This project was a logical continuation of the project: “Perspectives for Young People - Training of Multipliers in Monotowns” (2016). In 2017, project events took place in the Murmansk and Leningrad regions. The main goal of the project was to support young urban activists and youth initiatives aimed at developing public spaces in monotowns.

As part of the project, a series of educational activities were carried out: trainings, webinars, seminars, conferences, and festivals. With the help of curators, participants from Kovdor, Monchegorsk, and Kingisepp developed and implemented several projects to improve the quality of life and the environment in their cities.

The most active participants went on an educational trip across Germany — to the regions of Berlin, Brandenburg, and Thuringia — to learn about experiences in developing innovative youth initiatives in German industrial and post-industrial cities (informal cultural initiatives; projects aimed at public significance and solving current urban issues; successful examples of social entrepreneurship and joint projects between city administrations and citizen initiatives). Participants were also introduced to the institutions and infrastructure that support various youth projects in Germany (Montag Foundation for Urban Spaces, regional and national government programs, and examples of local initiatives).

The final conference, summarizing the program, was held in Murmansk: “Youth Initiatives in the Northwest Region: Networking, Supportive Infrastructure, and Development Potential.” Graduates of the project and experts from 8 cities in the region, as well as from Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Berlin, participated in the conference aboard the historic icebreaker “Lenin.”

Project Overview