What is Childhood? Tell me in One Word

The Children's Media Centre of the project EURASIA KIDS took part in the General Secretariat staff meeting of the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly. The inclusion was timed to coincide with the International Children's Day.

The young participants’ questions were not childish at all. For example, Zhenya Kuzmina from Udmurtia asked: "Wuhan, unfortunately, became world famous as the birthplace of the coronavirus, in fact, became the capital of the origin of the coronavirus. It is very painful that this happened. As Wuhan is a twin-city of Izhevsk, the capital of what kind of good deed could Izhevsk has become in order to somehow rectify this situation?” Andrey Belyaninov, General Secretary of the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly, answered Zhenya's question: "Izhevsk has already a lot to be proud of. For example, Kalashnikov and Tchaikovsky are the world-famous names."

Kirill Chirkov lives in the Volga Federal District, knows two languages, and links his future with linguistics and the tourism business. He asked his question to Yulia Igorevna Petrova, Deputy Head of the General Secretariat for International Cooperation: "What Eurasian country has the best education?» The question caused a lively discussion among the adults present, but everyone decided that education is an individual process for each person, and the choice depends on the person himself. And Yulia Igorevna offered Kirill help in choosing a university.

Six-year-old Masha Gutova told about her favourite doll SMAMASHA. This doll is made at the Ivanovo toy factory in the image of Masha. Masha has SMA, a diagnosis that is not treated in any country in the world. But despite this, Masha and her mother decided to live happily ever after. Masha is an actress, model, participant of the TV Shows "Fashion Verdict" and "Best of all!" on the Channel One. "What was your favourite toy as a child?" - the girl asked the adults. Everyone remembered his or her toys.

Anton Ponomarev, a 15 years old schoolboy, is blind. Despite his diagnosis, he plays hockey, skydives, and likes singing and journalism. The latter he considers his future profession. Anton produces the television program "Cool People" and is the editor of the children's city newspaper for blind children "School Monday". He also inspired adults to create an audio tutorial on journalism for blind children. This year, the textbook was created with the support of the Presidential Grants Foundation. Anton thanked the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly for creating the textbook. Now, the young journalist has a new project in his plans.

“Are there any recipes for happiness?” - asked Irina Chebareva. The girl is 11 years old, but she has already achieved a lot. Irina is the champion of Belarus, the champion of Moscow, the winner of the Continental Cup in wheelchair dancing. The adults shared their recipes for happiness with her.

A year ago, when the coronavirus pandemic closed all people at home, the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly provided its platform for online meetings of children with interesting people in different countries. One of them was the Israeli journalist Dmitry Brikman. All over the world, he collects children's questions and asks them to adults. "What is childhood? Tell me in one word," - Bogdan Zaitsev, a young tour guide, asked him during one of these meetings. Dmitry asked this question to many famous people. Lyudmila Ulitskaya, Vladimir Pozner, Yulia Menshova, Vyacheslav Polunin and many others were looking for an answer to Bogdan's question. Adults of the General Secretariat of the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly also tried to find an answer to this question. Happiness, mom, swing… –a lot of answers were given!

Recall that in 2018, the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly launched the project EURASIA KIDS; it brings together children from different countries. And in 2020, on the initiative of Andrey Yuryevich Belyaninov, the Department of Happiness was established, its goal is to create opportunities for happiness for people from different countries.

Maria Petrova