A space that inspires: 100 young heroes discover the country's diversity at "Journey Across Russia"

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The "Journey Across Russia" exposition welcomed 100 talented children from different regions of the country, participants in the "Train of Heroes" organised as part of the All-Russian project "Heroes from Our Yard". The main exposition of the National Centre RUSSIA amazed the children with the beauty, achievements and diversity of our vast country.

The All-Russian project "Heroes from Our Yard!" has been running since 2017 and is now being implemented in 35 Russian regions, as well as in Serbia and Kazakhstan. Its main aims are to promote sport, culture and science, preserve cultural and historical legacy, and support the spiritual and moral development of the younger generation. This year, half of the project participants — winners of national and international sports, creative and patriotic contests — represent the historical regions: the Donetsk People's Republic, the Lugansk People's Republic, the Kherson Region and the Zaporozhye Region.

"In such a short time, I managed to learn a great deal about the regions of our country and different aspects of life there. The many interactive features here helped me do that. Expositions like this are important because they foster an interest in history and traditions, particularly among children," said Sofia Dudka, a young correspondent from the Lugansk People's Republic, an activist with the Yunarmiya (Young Army) and a recipient of the honorary badge "Yunarmiya Valour", Class III.

Her fellow resident of the Lugansk People's Republic, Victoria Barkova, a student at the scientific association "Republican Junior Academy of Sciences" and a prize-winner at numerous science festivals, admitted that the exposition not only provides knowledge, but also inspires visitors to see everything for themselves.

"For example, I particularly remember and enjoyed riding on the swings in the Caucasus zone. Afterwards, I really wanted to visit the region in person," explained Victoria Barkova.

The final stage of the "Heroes from Our Yard" project, the "Train of Heroes!", supported by Russian Railways, departed from Novosibirsk, where the project was created, and travelled through Tyumen, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Kazan and Nizhny Novgorod. Moscow was the final destination, and a visit to the National Centre RUSSIA became one of the most important parts of the educational tour programme.

"This exposition is very beautiful and interesting. I liked that innovation and artificial intelligence are well represented here and that there are many interactive features. Ringing the bells and completing the other tasks set by our tour guide was particularly enjoyable. I believe that expositions like this are very important for future generations, so that children know the history of their country, can continue developing and achieve great things," shared Gleb Kuznetsov, a holder of the third sports category in combat sambo and a prize-winner at the Novosibirsk Region Sambo Championships for boys and girls.

Every year, the All-Russian project "Heroes from Our Yard" brings together 100 gifted and ambitious children and teenagers from across Russia. It helps them learn more about the country's history and landmarks, meet like-minded people and find inspiration for new achievements for the good of the Fatherland. According to the children, the "Journey Across Russia" exposition became one of the main sources of that inspiration.