The solemn launch of the International Award #MYPLACE became part of the ceremonies in honor of the opening of the historic World Youth Festival 2024 on the Main Stage of the Soul of Russia Square of the City of Youth of the World. 

"The World Youth Festival is a grandiose event that brought together active young people from more than 180 countries of the world. The #MYPLACE International Award gives our guests and all those who are not indifferent and involved in social transformations in Russia and in the world the opportunity to present the best social initiatives, develop their projects and launch new ones, find friends and become part of a large international family of volunteers and civic leaders," commented Ksenia Razuvaeva, head of the Federal Agency for youth. — A new season of the #MYPLACE Award opens today. We have prepared a lot of new and useful things. For example, a reciprocity program will be launched: participants will be able to complete various tasks (help NGOs, take patronage, collect humanitarian aid, etc.) and receive points that they can spend on training, attending events and other prizes. In honor of the Year of the Family, a special nomination "Good Family" has been established, and the topic of family volunteerism will become one of the key themes of the 2024 Award."

Artem Metelev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy, head of the Association of Volunteer Centers and the DOBRO platform, took part in the launch of the new season of the Award.The Russian Federation, as well as other honorary guests of the Festival, more than 100 ambassadors and finalists of the Award of previous years. 

"We are pleased to announce the launch of the International #MYPLACE Award at the World Youth Festival. This is an event that many people in our country and in different countries of the world have been waiting for. Over the past three years, almost 100,000 social projects from all 89 regions of Russia and 95 countries have been submitted for the Award. This year, the Award model has been updated. You can offer projects, personal actions, patronage and mentoring practices. Also, for the first time, territories — municipalities, regions — will participate in the Award, presenting their comprehensive programs for the development of the non-profit sector," said Artyom Metelev. — We encourage you to participate in the Award because it provides exceptional opportunities for personal and professional development, allows you to find partners, scale social projects, get support for your initiatives, resources for development, recognition in your region and at the federal level. After all, the Award is presented every year by President Vladimir Putin, noting the leaders of social change, including volunteers, NGOs, and leading companies in our country."

In honor of the launch, under the slogan "Tell the whole world about your good deeds", the famous Fisht Olympic Stadium and the fountain on the Soul of Russia Square lit up with the signature orange light of the International Award #MYPLACE.  Prize winners Madhish Parikh (India) and Zilya Amirkhanova (Russia) called on the youth of the world to submit their applications for the Award and become part of the international community of leaders of social transformation. 

"The road to more and more meaningful things begins with the first step," said Madhish Parikh, winner of the 2022 International Track Award and ambassador of the 2023 Award. —More than half of my country's population are young people. I dreamed of being taken seriously, of being believed in. And I believe in it! Our team has brought together young people who are ready to help those who are in trouble. After all, the world needs us, and we can give it a lot."

Madhish Parikh heads the youth organization "Elixir Foundation", founded by the winners of the Presidential Award of the Government of India. The organization engages young people in community activities in areas such as health and hygiene, children's rights, disaster relief, digital learning programs, and gender equality to help them develop leadership skills in the social sphere.

"I'm from a small town in the north of Russia. I wanted my children to be proud of their parents and make the world around them a better place," said Zilya Amirkhanova, a finalist for the 2022 National Track Award. — And in general, to make our society understanding and supportive, so that no one is left alone, so that there are those who believed in us and united us. The #MYPLACE Award is each of us individually and all together. We are the ones who dream of improving the quality of life all over the world and are doing it.  Join us!" 

The Amirkhanov family is engaged in family volunteering. There are 78 families of the Nefteyugansk district of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug in their movement. The humanitarian project "Caring District" unites those who want to help and participate in volunteer activities in 4 areas: assistance to residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, assistance to people in difficult situations, assistance to nature, assistance to animals.

Immediately after the start, applications for participation in the national and international tracks of the Award were accepted. Last season, Russians submitted almost 40,000 applications, and applications from foreign applicants came from 95 countries around the world. In 2024, the organizers updated the model of the International Award #MYPLACE, focusing on the expansion and satisfaction of its target audience. In 2024, the main focus of the Award will be aimed at ensuring the main request of participants — uniting with like-minded people. According to VTSIOM, 65% of participants apply in order to expand their circle of communication with like—minded people, 57% - to promote their initiatives.

The National track of the 2024 Award includes new categories and nominations, including for individuals, organizations and territories. It became possible to present not only social projects, but also socially significant deeds, patronage practices and mentoring activities. Also, starting this year, municipalities and subjects of the Russian Federation can promote their comprehensive programs for the development of the non-profit sector, volunteerism and charity within the framework of the Award.

The finalists of the Award will receive federal recognition, will be able to find new partners, will receive tools to scale their projects, and will undergo a special educational program at federal competence centers. The participants of the Award #MYPLACE in the nominations of the subcategories "Business" and "NGO" will receive the status of "Partner of national projects of Russia", declaring their projects for the National Award "Our Contribution", the operator of which is the ANO "National Priorities". All participants of the #MYPLACE-2024 Award will be awarded points from the project "Another Matter" of the presidential platform "Russia is a country of opportunities". Thousands of participants will receive points that can be spent on training, self-development, travel around Russia and internships in leading companies in the country. The number of Award participant clubs will increase, which are launched in Russia as permanent platforms for uniting participants and developing their projects (at the beginning of 2024, 21 regional clubs were created, uniting more than 1.9 thousand participants); the federal club #MYPLACE will also be launched. The website of the national track of the Award is the award.My place.RF.

The theme of the international track of the Award-2024 is social partnership for global development. The topic was chosen in order to strengthen international humanitarian cooperation with Russia. Domestic and foreign NGOs and volunteers will be united on the platform DOBRO.COM The program of international internships in the regions of Russia will be implemented. In honor of the Year of the volunteer movement in the CIS countries, a special nomination "Volunteer of the CIS" has appeared. The website of the International Track Award — https://wearetogetherprize.com . 

On the Soul of Russia Square, participants and guests of all days of the World Youth Festival also get acquainted with the exhibition #MYPLACE. The exhibition shows the range of assistance provided by volunteers, presenting 12 projects of winners of national and international tracks: volunteer and humanitarian organizations from Turkey (Ahbap), Great Britain (Humanity First), Mexico (GUIMEDIC), Nigeria (LightEd), Azerbaijan (Dayaq Xeyriyyə) and Pakistan (Sehat Kahani), as well as Russian projects Pavel Berezhansky (Say No to Asthma), Yulia Arsenova (Barrier-free environment for joint development of children), Vladimir Ragulin (Sports Development Center), Ksenia Gnezdilova (#Nevethiye), Evgenia Skripuntsova (Young Freedivers) and Anastasia Gileva (Happiness to Live).