BelSU students learn about Belgorod region peoples’ identity

The opening sitting “Linguistic Sketches of Belgorod Region” events series, held jointly with Autonomous Nonprofit Organisation “Preobrazheniye”, was timed to coincide with Day of National Unity. The event was dedicated to national and ethnic composition of Belgorod region, as well as intercultural, interethnic and interreligious cooperation. Among the honoured guests there were the representatives of the Centre for Youth Initiatives of Shebekinsky district and “Volunteer Health Professionals” student association.

The event participants learnt that the region was the home for numerous nationalities – Belarusians, Ukrainians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Germans, Roma, Moldavians, Turks, Tatars, Dagestanis, Tajiks, Turkmens, Afghans and Uzbeks alongside with Russians. The students discussed the migration reasons in different periods, the pros and cons of a multinational community in the context of the city and the region.

Olga Lyutova, the Director of the Peoples' Friendship Centre, held the interactive “Jeff's Discussion” on intercultural cooperation and national self-identity. Danil Solobaev, the Senior Inspector of the Centre for Youth Initiatives of Shebekinsky district, shared his experience of organising the intercultural student forum-festival “Sinergiya”, told about its origin, demonstrating the photos and videos of the festivals of the previous years. The forum participants – BelSU students from Egypt, Haiti, Ecuador, shared the impressions they had gained at the festival. Mustafa Rayisov, a student of Medical Institute, told about the work of the interethnic team of medical volunteers at “Sinergiya” festival, as well as about the traditions of the Meskhetian Turks living in Belgorod region.

At the end of the event Father Roman (Akhmedov), the Director of ANO “Preobrazheniye”, emphasised the importance of study of different cultures of ethnic groups and nationalities of both Russia and foreign countries.