A promotional project "Choosing a Student Squad" gathered over 150 participants in Vitebsk.

The start of the republican promotional project in the northern region was given at the Regional Institute for the Development of Education. University and college students who can join student squads in the summer gathered here. Young people were invited to interactive platforms where fighters, commissars, and commanders of the squads that worked in 2023 presented their work. Those interested filled out application forms for employment and familiarised themselves with an exhibition of achievements.

"Not only students of Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov (VSU) can join our 'From Dawn Till Dusk' squad. We welcome anyone who has reached the age of 18 to join the squad. There are currently 18 people in it, and we plan to recruit up to 10 more young people," noted Valeria Krot, a third-year student at VSU. "Young people who are interested in working during the summer have gathered here at this meeting. They approach us, inquire about the camps where we work. Perhaps they themselves attended this camp as campers in childhood, and now they have the opportunity to work as counsellors. This evokes nostalgia and pleasant memories for them."

Potential student squad members joined the activities offered at the interactive platforms. In particular, students from Vitebsk State Order of Peoples' Friendship Medical University (VSMU) conducted several master classes. Those interested were shown how to properly apply bandages, measure blood pressure, and were introduced to surgical instruments, among other things.

Each participant shared their personal experience in the student squad movement. Last year, Dmitry Kurets, now a fourth-year student at VSMU, joined it for the first time as part of the medical squad "Heroes of Our Time." "We were in Novopolotsk for the republican medical labour project 'Medicus', working in a hospital. I would like to go again this summer. In general, student squad life offers many new acquaintances and opportunities, not only within the country but also abroad. For example, students from Voronezh State Medical University named after N.N. Burdenko also worked with us," shared the student of the general medicine faculty.

Last year, about 6,000 young people from the Vitebsk region worked as part of student squads. This figure changes annually depending on the number of facilities and positions offered by employers. "Close joint work is being carried out by the regional headquarters and executive authorities with employers and host organisations."