January 18, the Palace of Culture of JSC Naftan in Novopolotsk hosted a dialogue platform “Points of Interest”. This event welcomed the head of the main department of educational work and youth policy of the Ministry of Education Viktor Dovnar, deputy head of the main department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Vyacheslav Khrol, and the city leadership.

During the speaker’s question time, students of military-patriotic classes, members of the Parliament of children and young teachers asked their questions to which they needed a response.

For example, youngsters were interested in the possibility of holding quiz tournaments for teams of working youth in the region every quarter and it could be combined with industrial tourism at top enterprises.

In turn, a representative from young teachers said that recently they have been working closely with schools and teachers from the Russian Federation, sister cities, and are implementing many interesting projects, one of which is “Memory Time”. As part of this project, a lot of work is going on to collect information about teachers, participants and witnesses of the Great Patriotic War. The result should be a joint museum exhibition. In this regard, a question was asked about significant projects organized by the Ministry of Education.

In the afternoon, the palace of culture received participants and guests of the closing ceremony of the youth capital “Novopolotsk - 2023” event.

Among the participants are the leadership and representatives of the Novopolotsk City Executive Committee and the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, representatives of the Ministry of Education, students, working youth, students of military-patriotic clubs.
It is noted that Novopolotsk has set a fairly high target for future youth capitals. The city is not only young in age, but in soul, ideas, and creativity.

“Youth Capital of the Republic of Belarus 2023” began on March 2, 2023. The core events were the republican holiday “Novopolotsk – Youth Capital 2023” and the republican forum “Belarus. Youth. Creation."

Over the course of the year, high-quality work was carried out, including hundreds of cultural and sports events and dialogue platforms.

The city's youth activists held meetings, forums, interactive platforms, promotions and events with the participation of youth from the sister cities of Novopolotsk from the Russian Federation. Thanks to its honorary status, the city gained the necessary experience in working with youth, and has repeatedly become the main platform for the implementation of initiatives and projects developed by youth from all regions of the country. During the year, Novopolotsk was effectively developing ways of cooperation with the first Youth Capital of Russia - Nizhny Novgorod.

Among the significant events at the district, oblast and republican levels is the presentation event of the All-Belarusian Youth Expedition “Routes of Memory. Routes of unity”, the final of the Republican festival of artistic creativity of pupils and students “ART-vacations”, the Republican project “Road train “Belarus. Youth. Creation", forum of working youth, international competition of young pop singers "Hali-Halo" etc.

With the help of funds raised by young people, a feature film about the city was made.

The events organized in the youth capital were bright and memorable. Young talents have glorified Novopolotsk in the field of culture, education, sports, and social activities. A lot has been done by young people in terms of improvement, holding patriotic events, and putting things in order at military burial sites.

Youth capital is more than a title for a year. First of all, this is an opportunity to reveal bright talents and best practices for the development of social, economic, and political activity of young people. Despite the fact that Novopolotsk can’t remain being the youth capital for 2024, the potential of creative youth will be embodied in new useful and meaningful activities.

There also was an artistic concert of the youth groups of the city and youngsters who actively partook in the “Youth Capital of the Republic of Belarus 2023” listened to thanksgiving words.

The representatives of the Ministry of Education and the city leadership awarded the children who won various competitions, carried out civic and patriotic work, developed science, participated in sports and educational projects with letters of gratitude.