ELLEN MORTENSEN
Chief managing editor

    Eight Russian leaders participating in the Open World Program spent Tuesday in Broken Bow, examining youth issues in rural Nebraska.
    The Friendship Force of Lincoln hosted the delegation and traveled with them to Broken Bow. Managed by the independent Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress, Open World is designed to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and the countries of Eurasia and the Baltic States.

The program strives to develop a network of leaders in the region who have gained significant, firsthand exposure to America’s democratic, accountable government and free-market system. One of the delegates, Gennadiy Nikolayev, Deputy Director of Open Forum NGO from Moscow, explained the program and its development.
    “In 1999, a famous Russian scientist decided to organize an exchange where Russians come to America and stay with families, and Americans  go to Russia and stay with families,” explained Nikolayev. “The outcome was incredible.”
    This is the first time to America for these eight Russians. They say when they found out they were coming to Nebraska, they went on line and researched the state.
    “We found out it consists mainly of beef and corn,” said Nikolayev. “After coming here now we would add it is also full of hardworking, friendly people.”
    The group says that while the main focus of their trip is to learn more about the youth programs in America, they are also very interested in agriculture. While in Broken Bow the delegation visited Adams Land & Cattle Co., which they found very impressive.
    “We were very impressed with the size and efficiency of that facility,” said Nikolayev regarding his visit to ALC.
    The group planned to visit Cedars of Central Nebraska before heading to Halsey where they spent the night at the 4-H Camp. Nikolayev says the youth programs in Russia are similar to what he has seen here, but he is impressed with the number of volunteers and the scope of the programs America has to offer.         The delegates hope to be able to apply some of the information they have obtained here back home, when they return to Russia Oct. 14.
    Besides Nikolayev, the delegation included Robert Latypov, deputy director, Senior Manager of Volunteer Division, Center of Youth Democratic Initiatives Support, from Perm Krai; Tatyana Rudenok, head of section, Omsk Region Ministry of Youth Affairs, from Omsk Oblast; Mariya Shchepelina, senior specialist of Culture and Youth Proceedings department, Municipal Education Admin-istration, from Kandalaksha, Murmansk Oblast; Vladislav Ovchinnikov, head, Kemerove State University, Social Work Department, from Kemerovo Oblast; Irina Pantyukhina, chair of council, Center for Development of Volunteerism from Barnaul, Altai Krai; Natalya Shettsel, social program senior specialist from Perm, Perm Krai; Yelena Potapova and Olga Yakovishina from Moscow, facilitators.