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Do Live, “Sholokhov Source”!

During the 8–10 of August, 2017, the Museum-Reserve of M.A.Sholokhov held the II Round of the XVIII International Rally of the Children and Youth Environmental Movement “Sholokhov Source” dedicated to the Year of Ecology in Russia. It was joined by the teams from the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Lugansk People’s Republic, Kabardino-Balkaria, the Volgograd, Voronezh and Rostov regions.

During the years of its work the Movement brought together over 3000 young ecologists from 63 subjects of the Russian Federation and the neighbouring countries. The children who are not indifferent to the fate of the planet arrived at Sholokhov country to visit the places, where the great writer, who made the major contribution into the environment protection, lived and worked, to meet with their adherents and to show their knowledge in the field of environment and literature.

During the rally opening ceremony, the members of the Movement were greeted by T.Y.Turchin, Deputy Director of the Museum-Reserve of M.A.Sholokhov for Environment Protection and Rational Land Use. Each team was given souvenirs from T.Y.Tripoleva, Head of the Vyoshenskaya Settlement Administration.

On the first day of the Rally the teams took part in two theatrical competitions: “ABC of Tastes” and “Land Art “Pearl of Eurasia”. During the competition “ABC of Tastes”, which was held for the first time, the children told about national dishes and made a theatrical presentation of their recipes to the audience. For example, the team of Kazakhstan performed a scene of meeting two writers – Bisen Zhumagaliyev and Mikhail Sholokhov. Accompanied with dombra, a Kazakhstan national musical instrument, a young performer acting as Zhumagaliyev told about cooking a national meat dish traditionally made to entertain dear guests.

On the same day the teams took part in a new competition “Land Art “Pearl of Eurasia”, which took place in the Museum environmental and literary forest park, where a certain plot is designed for each team. A literary component of the forest park is connected with the life and work of the poets and writers who made a great contribution into development of the world literature. Some time, the land art designs presented by the teams will be used to decorate the park.

On the next day the members went on expeditions by the itineraries “Oak of Vyoshenskaya”, “Druids’ Path”, “Flora of Sands”, “Forest Cordon”, “Living Spring”, “Lebyazhy Yar”. The children learned about the wildlife of the region, which was depicted in the works by M.A.Sholokhov, the places, where the writer liked to rest.

Then they toured about the memorial sites of the Museum-Reserve of M.A.Sholokhov, answered the questions of the literary quiz “Sholokhov Geography: from the Origins to the Nobel Triumph”, took part in the contest “Eco-Erudite”. In the evening, in Lebyazhensky Village, there took place an opening ceremony of the field camp called by the members “Sholokhov Artek”. The Rally members were greeted by P.I.Makushkin, Head of the Sholokhov Inter-District Sector of the Forestry Department of the Rostov Region Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The second Rally day ended with a gala concert “We are Attracted by the Forest and Feather Grass…” On the platform set up on the River Don bank the teams performed their literary and theatrical compositions telling about the traditions, customs, history and nature of their country and showed their artistic talents. Then the teams rose to the stage and sang a song about the Movement of “Sholokhov Source” accompanying small candle boats floating along the River Don and making lighted words “Live, Source!” The night sky was illuminated with colourful fireworks. The members of the Movement gathered by the bonfire of Friendship and for a long time shared their impressions and sang songs to the guitar.

On the third Rally day the children competed in boating and tugging, took part in volleyball and ecoorienteering competitions.

At the summing-up meeting the Rally members were greeted by A.V.Abakumov, Head of the Northern Department for the Regional State Environmental Control of the Rostov Region Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The main Cup of “Sholokhov Source” was won by the young ecologists from Nikolayevsk of the Volgograd Region, the second and the third places were gained by the teams from Vyoshenskaya and Kabardino-Balkaria, respectively. The winners were awarded Certificates of Honour, commemorative medals, presents and personal awards and titles.

And as usual, the main award for everyone was the unforgettable impressions of “Sholokhov Source”. The young ecologists look forward to new meetings with their friends and colleagues in the hospitable country of Sholokhov.

Tatyana Balak
Oksana Turchina