PERMIRA Winter Camp 2026 Strengthens Indonesia–Russia Youth Relations

RRI.CO.ID, Shlisselburg — The Indonesian Students Association in Russia (PERMIRA) held the PERMIRA Winter Camp 2026: Indonesian-Russian Students Camp as part of the commemoration of 76 years of Indonesia–Russia diplomatic relations and the celebration of the 2026 Year of Culture of Saint Petersburg.

The event, which took place at Glamping Yagoda in the city of Shlisselburg, was organized in collaboration with PERMIRA Saint Petersburg, the External Committee of the Saint Petersburg City Government, and the Education Attaché of the Republic of Indonesia in Russia.

Around 40 participants from Indonesia, Russia, and ASEAN member countries took part in the program. The event served as a platform for young people to share ideas aimed at strengthening mutual understanding between nations through sustainable youth diplomacy.

One of the main agendas was the Indonesia–Russia Educational Talk Show held from 10:00 to 11:30 local time. The forum featured speakers Gerry Utama, Svetlana Viktorovna Banit, and Yulia Romanovna Vasilyeva, who shared their experiences of living in Russia, ranging from cultural adaptation and academic life to their roles as ambassadors of friendship between the two countries.

“This talk show is a golden opportunity for us to hear firsthand the experiences of our peers who have lived in Russia. Every story is an inspiration, and every challenge is a valuable lesson,” said Gerry Utama in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Meanwhile, Svetlana Viktorovna Banit said that studying in Russia is not only about achieving academic degrees, but also about building bridges of understanding between nations.

“Programs like PERMIRA Winter Camp prove that young people can become real agents of change in bilateral relations,” she said.

Yulia Romanovna Vasilyeva expressed a similar view, emphasizing that cross-cultural collaboration is key to strengthening Indonesia–Russia relations.

“The second day of PERMIRA Winter Camp 2026 proves that Indonesian and Russian youth can become real agents of change in bilateral relations through intellectual collaboration and authentic cultural exchange,” said Yulia.

Following the talk show session, the event continued with workshops and cross-national group work from 11:30 to 13:00. During this session, participants were divided into mixed groups of Indonesian and Russian students to develop collaborative projects, particularly in the fields of education, culture, and technology.

The results of these projects were presented to invited distinguished guests and will be published as recommendations to strengthen relations between the two countries.

Chairperson of PERMIRA Saint Petersburg, Fikria Shaleha, said the event provided valuable experiences for participants.

“We gained many exciting and meaningful experiences on the second day, starting from educational games, expert talk shows, to delicious Indonesian cuisine. These interactions have brought participants from both countries closer together,” she said.

Through a combination of intellectual discussions, creative collaboration, and cultural exchange, PERMIRA Winter Camp 2026 is expected to strengthen Indonesia–Russia friendship and serve as a foundation for future youth collaboration.