Today, the All-Russian Rally of Student Construction Brigade Veterans, dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the city's founding and the 50th anniversary of the first «КАМАЗ» truck production, was solemnly opened at the «Энергетик» Palace of Culture in Naberezhnye Chelny. The event brought together 420 veterans of the movement.
Mayor Nail Magdeev warmly welcomed the guests, noting the special contribution of student brigade members to the history of the auto city:
«This year, our city and our country are celebrating two important dates: the 400th anniversary of the founding of Naberezhnye Chelny and the 50th anniversary of the production of the first КАМАЗ truck. Why do I say «country»? Because it is on that solid, reinforced-concrete foundation – in every sense of the word – that our legendary КАМАЗ works today and a city of half a million people lives. If you look back at the history of student construction brigades, at your youth, you can say with confidence: that period was lived for the benefit of yourselves, the country, friends, and loved ones.
I had the honor of studying in Leningrad. After my first and second years, I worked in a student construction brigade in the Komi ASSR. How could one forget that? A construction brigade is friendship. A construction brigade is love. A construction brigade is new competencies. It is a special state of mind that is impossible to convey. To understand it, you have to live and work in a construction brigade yourself».
Minister of Youth Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan Azat Kadyrov addressed the rally participants with a welcoming speech, reading out the official message from the Rais of the Republic Rustam Minnikhanov:«It is symbolic that the event is taking place in Tatarstan during the Year of Labor Valor, declared as a tribute to people who, through their military and creative labor, contribute to the development of the state, the strengthening of its economic potential, and the upbringing of youth. Since their revival and to this day, student brigades have always been at the forefront of implementing large-scale projects: from developing new lands to building cities in Siberia and the Far East. It is gratifying that modern student brigades, which today unite hundreds of thousands of young people, are multiplying the best traditions of their predecessors».
State Duma Deputy Alfiya Kogogina in her speech focused on the importance of preserving historical memory and the continuity of generations. «We are obliged to carefully preserve the memory of the labor feats of past years and pass on this rich experience to the younger generation so that the traditions of all-union construction projects continue to live on», stated Alfiya Kogogina.
Azat Kadyrov presented the honorary badge «For Contribution to the Development of Student Brigades of the Republic of Tatarstan». This award was given to veterans of the regional movement who have made a significant contribution to the formation and development of the organization over many years. Within the framework of the rally, federal awards were presented. Commander of the Central Headquarters of the Russian Student Brigades Yaroslav Zubashchenko presented veterans with commemorative medals in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Russian Student Brigades.
The rally will last until July 4. Among the participants are veterans of Soviet brigades who took part in the construction of КАМАЗ facilities and the city of Naberezhnye Chelny itself, representatives of regional branches of «Russian Student Brigades», and curators of specialized polytechnic and mechanical engineering colleges planning cooperation with the auto giant for industrial internships.
The solemn opening at the «Энергетик» Palace of Culture set the tone for the entire event. On the same day, a large-scale festival of construction brigade songs was held at the Vladimir Vysotsky Square. The organizers prepared a rich excursion program. Guests visited the visitor center and workshops of КАМАЗ, and got acquainted with the infrastructure of the All-Union student construction project. The route also included the stele of the Komsomol shock construction project, the monument «Glory to the Builders of КАМАЗ!», the «Warriors of the Fatherland» memorial with a flower-laying ceremony, the debarkader, a mural, and the city museum. Support for youth initiatives, the development of student brigades, and the patriotic education of the younger generation are being implemented within the framework of the «Youth and Children» national project.