The forum is one of the key events of the Joint Action Plan of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the field of youth policy for 2022. The first forum was held in March 2022 in Gusar of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Within the framework of the forum the participants discussed effective mechanisms for practical interaction between young leaders of Azerbaijan and Russia in the field of humanitarian cooperation. As a result, it was decided to organize the next forum on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The main goals of the II Forum of Youth Initiatives of Russia and Azerbaijan were the presentation and implementation of effective mechanisms for practical interaction between young leaders of Russia and Azerbaijan in the field of humanitarian cooperation.
On September 20 the solemn opening ceremony was held at the site of the Nizhny Novgorod Fair. The participants were welcomed by the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan Indira Hajiyeva, the Acting Director of the Department of State Youth Policy and Educational Activities of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Alexander Vedekhin, the Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Andrey Gneushev and the Director of the Institute of Education under the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan Rufat Azizov.
The forum included a plenary session on the topic of opportunities for youth in Russia and Azerbaijan with the participation of representatives of departments, organizations and foundations of Russia and Azerbaijan implementing measures to support international youth initiatives, a lecture part on social design, project work in teams on such topics as youth tourism, volunteering, self-development and leadership, "open microphone" with thematic areas as well as a cultural and excursion program.
Participants: young people aged 18 to 35 including leaders of youth movements, representatives of youth public organizations, students of educational institutions of higher education as well as representatives of structures and departments implementing youth policy in Russia and Azerbaijan. More than 146 people participated there.
Key results: The Forum of Youth Initiatives of Russia and Azerbaijan has become one of the key youth events in 2022 held through bilateral youth cooperation. As part of its work the best practices and projects of Russia and Azerbaijan in the field of youth policy in the areas of "Volunteering", "International programs and forums" and "Self-development and leadership" were presented. At the venues of the event the participants had the opportunity to work out their project ideas and receive feedback and assessment from the forum experts (representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, "Russia – a Land of Opportunities", the Russian "Znanie" society, the Association of Volunteer Centers, the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, the basic organization of the CIS Member States for working with youth, etc. The forum delegates were also awarded certificates for participation in the "More than a trip" program.
