Published on: 2026-10-12
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The VI Student Volunteer Forum “Youth Initiative” was held at the “Kholomki” estate in the Pskov region. The organizer was the Center for Volunteer Projects “Harmony” of the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (Dobro.Center SPbPU). The event brought together active Polytechnics, volunteers, and leaders of student associations. It became a platform for training, generating social projects, and strengthening the values of mutual assistance.
The “Youth Initiative” Forum confirmed the university’s status as a center for systemic development of volunteerism and patriotic education. The event brought together the experience of the federal program “Learning Through Service,” the #WETOGETHER headquarters, and the implementation of a first-year adaptation module through volunteer activities. Through acquaintance and training, students moved on to joint creative work. This approach fully aligns with the goals of the National Project “Youth and Children” and the Strategy for the Implementation of Youth Policy in the Russian Federation until 2030. The forum became a platform where the preservation of the university’s traditions and history harmoniously combines with the development of modern social competencies of young leaders.
At the Harmony Center, the university headquarters of #WEARETOGETHER operates, recognized as the best in Saint Petersburg among higher education institutions. Students and mentors organize humanitarian aid collections, assist the affiliated hospital, conduct cultural and creative workshops, and other events for servicemen undergoing treatment. At the forum, Polytechnic students met with practitioners and participated in a master class on making talismans of kindness. During the training of the student fire and rescue squad “Peter the Great,” students learned first aid skills.
It is important for us that students feel part of Polytech and understand that they can influence the life of the university. Volunteering provides such an opportunity: young people unite around a common cause, see the result of their work and the benefit for others. An active creative community is formed through joint good deeds,
Young mentors from the Harmony Center played a special role in organizing the project work. Acting on the principle of “peer-to-peer,” they supervised the work in the groups, guided the students’ creative search, and provided them with expert support, creating an atmosphere of trust. Psychological support and accompaniment of forum activities and events were carried out by the head of the mentoring and psychological-pedagogical support direction for volunteers at the Harmony Center of SPbPU, Anastasia Savina. Her trainings complemented practices of teamwork and reflection.
At the forum, students learned to work in teams, each of which was assigned an experienced mentor: to solve problems together, to negotiate, and to support each other. My task as a supervisor was also to support the mentors themselves. We also conducted various game practices and psychological trainings for the participants. It is important to us that this experience helps students become more confident in participating in Polytech’s volunteer projects and in becoming a support for others themselves, — noted Anastasia Savina.
The student forum program included volunteer workshops centered around the themes of kindness and mutual assistance. In the “Word Workshop” and the “Music Workshop,” students prepared performances about kindness and mutual help, using literary and musical forms. In the “Dance Workshop,” they learned to convey emotions through movement and interact with partners. The results of the creative work were presented by the students at a joint workshop presentation.
In the “Media Workshop,” students created photo and video stories featuring Efim the bear—the mascot of “Harmony.” The teams invented plots, assigned roles, and filmed short clips for social networks, telling stories about friendship and support. These works demonstrate how media tools can be used to introduce audiences to the values of the volunteer community.
The workshops also included familiarization with support for people with disabilities (PWD). Students discussed the specifics of communication and volunteer support to address the needs of people with disabilities in social projects.
At the “Talismans of Kindness” master class within the framework of the mutual aid campaign #WEARETOGETHER, students made felt hearts and stars. Such items are handed over by the university headquarters to servicemen in hospitals as a sign of care and support. For the students, the master class became an experience of applying creative skills in volunteer assistance.
The atmosphere of the “Kholomki” estate, belonging to the first director of the Polytechnic Institute, Prince A. G. Gagarin, fosters students’ engagement with the history, traditions, and values of the Polytechnic. After all, patriotism doesn’t begin with small things — such as love and respect for one’s alma mater — and then this feeling of pride extends to the country, giving rise to a sense of involvement, personal significance, and contribution to a common cause.
Continuing the tradition of the first #HarmonyAtPolytech forums in Kholomki, the team of the Author’s Club “PoliNova” prepared a literary salon and a student ball. The students embodied the images of Russian poets, combining poetry with theatrical dialogues. The stories of the creators revealed the theme of sincere feelings and mutual support, while historical dances involved the audience in the collective action. Dance master classes were conducted by representatives of the Historical Dance Club of the Military-Historical Club “Our Polytech”.
What could be more pleasant than seeing a live response to your work? The literary salon was conceived as an immersive event. Through the prism of the lives of Russian poets, ideas about the harmonious development of a creative personality, the primacy of sincere emotions, and the important role of community and mutual support are revealed,
The trip to Kholomki laid the foundation for future achievements: through practical tasks and creativity, the students immersed themselves in the world of volunteering. Now their adaptation route moves into an active phase — participation in real projects and verification of experience on the Dobro.rf portal.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.