Tsapleva Anna Vasilievna

When people talk about public diplomacy, they most often think of negotiations, agreements and official visits. But in the story of the winner of the “Leaders of Public Diplomacy” competition, Anna Tsapleva, everything begins with something else - with children’s friendship, sincere conversation and art that knows no boundaries.

Anna Tsapleva is the author and director of the international project Territory for the Development of Children and Youth Diplomacy “Formula of Friendship”, which since 2019 has united children and teenagers from different countries, cultures and nationalities. The project has no end date: it lives, expands, acquires new programs and initiatives, turning into a sustainable model of public diplomacy, built through trust, joint creativity and human relations.

Formula of Friendship Without Borders

The goal of the Formula of Friendship project is to develop in children and youth the ability to make friends and value friendship, the development of mutual understanding and trust, respect for the cultures and traditions of different peoples, as well as education active citizenship. All this, according to Anna Tsapleva, directly contributes to the strengthening of peace and stability.

In just a few years, the project has become truly international. Among his initiatives are the literary competition “Fairytale Dream”, in which more than 100 children from Russia, Uzbekistan, Finland and Belarus took part; online quiz “Cities United by Friendship”between schools in the sister cities of St. Petersburg and Mariupol; organizing the signing of friendship agreements between schools and kindergartens in these cities.

One of the brightest events was the organization of a qualifying competition among creative groups in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). The winners were invited to perform at the Kremlin Palace, and one of the winners opened the Scarlet Sails holiday in St. Petersburg. The project also acted as a co-organizer and participant in the Children of Russia festivals in the Kremlin.

“I Draw the World”: Art as the Language of Diplomacy

A special place in Anna Tsapleva’s work is occupied by the art competition“I Draw the World”, which began with the DPR and over time grew into an international exhibition of children's creativity. More than 200 children from Russia, Finland, Belarus and Yemen took part in the competition.

The exhibition brought together more than 100 children's works from six countries and was shown in galleries and creative centers in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. A story about the project was published on Channel One. In 2026, the exhibition will travel to Belarus and the DPR.

The project produced not only quantitative, but also qualitative results. He demonstrated how art becomes a universal language, breaking down political and cultural barriers, formed an international children's community and a virtual space for dialogue; and also created symbols-ambassadors of friendship - "Sunny Boy Vysya" and "Girl Planet Rusya".

When an idea becomes a movement

Another powerful unifying element was the Anthem of the Children of Russia, performed by thousands of children on the stage of the Kremlin Palace. More than a thousand children found friends in kindergartens, schools and creative groups. Over the years, the project has visited more than 27 cities, united over 50 schools and more than 2000 children, turning from a local initiative into a large-scale movement with a self-developing community and strong emotional resonance.

New horizons: projects of 2025

In 2025, Anna Tsapleva launched new international initiatives.

One of them is the documentary film Unity of Hearts, a social project that tells about the lives of children on different continents - from megacities to isolated communities such as the island of Socotra. Through candid interviews with children, the film speaks to the language of universal human feelings, showing that the dreams, fears and hopes of children around the world are remarkably similar.

Another project is the International True Friend Award, aimed at strengthening sincere human relationships, supporting mutual assistance and promoting the values ​​of friendship, tolerance and intercultural dialogue. The award is designed to motivate young people to participate in projects that strengthen peace and mutual understanding.

Leadership as responsibility

For Anna Tsapleva, leadership is the ability to set goals, take responsibility, lead, create conditions for team growth and do this with honor, care and a clear view of the future. They don’t follow a leader because they are ordered to, they follow him because they believe.

As a member of the Assembly of the People of the World (ANM) and a laureate of the competition, Anna Tsapleva is open to cooperation and considers it important to support the AMN and the “Leaders of Public Diplomacy” competition in the development of new initiatives, including the “True Friend” award, where personal human stories can become the basis for friendship between peoples.

Useful links

Project “Formula of Friendship”: VK: https://vk.com/vysya2019
Documentary film "Unity of Hearts": Telegram - https://t.me/UNITY_OF_HEARTS_film
International True Friend Award: Telegram - https://t.me/A_true_friend

Contacts of Anna Tsapleva
Phone: +7 (911) 773-46-33
E-mail: 9117734633@mail.ru
VK - https://vk.com/ts_anna