From September 15 to 17, 2026, the 5th National Student Days—titled "I Cherish Belarus: I Study Here, I Live Here" (a youth workshop)—took place in Brest, timed to coincide with National Unity Day.
The Belarusian National Technical University was represented by the following students: Grigory Boyarshchikov (2nd year, Faculty of Management Technologies and Humanitarization/FTUG), Kristina Dalidovich (3rd year, FTUG), Pavel Shapovalov (4th year, FTUG), Ulyana Yakimenko (2nd year, Faculty of Mining and Environmental Engineering/FGDIE), Andrey Kurlyanchik (4th year, FGDIE), and Alexander Bukas (3rd year, Faculty of Marketing, Management, and Entrepreneurship/FMMP).
The first day’s program featured the "Experts of Our History" intellectual tournament, where participants answered questions regarding the history and culture of Belarus. In the evening, a walking tour of Brest was organized for the students, allowing them to explore the city's main landmarks.
The highlight of the second day was the official opening ceremony of the National Student Days at the "Brest Hero-Fortress" memorial complex, followed by a flower-laying ceremony at the Eternal Flame. Participants also visited the fortress museums.
Subsequently, workshops were held at the A.S. Pushkin Brest State University. BNTU students took part in an immersive presentation titled "The All-Belarusian 'Spider' [Straw Ornament]: From Christmas Amulet to the Nation's Cultural Code" and created an art piece in a folk arts and crafts workshop. In addition, the "Doctor Clown" volunteer squad held a workshop where participants learned magic tricks and balloon modeling techniques for interacting with children. Concurrently, the "Unity in Action" event management session took place, alongside the collection of entries for the "We Are Together!" photo contest. The evening featured a musical entertainment program and a contest showcasing higher education institutions titled "Our Strength Lies in Unity!"
On National Unity Day, September 17, the Brest Regional Social and Cultural Center hosted a patriotic-themed creative contest called "We Are United!" The large-scale event concluded with a wrap-up session summarizing the action-packed days.
For many young people, the event offered a chance to visit a beautiful Belarusian city and make new friends. Kristina Dalidovich noted that such events foster a sense of patriotism among young people and inspire them to achieve new goals.
"What I remember most about the event is the atmosphere itself—it was very warm, friendly, and truly unifying. I especially enjoyed interacting with young people from different regions of Belarus, meeting new people, and sharing impressions. It was interesting to take part in the various workshop activities, where we could not only listen but also express ourselves. The 5th Republican Student Days—'I Cherish Belarus: I Study Here, I Live Here' (a youth workshop)—left me with vivid, positive emotions. There was a palpable sense of unity and pride in our country, as well as the joy of being surrounded by so many active, talented, and caring young people. These three days were packed with activity and created many pleasant memories that I want to hold onto for a long time. Events like this help you truly feel a connection to your country. When you interact with other young people, learn more about Belarus's history and culture, and participate in shared activities, the experience takes on a whole new meaning." Such meetings foster unity and inspiration, sparking a desire for personal growth and a drive to contribute something meaningful to their country.
BNTU students returned from Brest not empty-handed: they brought back valuable experience and a profound sense of unity with their homeland.
