The anniversary fifth season of the "Bolshaya Peremena" All-Russian contest was launched in the Home of Youth at the RUSSIA EXPO

The new season of the All-Russian contest "Bolshaya Peremena" (lit. "Big Change"/"Big School Break") was launched at the RUSSIA EXPO. The solemn ceremony of launching the anniversary fifth season gathered finalists of the previous seasons, teachers-mentors and parents of the participants.

"Bolshaya Peremena" competition is the flagship project of the Movement of the First. The project is co-organized by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh). The contest is part of the presidential platform "Russia - Land of Opportunity". "Bolshaya Peremena" is held with the support of the Ministry of Education of Russia and the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.

The start of the season was announced at a ceremony by Sergei Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation.

"I think it is absolutely no coincidence that this launch takes place on a legendary day, Cosmonautics Day, when with the words "Let's go!" Yuri Gagarin began the space era on planet Earth. And it is no coincidence that the launch of "Bolshaya Peremena" takes place here, at the RUSSIA EXPO, which by decision of our President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has gathered all that the country is proud of," he said, addressing the contest participants.

He also spoke about the innovations of the fifth season. For the first time schoolchildren of 1-4 grades will be able to take part in the contest. In addition, a team competition will appear in the contest.

"The best schools, whose students became semi-finalists in the competition, will be able to form teams and design projects for the development of school spaces. A separate final will be held in Krasnoyarsk for them, and the results will determine the winning teams," Sergei Kiriyenko specified.

Photo: Kirill Zykov/RIA News

"When you are persistent, confident in your abilities, rely on the help of your relatives and friends, family, team, friends, the big family of "Bolshaya Peremena", you will definitely succeed. And the things you dream about today, will not only be a source of pride for you tomorrow, it will be a source of pride for our whole country," he added.

All contest stages of the fifth season of "Bolshaya Peremena" will be united by a single theme dedicated to the Year of the Family. At the on-site stages, the participants will perform tasks related to the preservation of traditional family values and strengthening the bond between generations.

Grigory Gurov, Chairman of the Board of the Movement of the First, also addressed the participants of the ceremony: "We see the potential of "Bolshaya Peremena" as a flagship project of the Movement of the First in the realization of initiatives of active children in the local neighborhoods, in the work with peers and our thematic communities. The wide network of the Movement's branches in all regions - more than 46,000 primary and 2,250 municipal branches - is a platform for practical application of the leadership and project potential of the First who participated in the contest. Their activity and effectiveness should become an example of real active patriotism for both children and adults.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, reminded that "Bolshaya Peremena" unites not only children, but also adults across the country.

"The contest has grown into a whole community. And the community is not only of children, but also of parents who are close to their children, mentors who support schoolchildren and students all over the country. Kids, dream, believe that you are the best, move forward, and you will definitely succeed. Because Russia is a country of opportunities, where everyone will find themselves," she said.

The contest ecosystem unites leading Russian companies, federal children's centers, and the best universities. The contest is supported by 96 partners. All of them open unique opportunities for the finalists and winners of the project.

Photo: Kirill Zykov/RIA News

Alexei Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom State Corporation, addressed the participants of the ceremony: "For the fifth year in a row, Rosatom has been the general partner of the "Bolshaya Peremena" contest.We want all the children of our vast country to become educated people, real professionals, and we provide children with ample opportunities to unlock their potential. "Bolshaya Peremena" winners become participants of our career guidance projects: educational expeditions to the North Pole "Icebreaker of Knowledge", scientific and educational programs "AtomDiscovery", technical tours to Rosatom enterprises, which allow them to get acquainted with the activities of the State Corporation and choose a direction for further development in the nuclear industry".

Sber, acting as the general partner of "Bolshaya Peremena", helps talented children and mentors across the country to realize their initiatives and projects, stated Sberbank President and Chairman of the Management Board German Gref in his video message.

"This wonderful contest has already become a good tradition for our entire country. In "Bolshaya Peremena" everyone gets an opportunity to try their hand, to get to know themselves, their interests and abilities even better. We have been supporting the participants and mentors of the contest since its inception. Our team develops tasks, accompanies the participants. We annually organize training programs for five hundred best mentors of the contest in the world's leading resort on the South Coast of Crimea Mriya Resort. It is very important for us that each of you can think of ways to improve and realize your own idea and dream. Don't wait for the right moment, take action. Keep your exploratory spirit alive. Invent and create your future. And we at Sberbank will always help you in your endeavors," German Gref congratulated the participants on the start of the season.

