Льыоравэтльан - 15th Anniversary of Youth Finno-Ugric Movement of Karelia

The Nuori Karjala republic's youth public organization will celebrate its 15 anniversary on December 20, 2008. The organization was found in 1993 by the group of active creative young people led by Nadezhda Kalmykova (Kuznetsova). The main task of Nuori Karjala was preservation of culture and language of indigenous Baltic and Finnish peoples of Karelia: Karelians, Veps and Finns. All people, irrespective of their national identity, political preferences and faith can take part in the work of the organization.
Members of the organization are mostly young people: students and graduates of Karelian institutes of higher education and secondary special educational institutions, working young people, as well as those interested in culture of Baltic and Finnish peoples of Karelia. People from regions of Karelia and representatives of Karelian associations become members of the organization. During 15 years Nuori Karjala became a 'smithy' of staff for cultural and educational branches of Karelia. Its activists work in national mass media, cultural centers, executive authorities, universities and academic institutions.
On the year of its foundation Nuori Karjala became an associative member of Youth Association of Finno-Ugric Peoples (YAFUP). This gives Young Karelia a chance to exchange experience with colleagues from other Finno-Ugric regions and influence formation of youth agenda of the Finno-Ugric world. Members of the organization took part in the work of all five World Congresses of Finno-Ugric Peoples.
Nuori Karjala today is a leader of national movement of Karelian people. The organization is engaged in both carrying out ethno-folk-marathons, celebrations and musical evenings, competitions, sports events, ethnocultural summer camps, and serious ethnocultural, educational and publishing projects. The organization enjoys authority in regions of Karelian Republic. Executive authorities, local governments, and numerous Russian and foreign public associations and funds are among long standing partners of Young Karelia. The organization takes part in international cultural cooperation.