Representatives from 13 countries discussed practical approaches to unlocking the potential of the next generation in BRICS+ cities.
Advanced methods for working with gifted children, systems of civic education, support for early-career professionals, and the role of international youth exchanges were the key topics at a meeting of the Committee on Youth Policy and Education of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities. The session was dedicated to developing common approaches to unlocking the potential of the new generation.
The meeting was moderated by Arseny Karyakin, Secretary General of the Association and Head of the International Relations Department of the Kazan City Council. In his welcoming address, he noted that investment in youth and quality education is a strategic priority for the sustainable development of cities in all member countries. In total, experts from thirteen states participated in the meeting: Belarus, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Russia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, and South Africa.
Kazan presented its experience in working with children and youth. A report on systematic approaches to this work was delivered by Aliya Zagidullina, Chairperson of the Kazan Committee for Children and Youth Affairs.
Official documentation and infrastructure as the basis for state support of youth was a common theme in the speeches from several countries. Bekzat Nurbakyt, a methodologist at the «Almaty Daryny» Center for Gifted Children (Kazakhstan), detailed the legislative foundations of youth policy and the system for identifying talent, citing the impressive results of Almaty’s students in international olympiads. Nargiza Aripova, Teacher of the School № 300 of the City of Tashkent, outlined the approaches to youth policy in Uzbekistan.
The approach in Belarus is different, where mass youth organizations play a key role. Viktoriya Orlova, a teacher at Gymnasium № 43 in Minsk, presented a three-tier system: «Oktyabrata» (7-10 years), the Belarusian Republican Pioneer Organization (10-14 years), and the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (14-31 years). She noted that these structures, with roots in Soviet tradition, ensure continuity in civic education and broad outreach to youth through volunteer, sports, and creative projects.
The committee meeting paid special attention to international cooperation. Subhadra Nair, Chief Coordinator of the Indo-Russian Children’s Club (India), stated that young people are building «bridges of friendship» between countries. She recalled the 555-year history of relations between India and Russia and announced the creation of Indo-Russian Youth Clubs in various Indian cities to strengthen ties. The Director General of the Ethiopian Cities Association, Andualem Tenaw Habti, shared experiences in implementing youth programs in Addis Ababa.
Other participants also shared practical case studies. Zhou Zhuguang, principal of Northwest High School of Chengdu (China), spoke about the educational specificities of his region and his school. Onur Adalioğlu, a representative of the Eskişehir Municipality (Turkey), presented an architectural project for youth centers as an example of creating modern infrastructure for young people’s development. An educator from South Africa, Nandipha Jacqueline Mbulawa, highlighted her experience organizing courses for young specialists, while Dames Ricardo Medeiros Silva, Director of the Technology Center in the Municipality of Vargem Grande, (Brazil) and a teacher of Portuguese and Geography, spoke about the role of technology centers in education.
Participants noted that, despite differences in approach—from state programs to the work of public organizations—there’s a common goal: unlocking the potential of youth and preparing them for the challenges of the future.
Following the meeting, the need to develop specific cooperation formats was emphasized. These include academic mobility programs, joint research projects, sharing best practices in digitalizing education, and creating shared platforms for youth initiatives.
The first meeting of the Committee on Youth Policy and Education was an important step towards forming a unified educational and youth space for BRICS+ cities. This opens up significant opportunities for preparing a competitive young generation ready for cooperation in a globalized world.
The meeting was held under the framework of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities, which aims to strengthen direct ties between municipalities to address common challenges in urban development, economics, and the social sphere.
