All-Russia Youth Forum "Chkalovsk 2010"

On 21-24th of July FNPR (Russia) held the All Russia Youth Forum “Chkalovsk 2010”. Over 300 young trade union activists gathered at camping site in the Nizhniy Novgorod region to discuss contemporary trade union movement and its future in Russia.

The event was attended by FNPR leadership, including FNPR and ITUC-PERC President, Mikhail Shmakov. The Forum also could boast guests from other European countries, Ukraine, Latvia, Bulgaria and Hungary being among them. Daniela Alexieva, PERC Youth Committee President and Andre Mrost, Director of ITUC Moscow office greeted the participants on behalf of International Trade Union Confederation.

The Forum schedule was rather intense and offered the following activities:
- Group work and brain-storming sessions, where youngsters from all over Russia articulated their vision of trade union functions and issues they are to face as potential leaders, and also how to tackle them.

- Panel discussions, where FNPR leadership shared their views on the current status of trade union movement. Participants could contribute both by answering the questions of the leaders and by asking the leadership to respond to theirs.

- Master classes, where participants enjoyed the opportunity to speak to trade union experts on the topics of particular interest, such as communications policy, fund-raising mechanisms and project-making, organising and legal aspects.

- Team building exercises.

Despite extremely hot weather, young trade unionists were very enthusiastic throughout the Forum.