Center for Youth and Public Initiatives
(January-December 2005)

Development of the AWARD Program in Karelia, which is part of International Award—a self-development programme available to young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the world. The programme focuses on activities in four spheres of self-improvement: service, adventure, social skills, and physical recreation. As of 2005, 450 Karelian youth (ages 14-25) were registered participants of the International AWARD and 1500 young people were involved in programme activities. This project aimed to increase the number of regular participants to 750 young people.  

During this one-year project, a large number of youth programs focuses on social adaptation and self-improvement in the four spheres of International Award were organized for young people in Karelia—including orphans, physically disabled, and youth from low-income families. Some examples of the programs conducted included: “Let’s tune our hearts for love,” which developed the confidence and social skills of orphans; “Ecomir,” which developed youth ecology groups and educated about the proper use of natural resources; “Movement is Life,” which encouraged youth with social problems to lead a healthy lifestyle and participate in sports clubs; “Start for Tomorrow,” which provided support for young people from low-income families to find jobs; and “Help others to live,” which organized volunteer opportunities for youth with social problems to provide help to elderly and disabled adults as a means to develop social connections. The project also strengthened the resources of the Petrozavodsk Centre running the AWARD program in Karelia through training seminars for its specialists and improvement of its information and communication services.