Safari Park and youth forum: the best projects of the Volga-Kama macroregion presented at the RUSSIA EXPO

---

Two promising projects of the Republic of Mordovia — "Safari Park 'Krechet' and 'District Youth Creative Forum 'YALGAT" — were presented on June 9 at the International RUSSIA EXPO as part of the initiative "Space of the Future: Volga-Kama Macroregion".

In 2023, Krechet Safari Park was visited by more than 13 thousand people. The 500-hectare territory is home to more than 340 noble red deer and spotted deer, rabbits and a family of horses. A ride through the park takes place in a special vehicle accompanied by an experienced gamekeeper, and one of the main "special features" of the fascinating wildlife safari is the feeding of deer at arm's length.

"As early as June, we are expecting a new litter of reindeer, and next year we will count a new herd. In addition to meeting our wonderful animals, you can also rest comfortably on the Sura River. I want you to love this place with all your heart and share it with your friends and relatives," said Svetlana Katkova, head of the Krechet Safari Park project.

One of the main goals of the project is to become a real center of attraction for tourists and travelers from different regions. The immediate plans are to create a "Health Trail", increase the diversity of animal life and the number of places to accommodate guests, organize all kinds of workshops and educational programs.

"We are striving to raise the bar on the number of guests, so that we are visited by people not only from other regions, but even from other countries. Visiting our safari park helps strengthen cultural and economic ties between Mordovia and other regions, stimulates the development of infrastructure and tourism business, helps the local population to work and improve their standard of living. In addition, we have made more than five thousand children and parents happy through the organization of school and student trips, during which children get acquainted with local flora and fauna," said Svetlana Katkova.

District Youth Creative Forum "YALGAT" unites more than 350 young creative people of the Volga Federal District aged from 14 to 35 years old on the basis of children's camp DOL "Izumrudny" of Ruzaevsky district of the Republic of Mordovia. The project was created to popularize Mordovian national culture through the formation of comfortable conditions for creative self-realization of young people in the region.

"'Yalgat' translates as 'soul', and it is for a reason, because the soul of our people is open, bright and kind, filled with love for the family, for parents, for the Motherland. And in order for the soul of Mordva to remain as multifaceted, it must be constantly filled, and it is very important to do this with the younger generation, because our young people are our future," said the head of the Career Center GBU MRMC Marina Mamaeva.

In a common space young people will do everything necessary for further development of Mordovian culture, language, traditions and customs. 

"In different regions of Mordovia there are different languages, different customs, so it is very important to create a unified creative space. Young people will interpret Mordovian songs in a modern way and reproduce them in classical form, they will dance Mordovian dances. There will also be meetings with representatives of societies that already deal with these issues, so that young people know that the culture of the Mordovian people is rich and diverse, and that it is not about ancient times, but about the future," said Marina Mamaeva.

The guests of the presentation were also introduced to the cultural program from the region — vocalese and a fashion show of a collection of stylized ethnic costumes demonstrated by the artists of the ethno-art theater "Varma", as well as a traditional song of the Moksha people performed by Maria Shvetsova.

As part of the "Space of the Future" Forum, starting from April 18, voting for the most interesting and promising regional projects in the field of tourism, infrastructure, youth policy, and other important areas is taking place on the achievements.rf (достижения.рф) portal. Among the authors of the contest initiatives are representatives of government and business, the public, and student youth. The Forum covers the whole of Russia and demonstrates the uniqueness and identity of each region through promising ideas and endeavors. More than 200 applications have already been submitted.