"I catch every word on the VNS." Interview with the delegate from Gomel Anna Savenko

Photo from Anna Savenko’s personal archive on December 17-18, the third meeting of the VII All-Belarusian People’s Assembly will be held in Minsk. Youth will be represented by 80 boys and girls from different parts of the country. Among them is the second secretary of the Gomel Regional Committee of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union Anna Savenko. We asked the delegate about the preparations for the meeting in the anniversary year (October marks 30 years since the first WPC in history) and what problems she would like to discuss.

- Anna, what does it mean to you to be a delegate of the VNS?

- We have a great responsibility to society and the state, because the future of the country depends on the decisions we make. I am always a little worried before meetings. But when you sit in the room, the excitement is replaced by concentration. I take every word and then make an informed decision.

- What's your priority?

- All BRSM delegates have one goal: to be the voice of youth. It is great that Belarus pays so much attention to our generation. The presence of young people at the meeting once again proves that our opinion is heard at the highest level.

- How are the preparations for the meeting going?

- Continuously. You need to be a delegate every day, not just during a meeting. Throughout the year, I speak to labor collectives, hold dialogue platforms with students, collect their opinions and suggestions. I make notes on what topics should be touched on while communicating with colleagues on the sidelines. In addition, we are discussing with the boys and girls the Five-Year Plan Programme for Social and Economic Development of the country approved during the last meeting of the WPC. Tell them in detail what seven priorities have been identified and why it matters. Many of the programme's provisions directly concern young people. Strengthening the institution of the family and increasing the birth rate are the key to the future of the country and that in the future all the goals will be realized. Support for young people and their effective employment, patriotic education are areas that do not lose relevance.

- If you were given the opportunity to speak at the WNC, what topic or issue would you address?

I would like to talk about what young people are most concerned about: professional self-realization, affordable housing, support for young families.

- What do you expect from the People’s Forum and with what thoughts will you go to the third meeting?

- I look forward to the President’s annual address to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly. Every speech of Alexander Grigorievich, delivered during the VNS, responds to the heart. It always touches on important topics and emphasizes the role of youth in the development of the future of the country.

- If you were asked to come up with a slogan for the VNS, what option would you offer?

“Determining the future together” – that’s true!

gardevich@sb.by