Foreign journalists at the National Centre RUSSIA on the Motherland, love for people and cultural code
Foreign journalists from the Middle East and North America who came to Russia as part of the "New Generation" experience-sharing programme, implemented jointly by RT Arabic and Rossotrudnichestvo, took part in a National Centre RUSSIA survey held as part of the All-Russian campaign "What Does the Motherland Begin With?" Each of them has their own story and their own understanding of where love for the Fatherland begins. However, they all emphasised that a sense of homeland grows from a close connection with one's fellow citizens, respect for national culture and personal involvement in their country's future.
"I believe that every country begins with its citizens. Citizens have a right to their land and can create a country, its history, culture and future. For me, therefore, the homeland is first and foremost the individual, the citizen, patriotism and love for one's country. I also believe that the homeland cannot exist without each and every one of us. We are all part of it; the homeland is us," said Djarre Aicha Lale, a journalist with Mauritania State Television.
The press office editor and communications specialist at the Phenix Centre for Economic and Informatics Studies, Kutkut Murad Ahmad Younes (Jordan), associates the concept of homeland with personal responsibility for its future: "I believe that the homeland begins with love for your country and a sense of belonging to it. This feeling motivates us to improve ourselves within our society so that our country can develop alongside us. This applies to many different areas. I love my homeland, so I try to improve the social sphere, drive the economy forward and ensure that we all grow together with our country for the sake of its better future."
Yaghi Mahdi Akel, a correspondent for the Lebanese television channel Al-Rabiaa TV, admitted that his impressions of Russia largely matched his understanding of the homeland as a connection with culture and traditions.
"The Motherland begins with its history, technology and collective memory, while in a broader sense, it begins with a connection to culture, customs and traditions. When our plane had just landed in Russia and we were travelling to the hotel, what struck me most was that there were churches, gardens and monuments everywhere. This shows that Russia pays great attention to traditions, and I believe this is the right approach because the homeland begins with them."
The All-Russian campaign "What Does the Motherland Begin With?" is being held by the National Centre RUSSIA with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation. The project aims to strengthen people's sense of unity with their country and preserve cultural diversity and shared values through dialogue between people of different generations, regions and ethnic backgrounds.
Anyone can take part in the survey and share their thoughts on what the Motherland means to them on the russia.ru website, either in writing or by recording a video message. More than 700 people from 71 regions of Russia and other countries have already shared their innermost thoughts, including public officials, opinion leaders, artists, scientists and teachers. The project continues, and every new voice makes the image of the Motherland more vivid and multifaceted.
The National Centre RUSSIA welcomed distinguished guests from France.
