Published on: 2026-08-18
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Winner and prize-winners of the competition “Moscow Masters” held pilot activities at the annual “Youth Day” festival supported by the project “Youth of Moscow“.
The “Moscow Masters” competition for the profession of “youth work specialist” is not just a contest of professionals, but a key element of the capital’s personnel training system. It helps create an effective environment for professional communication and to share the standards of working with the younger generation.
“The development of youth initiatives is one of the priority areas of city policy. This competition demonstrates an effective mechanism for transforming ideas into real projects that are in demand in the capital environment. We see that the winners create unique formats of work that open new horizons for self-realization for young people and contribute to the social development of the city,” she noted
Ekaterina Dragunova, chairman of the Moscow Committee for Public Relations and Youth Policy.
The project “Mental Living Room” by Ekaterina Shakun, this year’s winner, head of the youth policy and educational work department at the Russian Biotechnology University, is a support space for students that helps cope with emotional stress.
According to Ekaterina Shakun, 12 years of experience in international friendship and uniting different people helped in creating the psychological support space and became the foundation for the competitive event.
“In my project, I aimed to show how much psychology is in our lives. I would like every student, and indeed every resident of Moscow, to have a mental health space, and if this happens thanks to the ‘Mental Living Room,’ I will be very happy,” shared Ekaterina Shakun.
The name “mental lounge” was not chosen by chance. Ekaterina knew exactly that the project would be dedicated to caring for psycho-emotional health, and the lounge format precisely reflected the intimacy and privacy that are so important for a trusting conversation.
During the preparation of the pilot event held in the Khodynskoye Pole park as part of the “Youth Day” festival, the project’s venue was divided into two zones. One was secluded, for communicating with psychologists, and the other was open, where everyone could participate, watch the youth, or be a passive participant.
Now students have become more active in seeking help and have stopped being afraid to analyze stressful situations. According to Ekaterina Shakun, today’s youth are waiting not for one-time events, but for a space where access to relieving tension will be systemic. A psychologist at the university cannot be constantly available, so the project’s task is to teach effective tools that can be used as needed.
Another contestant is Angelina Shlyakova, a laboratory assistant at the Department of History of State and Law of the Faculty of Law of Lomonosov Moscow State University, deputy chairperson of the Association of Students and Student Organizations of Russia, as well as a trainer at the Moscow Regional Training Center of the Association of Trainers of the Russian Youth Union. The young woman conducts training sessions as part of the project “What They Don’t Teach in School,” which provide practical tools for independent adult life.
“In my project, I strive to provide young people with the practical knowledge necessary for independent adult life. Often, graduates of schools and colleges have excellent theoretical understanding of basic subjects, but are completely unprepared to handle routine tasks: how to pay bills, how to interact with neighbors,” explained Angelina Shlyakova.
The format of mini-trainings consists of lessons based on the principles of andragogy: the training begins with problematization and a lecture part, and then exercises are included. Participants immediately apply the acquired tools in practice. Trainings on effective communication and time management are especially interesting. Each participant receives useful materials and notes for each educational module.
The most important feature of the project is its informal nature. Angelina Shlyakova emphasizes that this format is a deliberate approach that allows a modern person to develop in various directions, complementing the fundamental knowledge acquired at the university.
For Angelina Shlyakova, the “Moscow Masters” competition became not only a professional challenge but also the fulfillment of a dream. This year she completed the full journey: the remote stage, interviews, the semifinals, project implementation at the festival, and an intellectual quiz. The young woman emphasized that being one of the best in her field working with youth in Moscow is not only a great pride but also a great responsibility. She plans to continue working for the benefit of the capital’s youth, participating in projects as a speaker, expert, trainer, and organizer.
Polina Moskvitsina, head of the Department of Educational and Social Work at the Moscow Polytechnic University, implemented the project “Forever Young” as part of the competition final, revealing youth trends of different generations and building a dialogue between them. The project concept involves several formats of work: customization of postcards and contests are united into a single logic where the participant physically passes through all epochs. The difference is perceived not through lectures on trends, but through tactile, creative experience: the student himself sees how ways of expressing joy, friendship, and recognition have changed, while the essence of human emotions has remained unchanged.
Polina Moskvina pays special attention to the forgotten culture of face-to-face communication: writing letters to each other, group board games, and yard traditions of mutual assistance.
“Moscow Masters” — an annual city competition for those who make the capital better every day. Rescuers and engineers, public transport drivers, medical workers, specialists from socially oriented non-profit organizations, and other representatives of 40 in-demand professions compete for the title of the best in their field.
This year, the competition was held for the 29th time within the framework of the social partnership system between the Moscow Government, the Moscow Federation of Trade Unions, and the Moscow Confederation of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (Employers) with the support of the capital Committee on Public Relations and Youth Policy.
Over its nearly 30-year existence, the competition has become one of the city’s most prominent projects: the number of professions represented in the contest has increased from seven to 40 by 2026. Throughout the history of the competition, more than 1.3 million people have taken part — specialists of all ages and experience levels, but traditionally more than half of the contestants are young people.
You can learn more about opportunities for young city residents on the portal “Youth of Moscow” and on the project’s pages in social networks.
“Opportunities for Youth 3.0” is a modern ecosystem of measures aimed at creating conditions for the self-realization of young people. It provides the opportunity to participate in the development of advanced solutions, to try one’s hand at scientific activities, public service, and international cooperation.
Creating conditions for realizing the potential of young people in various fields aligns with the objectives of the national project “Youth and children”.
More about Russia’s national projects and the capital’s contribution can be found at special page.
Quickly get the main news on the official channels of the city of Moscow in messengers “Max” and “Telegram”.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.