In the spring of 2023, the first “People of Artek” competition for schoolchildren aged 12-17 was organized by ANO “Let’s Do It Together” and the Artek International Children’s Center with the support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education of Russia, Rossotrudnichestvo, and the United Russia party. The contestants conducted a study about a native of their country who visited Artek and showed how time spent in Artek influenced the fate of this person. The winners’ trip from Kyrgyzstan was supported by the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly and the EuroTrans Logistic company.
The purpose of the action was to highlight the activities of the ICC "Artek" as a world-famous children's center, as well as to attract foreign children to the study of the century-old history of the Center.
The competition commission in Kyrgyzstan selected 10 best applications, the authors of these applications got the opportunity to go to Artek. Vouchers were presented by the coordinator of the World of Opportunities project of the United Russia party Roman Romanov and the head of the Department of Happiness of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly Marina Volkova.
At the Russian House in Bishkek, schoolchildren were given vouchers to the Artek children's center by Roman Romanov, coordinator of the World of Opportunities project of United Russia, and Albert Zulkharneev, head of the Rossotrudnichestvo representative office in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Roman Romanov notes that this project is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Artek and all this time guys from all over the world make friends and discover unique opportunities for themselves. Counsellor-envoy of the Russian Embassy in Kyrgyzstan Vadim Gusev emphasized: Artek not only leaves an indelible impression in the lives of those who have been there at least once, but also often dramatically influences their future fate. Each of you was able to verify this during the competitive tests, when it was necessary to conduct a study about a native of Kyrgyzstan and talk about the role the legendary Artek played in his life.” These theses were immediately confirmed by Nadezhda Varketina, a teacher at the Ecological and Economic Lyceum No. 65, the author of many books and scientific articles, who visited Artek in 1965: “Artek set me up for life. I have remained an Artek forever.”
The debriefing ceremony was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs, Defense, Security and Migration, deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh Leyla Lurova. The deputy expressed her readiness to develop cooperation aimed at making the youth of Russia and Kyrgyzstan more aware of each other and noted that the participation of young Kyrgyzstanis in the international camp in Artek opens up new opportunities for everyone.
The participants of the event expressed their special gratitude to the Secretary General of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly Andrey Belyaninov and the General Director of the EuroTrans Logistic company Tilek Bolotboev for their assistance in ensuring the winners' travel from Kyrgyzstan to Artek.