In Mordovia, with the support of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodyozh), the year-round youth educational center “VMeSte” Family Academy began its operations on April 7th. Established as a comprehensive platform for all-round family support through educational, cultural, and social initiatives, the center aims to assist young parents in child-rearing, drawing upon traditional values and intergenerational continuity.
Grigory Gurov, head of Rosmolodyozh, and Artem Zdunov, Head of the Republic of Mordovia, emphasized the significance of this project for state demographic policy and boosting birth rates. According to Zdunov, Mordovia is already a leader in family policy, demonstrating a comprehensive approach from infrastructure development to expanding support measures and developing corporate demographic standards with businesses.
The academy’s inaugural event was the Republican Forum for Pregnant Women, which gathered over 100 expectant mothers and relevant specialists. As part of the forum, the “Happy Family School +1” series of educational programs was launched, designed to prepare future parents for childbirth and foster stable family practices. These forums are planned to be held twice a year, offering practical knowledge, reducing anxiety, and building a community for future parents.
Annually, the center plans to reach over five thousand people, host 49 events this year, and form a talent pool of specialists in family and demography issues. The idea for the center originated at the “Territory of Meanings” forum last year, proposed by young families from across the country. Its infrastructural base is the “Nadezhda” sanatorium in the Ruzaevsky district of Mordovia.
One of the key events will be the “More Than Travel” family tourism festival, scheduled from July 9th to 12th, 2026, expected to gather over 150 young and large families, as well as travel enthusiasts across Russia. Registration for this event is open until May 20th.
The center received a grant of 112 million rubles under the national project “Youth and Children,” operated by Rosmolodyozh, ensuring systematic support for its activities. The primary goal is to create a unified, comfortable system of support for expectant mothers and families with children, transforming parenthood into a key public trend.
