Today, February 11, a meeting with students of the Belarusian National Technical University was held at the Oktyabr Cinema as part of the national project "Being a Mom is Cool!" in the form of an open dialogue.
For reference: The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Education and the Belarusian Union of Women. Its main goals are to raise students' awareness of the spiritual and moral foundations of family, motherhood, and parenthood, to foster respect for family traditions as the foundation of social and personal stability, and to encourage young people to understand the values of a creative family life.
The event was moderated by Anna Boyko, Chairperson of the Belarusian Union of Women's NGO for the Sovietsky District, Director of the N. A. Kedyshko Minsk State College of Crafts and Design, and BNTU graduate. Other speakers included:
Ksenia Yakushenko, Vice-Rector for Research at BNTU and Chairperson of the Belarusian Union of Women;
Timur Matyushinetz, Vice-Rector for Ideological and Educational Work at BNTU;
Natalia Dergach, Member of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of the eighth convocation and member of the Standing Committee on Healthcare, Physical Education, Family, and Youth Policy;
Oksana Besko, Member of the Minsk City Council of Deputies and Director of the Minsk State College of Finance and Economics;
Oksana Smolskaya, Head of the Department for Ideological and Educational Work of the Center for Ideological Work and Youth Affairs at BNTU, Secretary of the Belarusian Union of Women at BNTU, and mother of many children;
Father Andrian Latushko, Rector of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Minsk;
Father Sergiy Petrovsky, Cleric of the Church of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky in Minsk.
The first half of the event was devoted to screening documentaries. The videos explored the family lives of parents with many children, their experiences raising children, and balancing family life with career development. Visual examples, a warm atmosphere, and a definition of the meaning of life—all of this was present in the videos. They allowed the students to see motherhood and fatherhood from a different perspective, understanding that these social roles are among the most important and significant in modern society.
In the second half of the meeting, those present discussed the content of the videos. The speakers also discussed state support, the spiritual component of the concept of "family," and shared their personal experiences.
Oksana Besko, for example, covered the topic of state social support for large and young families in detail:
"The Republic of Belarus is a welfare state. The largest share of state budget expenditures is related to state social policy. This includes support related to the birth of children, especially in large families. State support begins even before the child is born." From the moment a woman becomes pregnant and registers for maternity leave, she is provided with free medical care. Furthermore, we know that pregnant women do not work until the day they give birth. They are given the opportunity to take time off before the birth, during which they can prepare for this wonderful event in their lives.
Listing social guarantees, the deputy highlighted the provision of one-time payments and a three-year maternity leave, during which the state also makes payments to families, provides preferential loans, and provides vacations.
Natalia Dergach continued the topic of medical care for pregnant women and newborns:
"Children are a gift of fate. But before I tell you how you'll be greeted at the maternity hospital, I'd like to talk about your health. After all, before becoming a mother, you need to take care of your health. And you need to take care of it throughout your life. Early sexual activity, changing partners, and cohabitation are trendy these days. Currently, the average age for marriage in Minsk is 28–28.5 years. And we have our first children at 29." But, dear ladies, please consider the fact that doctors are increasingly acknowledging many cases of infertility. I'd like you to remember: the older a girl or woman gets, the more medical conditions she may have, and the more difficult it is for her to become pregnant.
Natalia Dergach noted that in the country, it is possible to become pregnant through in vitro fertilization, and the first attempt is free. However, it's important to be fully aware of all the health consequences of attempting IVF.
"During pregnancy, a woman who registers before 12 weeks receives benefits. The state supports women from the very beginning. Our country has a well-developed network of maternal and child health care, as well as a well-developed healthcare system, and all medical care is free for both women and children. Pregnant women are monitored according to clinical protocols approved by the Ministry of Health. Women regularly attend antenatal clinics and are under the supervision of a gynecologist until delivery, who conducts certain diagnostic tests on both the child and the woman," added the member of the Standing Committee of the House of Representatives on Health, Physical Education, Family, and Youth Policy.
Spiritual development of both individuals and entire families is just as important as maintaining good health. Andrian Latushko and Sergei Petrovsky discussed spiritual and moral education with female students.
"I was born into a large family and am the father of one. And for us, that's a blessing." You know, we're all happy, and we want to share this happiness. I'd like to talk about ordinary happiness. What does it take to be happy? How can we achieve it? Women's happiness, first and foremost, is found in family. And a family without children is impossible. This is the most important, fundamental aspect," shared Andrian Latushko.
"Spirituality isn't just a word that signifies something sublime, bright, or very good. Spirituality is divinity, because God is Spirit. And the family itself, which we have and which we can create, isn't about what we want or don't want. Family is a divine institution. Family is what God gave us for our happiness, for the development of our humanity," added Sergei Petrovsky.
Young people learn from the examples of the older generation. During the event, Oksana Smolskaya, who is raising three children, shared examples from her own life:
"It's morally and physically easier to have your first child before you're 25." At your age, I also didn't think I'd have three children. But life turned out that way, and I became a mother of three. Parenting and raising children should be approached responsibly. Children are individuals, and it's up to their parents to shape their future.
You should marry and have children out of love. This was the advice Ksenia Yakushenko gave the audience.
"You must cultivate within yourself the personality that will shape your children's personalities. As mothers, you will be the foundation on which your family grows. A man is your strength, your power, your forward movement. But no man, no child, will soar high and far until a woman has her say. I wish you to find a wonderful spouse. May everything be for love. You will meet the man who will be by your side out of love, you will have children out of love, and you will pursue science out of love. And I wish you to be wonderful women," the Vice Rector emphasized.
After the speakers' presentations, the students were invited to ask questions. The girls were interested in and sought advice on both general and personal topics. Some were interested in aspects of government assistance, while others were interested in organizing events and building dialogue with young people.
The event concluded with a speech by Timur Matyushinets. He thanked the students for their attention and the speakers for their time:
"In a family, when it comes to children, the woman plays a greater role. Indeed, those who don't want to make excuses, while those who truly want to find opportunities or create them themselves. The same applies to families and having children. Your desire plays a key role. Where there's desire, there will be opportunities."
Thanks to this informative meeting, BNTU students broadened their understanding of family values, received practical recommendations for combining study, work, and parenthood, and were inspired by real-life examples of large families.
