More than 170 students took part in the regional forum "СО-общество".

      07 October 2025 17:36 Society

      The forum of leaders of student communities "SO-community", implemented as part of the national project "Youth and Children", brought together more than 170 leaders and activists of student councils from colleges and technical schools representing 55 educational institutions. It also served as the platform for the Rosmolodezh.Grants competition, whose winners received more than 2.8 million rubles to implement their initiatives.

      The forum's educational program was divided into two levels: "Starting in the Community" (40 delegations from secondary vocational education) and "Developing the Community" (15 delegations). As part of the mentoring work, students worked on solving problems within their organizations. Educational formats covered topics such as "effective leadership," "the art of communication," "organizing community work," "performance analytics and organizational development strategy," "developing organizational identity," "neural networks for study and work," "event design," and others. By the end of the forum, each delegation had developed a project solution to one of the main problems within their student council.

      "For our students, the forum that we have been holding in the region for the third time becomes an opportunity to analyze their team's activities, adjust its work and structure, discuss current issues and develop new events accordingly. And for activists from different student councils, it is also a good opportunity for effective interaction with one another. In addition, for the second time 'SO-community' has served as the platform for the Rosmolodezh.Grants competition, which helps to uncover new talents among young people in Nizhny Novgorod in the field of social project development. The ideas are completely different and unique, but together they give a powerful impetus to the development of student communities across the region," said Svetlana Anufrieva, Minister of Youth Policy of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

      Six Nizhny Novgorod students became winners of the competition. In total, they received grant support of more than 2.8 million rubles to implement their projects: Elizaveta Mishenina — NTT podcast: News of Technology and Creativity (112,500 rubles), Karina Sukonkina — adaptation program "Freshman Decade" (181,990 rubles), Arina Donets — student tourism development program "Compass" (479,000 rubles), Timofey Vazhnyev — digital immunity school "AI+Mind" (498,900 rubles), Seraphim Muchkin — training session for leaders and heads of youth communities "No NOs!" (760,000 rubles), Polina Gudilenkova — youth reading club "City N" (850,000 rubles).

      In addition, the forum summed up the annual competition for the best activities of student councils of technical schools and colleges. The winner was the student council of the Nizhny Novgorod Automotive Mechanical Technical College. Second place went to the team of the Nizhny Novgorod Polytechnic College named after Hero of the Soviet Union A.P. Rudnev, and third place to the team of the Kstovo Oil Technical College named after B.I. Kornilov.

      Separate nominations were also established in the competition. The Nizhny Novgorod Polytechnic College named after Hero of the Soviet Union A.P. Rudnev won in the "Career and Vocational Guidance" and "Patriotic Education" categories; students from the Shatki Agrotechnical College won in the "Ecology" and "Cultural Contribution" categories; the team from the Nizhny Novgorod Industrial College won in "Creative Initiatives and Creative Industries"; the team from the Arzamas College of Construction and Entrepreneurship won in "Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle"; the team from the Nizhny Novgorod College of Transport Maintenance and Service won in "Community Development"; the team from the Lukoyanov Provincial College won in "Volunteering"; and the team from the Nizhny Novgorod Automotive Mechanical Technical College won in "Youth Media."

      In 2025, special nominations were introduced for the first time: "Discovery of the Year" went to the team of the Lukoyanov Pedagogical College named after A.M. Gorky, and in the "Chairperson of the Student Organization" category the chair of the student council of the same college, Angelina Urikh, was recognized.

      The forum was organized by the youth center "Vysota" with the support of the Ministry of Youth Policy and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

      Recall that since 2025, by the order of President Vladimir Putin, the national project "Youth and Children" has been in effect in Russia, carrying out tasks previously provided for in the national projects "Education" and "Science and Universities." The national project is aimed at creating opportunities for the development of talents and self-realization of young people, and at fostering a responsible and highly moral person. At the center of the national project are the construction and renovation of schools, the professional development of teachers, the creation of new teaching methods and comfortable learning conditions. Special attention is paid to supporting talented youth, including young specialists. The national project includes nine federal projects and programs: "Russia — a Land of Opportunities," "We Are Together," "Russia in the World," "Only the Best for Children," "Leading Schools," "Teachers and Mentors," "Creating a Network of Modern Campuses," "Universities for a Generation of Leaders," and "Professionalitet."

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