Today is the start of the school year in Russia. A return that the authorities want, especially in this year of “special operation”, under the sign of patriotism. This Thursday, moreover, Vladimir Putin will chair the first meeting of the members of the supervisory board of a new youth movement. Youth clubs and movements teaching sports, the handling of weapons, history and patriotism have developed greatly in recent years in Russia. Report in a Khimki club in the suburbs of Moscow.
From our Permanent Special Envoy in Moscow,
They are about fifteen teenagers to do and redo judo holds in this very well equipped room, on the 4ᵉ floor of a building. ” I teach, in this military-political club, judo and hand-to-hand combat “says Evguény Vladimirovitch who watches and corrects the group on the stopwatch, seated on a chair.
Musician in a group of patriotic songs, soldier, soldier, but he cannot say where exactly… He teaches children from all walks of life, he says. ” The parents bring us quite ordinary children, and sometimes also difficult children whom we try to re-educate. We have military discipline. Children participate in sports competitions, jump with a parachute, learn to use a weapon. Everything a soldier should be able to do, with us, they learn how to do it. We also have conversations with them about the need, above all, to love one’s country. »
“ Never betray your country »
Activities three times a week, summer summer camps between 10 days and a month… A former soldier, the director, seated in an office with shelves furnished with awards obtained by the competition club, describes the typical day. ” Get up, breakfast, start of classes. Children are divided into groups: mountaineering, mountain training. They cook their lunch. An hour of calm then new courses: tactical or communications training, medical training. We have a lot of children, but they are all busy and we watch them all. Then, if we are near a river, we go swimming, then in the evening, we watch Russian historical films. »
Wake up at 7 a.m., go to bed at 10 a.m., children and teenagers, they say they love it. They describe a supportive family atmosphere and when asked their definition of patriotism…” Never betray your country. Always remember our grandparents who died for us, for our country, explains Lisa, 16. Always remember the history of Russia. In our generation, many have forgotten history and our grandparents, what they did for us. It is very unpleasant to me that, in my school, the youngest do not know the history of our country and our heroes. »
” I completely agree, adds Kostya, 15. Many have begun to forget what patriotism is, what homeland is. Some do not even know what kind of monuments are in their neighborhood. »
The club boasts a complete education and students who everywhere have excellent academic results, and claims to have no influence on their future professional choices. For Kostya and Liza, it’s already very clear: he wants to join the security services and she wants to become a psychologist.