Exeter Yaroslavl Twinning Association
Upcoming Events
Monthly Meet Up
07 June 2022
14:00 - 16:00
Museum Cafe, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter
Committee Meeting
09 June 2022
19:00 - 21:00
Combined On-line Meeting or face to face
We welcome people who are willing to be co-opted onto our committee as additional members
Russian Language Conversation Group
20 June 2022
14:30 - 16:00
On-Line
Leader:
Nataliya: Russian member
Topic: Favourite Agatha Christie or Conan Doyle story. Or other topic that interests you.
On-Line Exeter and Yaroslavl Social Meeting
28 June 2022
17:00 - 18:30
Discussion and cultural activities from Exeter and Yaroslavl
Annual General Meeting
October 2022
Details to be announced nearer the time
Russian Xmas Fayre
10 December 2022
10:00 - 13:00
St Stephen's Church
High Street
EXETER
EX4 3LW
Russian Xmas Dinner
January 2023
To be arranged
Twinning visits to Yaroslavl and fromYaroslavl to Exeter
None currently planned
Our YouTube Channel
Working in cooperation with
Exeter City Council
Exeter Yaroslavl News
Exeter - Yaroslavl People to People on-line Meetings:
4th Tuesday p.m. Each Month
.jpeg "Screen shot from our Exeter Yaroslavl Zoom meeting 22 March 2022")
Currently the civic link between Exeter and Yaroslavl is suspended. However, we are continuing to meet with people in Yaroslavl on the Fourth Tuesday each month at 17:00 pm UK
We avoid political discussion, our aim to maintain dialogue with friends we have mad over the years.
New participants are welcome.
An invitation goes out to our members each month. Members who cannot participate can tell us about particular questions they would like asked. Planned future dates 28 Jun, 26 Jul, 23 Aug, 27 Sep, 25 Oct, 22 Nov, 27 Dec 2022
If you have not your received invitation, or are a non-member who would like to join in please ask.
Ukraine
The Ukraine situation is desperate. Many Russian people are opposed the war and some have even expressed this on social media. It requires a degree of courage to express openly a contrary political opinion in Russia.
We think that it is important that we maintain contact with our Russian friends, who are ordinary people like us. We are continuing our regular on-line meetings with them, but we are not planning any exchange visits at present.
If there is anything that you think we should be doing please let us know. The situation is fast evolving but we will let you know of any changes or new policies for our association.
Russian Xmas Fayre 10 December 2022
Our 2021 Russian Xmas at St Stephen's Church, High Street, Exeter was a great success. This was a result of thorough planning and hard work by the volunteers on the day. Even after premises hire and other incidental costs we achieved a substantial contribution to our funds.
We have booked the same venue for our Russian Xmas Fayre on 10 December 2022
However, our 2021 success means that we now need to rebuild our stocks. In particularly short of Russian goods and wondered if anyone going to Yaroslavl during the course of the year would be kind enough to transport some items back to Exeter for us. We would, of course, cover the purchase cost. If anyone thinks they might be able to help, please could you contact via Joyce Burgess .
Similarly, if you are tidying up or clearing out during the year, please do let us know if there is anything (books, bric-à-brac, jewellery, Russian goods) that might be suitable for sale. We can arrange collection if necessary.
Russian Conversation Group: 3rd Monday Each Month
We hold our Russian Conversation Group on 3rd Monday of each month at 14:30. It is led by one of Russian members, normally Nataliya. Next Russian Conversation Group:
People of any standard in Russian are welcome. We decide suggested discussion topics in advance, so that members can prepare for the topic. However, anyone can introduce any topic of interest to them. It's an excellent opportunity to listen to and practice speaking Russian, with the help of a Russian speaker.
It is also a good opportunity to learn about Russian culture and traditions. Being on Zoom is helpful to those members who do not live in Exeter, although anyone without Zoom can attend at the home of someone who has.
Dates for 2022: Jun 20, Jul 18, Aug 15, Sep 19, Oct 17, Nov 21, Dec 19 2022 02:30 PM
We send out a reminder invitation to our regular participants. For more information please contact us
Line of Life - Video Project by Veronica Makarenkova, Orphanage 'Solnechny', Yaroslavl, Russia
.jpg "Young people at Solnechny Orphanage listen to Vera Nikolaevna's account")
Veronica Makarenkova of orphanage 'Solnechny' (Sunny) in Yaroslavl has produced this video project about Vera Nikolaevna Brovkina who as a child lived through the blockade of Leningrad (now St Petersburg). Vera talks to children from the orphanage about how life was for ordinary people during the blockade.
The project is in Russian language but with English language subtitles. It provides a valuable insight into life in Russia at that time and an opportunity for those learning Russian to hear authentic dialogue. Presentation here.
This presentation was also shown at on of our regular monthly on-line meetings which are hosted by Coventry and Volgograd Bond of Friendship Committee. A number of UK and Russian cities participate, with a wide range of topics covered. For further information please contact us
2022 Competition for Young People in Exeter and Devon
For 25 years Exeter’s twin city in Russia, Yaroslavl, has been hosting an English language essay competition for students. For the second year they are opening the competition to students and young people in Exeter and Devon. This is an exciting opportunity for students to connect with people from another society and culture. It is also an excellent chance to build your research skills and have your work assessed by a panel of teachers in Russia. All participants will be awarded a diploma by the city authorities in Russia, and the very best projects will receive prizes. There are two classes: Entries written in the Russian language and entries written in English.
Further information is here, or if you have any questions about the contest please email: victoriafurtado@exe-coll.ac.uk
Meet-Up in RAM Museum: First Tuesday of Every Month
Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Queen Street, Exeter has reopened, including the cafe. To ensure that people are spread out they are using the central / well area as well as the cafe itself. We have resumed our regular meet-ups in the cafe, first Tuesday, each month from 14:00 to 16:00 p.m.
Further meeting dates: 7 Jun, 5 Jul, 2 Aug, 6 Sept, 4 Oct, 1 Nov, 6 Dec 2022
Please note that we have to use the Garden Entrance. Queen Street is now the exit. Covid precautions apply, including mask wearing at the counter. We look forward to seeing you at the museum.
For further information please contact us
You can read about visiting the museum in English or на русском языке
Russian version was produced with the help of our member Elena Coles
Sketches from a Quaker’s Moscow Journal
"Sketches from a Quaker’s Moscow Journal" is a new book published by our member Patricia Cockerell. Her book describes how she was a teacher of Russian in Exeter and was involved in our association from its foundation. She established an early school exchange and then was awarded a grant to establish a hospice in Yaroslavl.
She retrained in conflict management, mediation, diplomacy and other skills and in 1993 was appointed to represent Quakers in Russia and to work with others to establish a Friends House in Moscow.
At a time of challenging social unrest, she lived in Moscow and travelled widely from the Caucasus to the Arctic working on Quaker concerns for peaceful relationships and for the sick, the vulnerable and victims of violence and war.
All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to Friends House Moscow. It is readily available from book-sellers and can be ordered on line from Amazon and Waterstones.
A flyer about Patricia's book is available here
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© Copyright: Exeter Yaroslavl Twinning Association 2014 - 2022