‘Big Change’ Youth Contest Wraps in Nizhny Novgorod With Top Awards of 1 Million Rubles

The program, now part of the Youth and Children national project, is positioned as a pipeline for vocational talent.

Overview

President Vladimir Putin greeted finalists in an official message, praising the project for promoting skilled trades, improving instruction in colleges and lyceums, and connecting participants with major employers.
Organizers reported a cumulative reach of more than 7 million people across six seasons, according to Rosmolodezh.
Winners among graduating college students receive 1 million rubles for education or project launch, with 200,000 rubles for prize‑winning graduates and awards of 200,000 and 100,000 rubles for junior‑year winners and runners‑up.
The season ran under the theme “From Dream to Achievements,” which Putin said reflects participants’ drive to realize their potential.
Experts from education, media, sports, science, and entrepreneurship held sessions at the final, while exhibits highlighted partner programs; leading regions by winners included Krasnodar, Kursk, Belgorod, Rostov, Voronezh, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Volgograd, Bashkortostan, and Tomsk.