Olga Bazelyuk

Olga Bazelyuk is the founder and director of the “Peace. We and Russia” teen club in Tunisia. Within this platform, young people from mixed Russian-Tunisian families and expatriate backgrounds serve not merely as passive listeners, but as architects of intercultural dialogue.

From Observers to Creators

The “Peace. We and Russia” club brings together teenagers aged 10 to 18 who are fluent in Russian. Olga’s key methodology lies in empowering the participants themselves to take the initiative. The children do not merely attend events; they independently conceive, develop, and implement projects under the gentle guidance of a mentor.

Recent club initiatives have vividly demonstrated the success of this model: an in-depth study of the Rurik dynasty followed by the production and public performance of a puppet show, as well as the independent conducting of interviews with participants of the international “Bizerte Readings” conference and the creation of a comprehensive, professional video report. Thanks to this approach, teenagers transform from ordinary participants into confident young leaders capable of presenting their ideas on an international stage.

The Innovative Project “Russia with the World”

One of Olga’s most ambitious and unique achievements is the launch of the “Russia with the World” project. Its concept revolves around creating a network of multimedia audio guides to sites of Russian historical heritage in Tunisia. The defining feature is that the tours are narrated in the voices of the teenagers themselves.

The routes cover iconic locations: the Russian Church in Bizerte, memorial sites of the first Russian squadrons, and traces of Russian artists' stays. The audio guides are produced in four languages (Russian, Arabic, French, and English) and published on popular internet platforms. This project has high scalability potential: Olga is already inviting teenagers from other countries with preserved Russian cultural heritage to record similar tours. Thus, a local initiative is transforming into an element of a global cultural exchange network.

Integration into the Community's Cultural Code

The club's activities are organically woven into the life of the local compatriot community. The teenagers take active and visible roles in key events, such as National Unity Day and the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture, allowing them to feel their connection to a broader cultural space.

The success and sustainability of the initiative are ensured by strong partnerships. The club operates with the support of the Russian House of Science and Culture in Tunisia, and relies on cooperation with three key organizations: the “Russian Heritage” association, the Tunisian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the “Vestnik sootechestvennikov v Tunise” (Herald of Compatriots in Tunisia) publication. This collaboration aids in event organization, the creation of high-quality media content, and the informational promotion of the club's ideas.

Philosophy of Leadership

Olga Bazelyuk’s leadership philosophy is built on creating a safe environment where a child can unlock their potential. She firmly believes that the main task is not to teach a child to recite facts about Russia by rote, but to help them realize that they themselves are the very living bridge between two nations.

Looking to the Future: A Global Network of Young Ambassadors

Olga envisions the development of her project through the formation of an international network where teenagers from different corners of the world will become the voices of Russian cultural heritage in their respective countries. She strives to raise a generation that knows how to speak articulately, is not afraid of public speaking, and is ready to build bridges of friendship. For her, the “Peace. We and Russia” project is a model of the world we want to live in—a world where every person can be not just an observer, but an active creator of intercultural dialogue.