What is so great about AYF, after all? It has remained a colorful family for Asian young people for more than a decade, and this family can sometimes be even more perfect than a nuclear or an extended one. Firstly, joining family is easy. Secondly, every single year it naturally expands. Thirdly, you are always welcomed regardless of how peculiar or authentic you are. They never judge you, they never point at you, they never infringe upon your difference. Instead, they treat you with kind and vivid interest, they are emotionally open, and they truly love you. And you cannot resist it any more, as you are already part of the family. You are becoming the same, staying different at the same time.

As a reminder: The Asian Youth Forum (AYF) is a college-aged students and young people’s network organization founded in 1999 by Professor Kip Cates of Tottori University (Japan) together with the help of language educators and academic professionals who have been actively part of the Pan Asian Conference (PAC) and are members of English language associations in Asia. The idea of the AYF is to bring together college and university students and young people from all over the Asia to an international convention for meeting with other youth and educators, and to provide them with a venue where they could share their ideas, views and knowledge on culture, language, leadership and social and global issues, as well as learn from others.

38 participants took part in the Asian Youth Forum this year, with several volunteers accompanying them on the whole process of this bright event. AYF Russian team consisted of 6 people, half of whom were MUNers – Alexey Sidorenko, Ksenia Severinova, and Marina Rashchepkina, who had also performed duties of the AYF Vice-President. Besides, two more MUNRFE ladies, Olga Kuzmina and Anna Murzakova, gave perfect help to AYF in the capacity of volunteers. Finally, the Russian coordinator of the AYF was a valorous MUNRFE alumnus Olga Bukach, giving us the greatest reason for feeling pride.

Traditionally, the main agendas of the AYF for this year were various global issues (war and peace, social security, human rights, sustainable development), language learning, intercultural communication, and leadership. Young diplomats also had two extensive tasks to prepare beforehand. The first one was the country presentation for 30-40 minutes, embracing geography, history, politics, cultural and social issues of their motherlands. The second task included the cultural performance which would reflect the peculiarities of the participants’ native arts. It is vital to notice, however, that the Russian team was also obliged with additional duties such as developing Russian language lessons, cultural workshops, study sessions… And it managed it on the highest level! By the way, the AYF Russian team expresses their sincere gratitude to Sergey Gorbenko, Olga Kuzmina and Alexandra Tatomir for having conducted a cool MUNRFE presentation within the Forum! (AYF people will remember the public speaking training for ever…)

We are proud as well to have Alexey Sidorenko selected for the position of the Head of Education and Research Department in the next Asian Youth Forum that will take place in December 2013 in Cebu, Philippines! Congratulations, Alexey! Currently the AYF Russian team is planning to form a delegation to the next AYF, having Olga as their adviser, and looking forward for new Russian delegates (can you see a hint, dear MUNers?) to join them there – to join a new culture – and to join a warm and ever-loving family.