TIG and AIESEC have a project together: Non-commercial Approach. (http://projects.takingitglobal.org/nonca ) AIESEC decided to raise the problem of youth participation in social issues in Russia. They contacted different NGO and provided them with an international trainee. (That’s how I got into Russia and TIG.) and they organize different seminars with the team “ the way of change” at different universities where each NGO partnership is invited to one session. They will also be a final conferences on the 26th of November.

First of all, we would like to thank AIESEC for organising this seminar and inviting TIG as it is a great opportunity for TIG to get in contact with students.

The title of the seminar was “youth participation”. About 10 students (mainly girls) attended the seminars and some of them were really interested in TIG and youth participation.

AIESEC Vice president of the External Relations, Irina Ruseva, opened the seminar by a discussion with the students on the problems they were concerned. ( as it was in Russian, I cannot tell you what
was the main concern of the students).

Then they introduced TIG as a way to solve the problem and Irina Chernenkaya, coordinator of TIG Russia, presented TIG, the problem we are dealing and the goal of the organisation. She also presented “Guide to action” as a way to take the first step to change something.

Finally, I came and made a presentation about youth participation and why I decided to come to Russia, as people always wondered why Russia. I would say that Russians are not fully conscious of how much their country can give to the world. Well to be honest with you, I never thought I would come to Russia more than holidays and here I am. The main reason why I came, was the project: working in NGO whose goal is to increase youth involvement. I had also to talk about how my actions are solving the problem of youth participation. As my main task is to develop the TIG database ( organisations, financial opportunities, events, ….) I provide students more information and tools to achieve their goals and hope also to inspire youth as I am volunteering in Russia instead of working in a Swiss bank and making lots of money.