"Being a guide is a way of life": graduation of the Young Tour Guides School was held at the National Centre RUSSIA

For four months, children and teenagers aged 9 to 17 took part in the Young Tour Guides School at the National Centre RUSSIA. They studied the fundamentals of the profession, mastering both theoretical and practical skills. The graduation ceremony of the first cohort took place on June 4.

During their training, the participants immersed themselves in the world of history and art, explored the country’s cultural legacy, developed their public speaking skills, and learned the techniques of effective speech delivery.

Anastasia Zvyagina, Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, congratulated the graduates. She noted that the young tour guides had come a long way — they had grown more mature and self-confident, and had learned how to present information about Russia in a vivid and engaging manner.

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

"Over the past four months, you’ve done a tremendous job: learning about the history and culture of Russia, developing your observation skills, asking questions, seeking answers, and improving your speech. You have guided tours for many guests — for your families, for Artek camp counsellors, for a Hero of Russia, and even for the President of our country. Thanks to you, visitors saw Russia from a fresh perspective," said Anastasia Zvyagina.

Yevgeniya Sirota, head of the Young Tour Guides School project, expressed her gratitude to the participants for their enthusiasm and curiosity.

"Being a guide is, perhaps, a way of life. I am confident that our graduates stand out from their peers: they already have a solid knowledge base and are not afraid to speak in public. Over these months, they have conducted tours for very important guests, including cosmonaut and Hero of Russia Fyodor Yurchikhin and blogger Maxim Anufriev," said Yevgeniya Sirota.

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

One of the most significant moments for the Young Tour Guides School was the tour conducted by the students for the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. Acting as guides were Polina Artemenkova and Maria Kharina. They introduced the Head of State to several parts of the "Journey Across Russia" exposition. For instance, Maria presented the North Caucasian Federal District, while Polina spoke about the Central Federal District.

"Thanks to this project, I had the unique opportunity to give a tour to Vladimir Vladimirovich. It was a great honour and a powerful motivation to continue growing. During the tour, I spoke about several expositions of the 'Journey Across Russia' display," shared Polina.

According to the student, the classes helped her grasp the fundamentals of public speaking. Polina is confident that this will provide a strong foundation for her future career.

All graduates of the Young Tour Guides School received certificates of completion. The next season begins in September, with 60 places available — twice as many as in the first cohort.

The Young Tour Guides School project was launched at the National Centre RUSSIA on February 1, continuing a tradition established during the International RUSSIA EXPO.