Perm: one city for a million citizens

Photo by Vitaly Koksharov

Last week Perm hosted a Forum for socially oriented noncommercial organisations named “Perm: one city for million citizens ”.  Social activists, NGO leaders, neighbourhood associations, students of Perm universities and specialists from Yekaterinburg, Izhevsk and Samara participated in the Perm public forum.

Representatives of city and regional authorities, experts and scientists discussed issues of the city non-commercial organisations’ support.

Aleksandr Kharlov, Representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in Yekaterinburg took part in plenary session and in the External Relations of City Community workshop.

Perm truly has something to show to others. Undoubtedly, such a result can not be achieved without active city residents. City relationship with noncommercial sector is highly developed in Perm which makes this Forum to be of great  importance, - A.Kharlov said.

Farit Gubaev, the Chairman of Izhevsk city council reported:

Izhevsk is very lucky to have such a wonderful “neighbour” as Perm. Your city is always very initiative. That leads us to Perm to study the best practices of local neighbourhood associations. We plan to use Perm City authorities expertise in Izhevsk.

Several workshops, devoted  to various aspects of noncommercial organisations’ work were offered for the forum’s attendants: “Neighbourhood associations: development and prospects”, “External relations of the city community”, “City ecology: volunteering on natural territories”, “Perm-300 Jubilee”.

“The external relations of the city community” workshop has become one of the most popular parts of the forum.

City’s external relations embrace  international links with partner foreign territories as well as the intermunicipal relations between the cities and towns of Russia. Perm has always been active in developing strong ties with its twin cities and achieved much in this field. Discussions at the workshop were joined by experts from Perm and other cities as well as by foreign students studying in Perm.

The external relations also include the hospitality of the city and its residents. Nowadays a large number of foreign students are studying in Perm. They have chosen Perm as they desire to get high-quality education. Having graduated, they will come back to their home countries and tell colleagues and friends about Perm. Studying in Perm is not only an opportunity to get a good education and develop professional contacts but also a chance to discover Russia.

According to Forum participants’ opinion, an efficient exchange of experience took place, including that on  international and intermunicipal projects’ realization. It is important to pay attention not only at the formal relations between the cities’ authorities but also at the residents’ participation in such  projects and events.

“Perm: one city for a million citizens” will become an annual forum to unite active representatives of NGOs, business and city community and municipal authorities.