2013 SU Update: Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate is set to establish Intercultural Dialogue

KAZAN – The Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate met with the Foreign Students’ Association representatives today.

The event was attended by Chief of Staff of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Larisa Sulima, head of the Department of scientific organizations, higher education institutions and specialized secondary education establishments of Kazan’s Children and Youth Committee Farida Galiullina, Kazan 2013 Volunteers Department representative Konstantin Chernikov and members of the Foreign Students’ Association from nine nations: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Nigeria, Burundi, Vietnam, Turkmenistan and Zambia. Foreign students’ involvement in volunteer movement became the hot topic of the agenda.

In her speech Larisa Sulima stressed the importance of foreign students’ involvement in Kazan 2013 volunteers training programme. “We want you to contribute to preparation and staging of the 2013 Summer Universiade”, she said.

A presentation delivered during the meeting introduced the Association representatives to the history of the World University Games, 2013 SU preparation progress and Kazan 2013 volunteers training programme.

The Association representatives brought up for discussion a number of ideas for development of cooperation. Thus, Faruk Mohammad, student of Kazan State Medical University and Afghanistan representative, suggested that a special course on Tatarstan’s Culture and History should be launched for foreign volunteers. “Kazan has become our second home town. That is why we want to contribute to its prosperity as well”, Faruk said.

The Volunteers Department representatives reported about fields of cooperation in which foreign students could provide their assistance. As Dilbar Sadykova said, foreign students’ participation in the ‘English 4U’-Project will enable a intercultural dialogue between Kazan citizens and foreigners.

Rustam Musin, student of Kazan Federal University and Kazan 2013 volunteer, shared his impression of the meeting. He admitted that involvement in the 2013 SU volunteer movement was a huge experience and opportunity to prove oneself both for Russian and foreign students. “We all will be proud if we are lucky enough to chaperone our national teams at the 2013 Summer Universiade,” he summed up.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)