Photo: Kirill Zykov/RIA News

VK has been the general partner of the contest since its inception and provides participants with opportunities for communication, training and self-fulfillment. VK Strategic Partnership Director Dmitry Uvarov noted that "Bolshaya Peremena" actively develops the VKontakte community, which today has almost 600 thousand subscribers.

"Five years is the first anniversary, albeit small, but very significant. For five years we have been creating useful content together with you, learning and gaining new knowledge with the help of VK digital services and products. At Artek, we launched the VKontakte Steps Challenge and set ourselves the goal of walking 500 million steps together. Guys, you did it! And not just did it, but walked 600 million steps. With you we manage to break any records and I'm sure this season will be no exception," he added.

The contest participants were welcomed by Ivan Kolesnikov, Deputy Director General of Russian Railways, who noted that together with "Bolshaya Peremena" in 2021, Russian Railways launched a unique project for the winners of the contest among the winners of grades 5-7 — "Dream Journey".

"Every year we try to surprise the kids, create new routes and do everything to make traveling around Russia exciting and in the most comfortable conditions. The children get to know the country, get acquainted with historical, cultural and natural sights of our Motherland together with Russian Railways," said Ivan Kolesnikov.

Natalia Mandrova, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Movement of the First, General Director of ANO "Bolshaya Peremena", wished the participants of the fifth season of the contest good luck and bright discoveries: "Every year, when we announce a new season of "Bolshaya Peremena", we launch a whole series of discoveries. We learn about new places in our country thanks to the wide geography of the contest's on-site stages. We learn that there are a huge number of people around us who support and believe in us - mentors, parents and friends. But the most important discovery that happens to every participant is discovering something new about yourself. You learn more about your abilities and hobbies, you start to think about your dreams and the potential that everyone has to achieve them. I wish all the participants of the fifth season of the "Bolshaya Peremena" contest the most interesting and exciting discoveries".

Photo: Kirill Zykov/RIA News

Alexei Agafonov, First Deputy Director General of the ANO "Russia — Land of Opportunitiy", also congratulated the children on the start of the new season.

"It's hard to believe, but the "Bolshaya Peremena" contest is starting for the fifth time already. Thanks to "Bolshaya Peremena", millions of children all over the country try themselves in different directions, get support from mentors and make new friends. And in the anniversary season there will be even more opportunities! Five years is a short period of time, but I know from the experience of our platform that incredible results can be achieved during this time. Over the previous seasons, "Bolshaya Peremena" has grown a whole community of those who change themselves and the world for the better, inspire and lead others. It is especially gratifying that many of them later joined other projects of the presidential platform and succeeded in them," he said.

The winners and runners-up of "Bolshaya Peremena" among pupils in grades 8-10 and college students will receive up to 1 million rubles for education, self-development or launching a startup, as well as additional points to the portfolio of achievements when applying to universities. The winners among students in grades 5-7 will be able to go on a unique "Dream Journey" by train across Russia. Teachers-mentors of the finalists and winners of the contest will receive up to 150 thousand rubles and the opportunity to undergo educational programs in the leading centers of Russia. The prize for the winners of the international track from among school graduates is the opportunity to study on a budgetary basis in the best Russian universities.

The 50 best schools, colleges and institutions of additional education will receive 2 million rubles each for the development of the educational environment.

The President of Russia has repeatedly noted that the "Bolshaya Peremena" project was born out of the ideas of the country's youth and has become an open space for self-realization of every young person. Today the contest unites both schoolchildren and, at the initiative of the children themselves, students of colleges and technical colleges. The winners of "Bolshaya Peremena" receive not only cash prizes, but also new opportunities in education and realization of their own projects, which will become an important contribution to the all-round development of the country.

Registration of contest participants will be open on the platform большаяперемена.онлайн until May 20, 2024.

The All-Russian contest "Bolshaya Peremena" is the largest project for children and teenagers in Russia. Since 2021, the contest has been implemented as part of the National Project "Education".

The organizers of the contest are Movement of the First, the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), the ANO "Russia — Land of Opportunity" and the ANO "Bolshaya Peremena". General partners of the project are: Russian Railways, Rosatom State Corporation, Sberbank, VK, and Roscosmos State Corporation.