Opportunities of the national project Youth and Children with the support of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh).

      The presidential platform Russia — the Land of Opportunities was created on the initiative of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on May 22, 2018. The platform’s mission is to create Russia’s future by opening equal opportunities for everyone. The platform has been operating for seven years and during this time has united more than 25 million participants from 89 regions of Russia and 150 countries worldwide. Participation in the platform’s projects, competitions and olympiads helps find like‑minded people and make useful contacts, enter a university or complete a promising internship, find the job of your dreams, advance in your career, and obtain a personal mentor who will help hone skills or develop leadership qualities.

      Within the activities of the presidential platform Russia — the Land of Opportunities, the Senezh management workshop was created. Participants of the platform’s projects and competitions, active youth, as well as managers and civil servants undergo training there. The workshop acts as a center for consolidating management training for three key sectors: government, business and society. All‑Russian educational and youth events are held on the workshop’s grounds, including the All‑Russian Youth Educational Forum Territory of Meanings.

      Press release