More than 400 people from 15 countries joined the "Code of Friendship" project.

      On April 8, the House of National Unity summarized the results of the cultural integration project for foreign students "Code of Friendship." More than 400 participants from 15 countries took part in the program aimed at intercultural interaction within the multinational student community of the region. The project included representatives from Abkhazia, Belarus, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Niger, China, Congo, Russia, Serbia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and France.

      The "Code of Friendship" started in early March with qualifying rounds at universities in the region. A total of 29 teams from 12 higher education institutions reached the finals. The final stage was opened by Dmitry Grachev, Deputy Minister of Internal Regional and Municipal Policy of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

      "I am glad that so many participants made it to the finals — this means that students from different countries have immersed themselves in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding here in Nizhny Novgorod. I am confident that participation in the 'Code of Friendship' is beneficial for both guests and local residents, as intercultural interaction enriches knowledge and broadens horizons. Such projects become a platform for future cooperation and true friendship. I hope this experience will stay with them forever and be useful in the future," said Dmitry Grachev.

      The "Code of Friendship" project served as a guide for its participants through the cultural space of the Nizhny Novgorod region — helping young foreigners improve their communication skills in workshops, understand the traditions and values of Russians during quizzes, and learn about the region's features and history through excursions.

      "Today, it is fundamentally important for youth from different countries to be able to build intercultural interactions. Because today's students will shape the future of our countries tomorrow, building and strengthening bridges of international cooperation. Understanding and respect for the culture of another people is the key to constructive dialogue and our peaceful future. The Code of Friendship should become a guiding principle for the multinational student community," noted Sergey Fedorov, head of the House of National Unity.

      The student teams demonstrated everything they had learned in the finals. Young people negotiated and resolved conflicts in verbal duels, searched for key Nizhny Novgorod landmarks in virtual reality, wrote greetings in their native languages, memorized the flags of Russian regions, performed Russian and Mordovian dances, and identified national dishes and drinks by taste with their eyes closed — pancakes, chak-chak, elesh, kvass, and ayran.

      Based on the total points scored during the activities, the team from the Nizhny Novgorod Institute of Management RANEPA — Daria Ganicheva, Anna Nikolaeva, and Natalia Nikulshina — won. The winners received a project statuette and valuable prizes, while all finalists received diplomas and souvenirs from the House of National Unity.

      "For me, it was a revelation that there are so many foreign students in Nizhny Novgorod. We made new acquaintances from different countries. It is very important for students to participate in such projects. I believe that the 'Code of Friendship' has become a growth point for everyone," said Natalia Nikulshina.

      The organizers of the educational project were the government of the Nizhny Novgorod region, the House of National Unity, and the ANO "Vector of Flight."

      Kristina Koretskaya Photo: Oleg Bulygin