The results of the Year of the Family were summed up at the National Centre RUSSIA
On December
26, at the site of the National Centre RUSSIA, a pre-New Year ceremony was held
to sum up the results of the Year of the Family — "Year of the Family.
Continuation." The event was held under the slogan "Roads to the
future — with love along the way."
The Year of
the Family was launched in January 2024 by the President of the Russian
Federation Vladimir Putin at the International RUSSIA EXPO. In his speech, the
President emphasized that strengthening the well-being of families is a
national priority. A welcome address from the head of state on the occasion of
the conclusion of the thematic year was read by the Deputy Prime Minister of
the Russian Federation, the Chairwoman of the Organizing Committee for holding
the Year of the Family in the Russian Federation, Tatyana Golikova.
"Today,
the National Centre RUSSIA warmly welcomes forum participants — large families
and entire working dynasties, winners of the All-Russian contests 'Family of
the Year' and 'This Runs in Our Family', families of veterans of the Special
Military Operation from different regions of the country; those who, through
their life experience, deeply understand the great, enduring value of the
family hearth, foundations, and traditions passed down from generation to
generation. It is in the home circle that a child's personality and worldview
are largely formed, laying such unshakable moral guidelines as caring for
others, for one's children and parents, love for the Motherland, and a sense of
involvement in its destiny," the address states.
Tatyana
Golikova added that, by general estimates, the Year of the Family has become
the most recognizable, emotional, and touching of all thematic years held in
the Russian Federation. According to her, this was made possible by the direct participation
of Russian families in the events held throughout the year.
"Your
emotions, your work, your love, your pain for your neighbor, for those around
us, your love for those who work and fight on the frontline, for those who
await them at home. This has greatly united all of us. And it gives us the
ability to achieve the results we would like to present to you today. I will
not enumerate the many decisions that have been made and will be made. But it
is very important that the Year of the Family doesn’t end. And it is very
important for our Russian families to grow stronger and more numerous.
Sincerely, with all my heart, I congratulate you on your existence, and on the
upcoming New Year," stated Tatyana Golikova.
The
ceremony was attended by families who got married at the RUSSIA EXPO, winners
of the contest "This Runs in Our Family," families of participants in
the SMO, as well as working dynasties from all over the country.
"Both
the opening of the Year of the Family and the ceremonial closing were not
coincidentally first held at the RUSSIA EXPO, where, by the President's
decision, everything our country is proud of was gathered, and now at the
National Centre RUSSIA, created following the Exposition, whose mission is
precisely to collect and showcase to the citizens and guests of our country
everything we are truly proud of. Indeed, Russian families are a true source of
pride for our entire country. Remember how our President said that a large
family with many children is the image of Russia's future. You are that image
of the future. Thank you so much for the inspiration you provide with your
personal example," said the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the
Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation, Sergei Kiriyenko.
Warm words
to Russian families, representatives of working dynasties, and winners of the
"Family of the Year" contest were addressed by the Minister of Labour
and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, Anton Kotyakov.
"Our
parents, guiding us through life, pass on their skills, expertise, and love for
the profession to which they have dedicated their entire lives — it is at this
moment that working dynasties are born, the foundation of Russia's labor glory,
the embodiment of professionalism and the ability to pass on what we are proud
of and what we know from generation to generation. Congratulations to everyone
on the upcoming New Year, and I invite everyone to participate in the tenth
'Family of the Year' contest, which will take place next year," said Anton
Kotyakov.
For the
event's guests, performances were given by Polina Gagarina, Pelageya, Tatyana
Kurtukova, the Uma2rman band, Hibla Gerzmava, and other stars. The ceremony was
hosted by rapper ST (Alexander Stepanov) and singer Assol, who have been
happily married for almost 10 years and have two children. One of the most
striking moments of the concert program was the performance of singer Irina
Dubtsova, accompanied by the Choir of the Movement of the First. She performed
her original song "The Most Important Thing is Family," recognized as
the official anthem of the past year.
"We
are representatives of a working dynasty of melon growers. I think nearly
everyone has at some point tried a yellow watermelon. Thanks to our dynasty,
these watermelons came into existence. We created the world's first
hypoallergenic watermelon with white flesh, suitable even for infants. We are
the winners of the All-Russian 'Family of the Year' contest, and recently our
little Verochka was born, and we became a large family," said Artem
Sokolov, the head of the family representing the working dynasties.
"For
us, the word 'family' is sacred. I would like to share some of the meanings we
attribute to this concept. For a sailor, family is not only the people who
raised him but also the crew that becomes his family. Additionally, family is a
small church where we learn to keep the faith of our fathers, learn to love our
Motherland, and where we return for unconditional love and support," said
Konstantin Aksenov, Captain Second Rank and participant in the Presidential
program 'Time of Heroes', surrounded by his family.
The
National Centre RUSSIA was established by order of the President of the Russian
Federation, Vladimir Putin, to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA
EXPO and to showcase the achievements of the country and its citizens on a
permanent basis. Federal government agencies, state companies, corporations,
and regions take part in the Centre’s work.
The
National Centre RUSSIA is located at 14 Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment, Moscow.
The Centre is open from 10:00 to 20:00 every day except Monday.
One of the tracks of the Open Dialogue is "Investments in Human Capital." The pitch session on this topic brought together over 30 speakers.
One of the key topics for discussion within the initiative became "Investments in Connectivity," which attracted 24% of the essay authors about the future of the world.
The pitch sessions on four tracks took place at the National Centre RUSSIA on April 28, with the participation of authors whose essays were selected by the expert council of the National Centre.