HSE Students of Asian and African Studies Accompany Foreign Delegations at the Anniversary Victory Day Parade
In early May 2025, official delegations from across the globe arrived in Moscow to celebrate the anniversary of Victory Day. Volunteers were enlisted to welcome and accompany these distinguished guests. Among the volunteers were students from the bachelor’s programme in Asian and African Studies at the HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs (WEIA): Natalya Kulakova (third-year student), Polina Slobodenko (first-year student), and Anton Klyuev, a 2024 graduate of the same programme and Visiting Lecturer at HSE’s School of Asian Studies.
The volunteers served as interpreters and assistants, ensuring the guests’ visit to the Russian capital was smooth and comfortable.
Natalya Kulakova and Polina Slobodenko worked with a delegation from the People's Republic of China, while Anton Klyuev assisted the Palestinian delegation. The HSE representatives not only provided language support but also participated in the volunteer programme in collaboration with liaison officers from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Anastasia Likhacheva
‘The HSE motto “Not for school, but for life” is more than just a phrase. It reflects our approach to engaging with the world around us. For students, the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice, experience professional life, and witness history being made rather than simply reading about it in the news, is more than interesting. These moments develop your sense of self-understanding, help to see what inspires you and what you truly want to pursue,’ commented Anastasia Likhacheva, Dean of the HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs.
She also noted the importance of gaining professional experience as early as possible, and highlighted that HSE actively provides such opportunities. The Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs considers this a top priority.
‘I heard about the volunteering opportunity through friends. To me, participating in such an event was a chance to gain professional experience, so I was excited to join the volunteer team. I attended a briefing, passed an interview, and was assigned to accompany the delegation from China,’ said Natalya Kulakova.
She went on to explain that her main role involved supporting representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in hosting delegations, primarily at the hotel. ‘What I truly appreciated was the opportunity to observe the process from the inside. It was an invaluable experience working with foreign delegations,’ she remarked.
Prior to the volunteering project, Polina and Natalya had never met. ‘We had no problems working together. Alongside the embassy staff in Moscow, we watched the Victory Day Parade ceremony and explained in detail to the foreign guests what was happening on screen,’ said Polina Slobodenko.
Polina has been studying Chinese for a long time and said she found it fascinating to observe the inner workings of the delegations. ‘The preparation of the motorcades and the reactions of foreign students waiting outside for their delegation’s departure were particularly memorable,’ she explained.
She is confident that such events can help students, especially those in the early years of their studies, to connect with the region where they are studying and gain invaluable experience in high-level intercultural communication. ‘Taking part in these events not only helps students to achieve their professional goals, but also allows them to make a small contribution to commemorating a significant date that holds great importance for our country,’ she added.