SCO and BRICS summit volunteers to be trained in three stages

Over 500 volunteers, whose training will require 2.5 million roubles, will be involved in preparing for and hosting the SCO and BRICS summits in Ufa.

Volunteers will have many responsibilities that include accompanying foreign delegations and being in contact with mass media.

The Russia Youth Union, which is responsible for summit volunteer training, has developed a special three-stage training programme.

The distance learning stage will coincide with the application process and will present would-be volunteers with information on SCO and BRICS history and specifics, as well as on the culture and history of participating countries.

Later, from September 2014 to May 2015, full-time training in business communication skills will be held at the School of Business Negotiation and Public Speaking Skills at the Bashkortostan President's Bashkir Academy of State Service and Management. During this period, special training at locations that will accommodate foreign guests will also be held.

Online registration for those wishing to become a volunteer is available at www.volonter2015.rf and will last until 31 October 2014. There is also a social network group at vk.com/volunteer2015 and a hotline reachable at +7 347 266 0150.

Over 1,000 people have applied in the first two days of registration. "We are glad that people have shown such great interest and enthusiasm towards the international events scheduled to take place in Ufa in 2015, and want to participate in them as volunteers. They will start distance learning next week, after which the first selection process will take place," said Gullyariya Yalchikayeva, head of project implementation at the Ufa-2015 SCO BRICS Office Group Autonomous Non-Profit.