5th Russian Congress for Persons with Disabilities over 18 years old

In the heart of Russia, where Europe and Asia, West and East meet, lies the multicultural, multinational and multi-confessional Republic of Tatarstan. Despite the fact that Islam is the predominant religion and the majority of the population is Tatar, it is here that you can really see how people have lived together for many generations, respecting the traditions and beliefs of other nationalities. Today there are 173 ethnic groups in Tatarstan.

In today’s world, when we see the separation of people all over the world, it was decided to hold the 5th Russian Congress for Persons with Disabilities in Kazan, Tatarstan. Kazan is the third capital of Russia, “the biggest of the old and the oldest of the big cities of Russia”. The power of this place lies in unity, in meeting, in acceptance. So it was decided to name the theme of the Congress “Acceptance”.

The Congress was held from 3 to 5 November and more than 100 variously impaired participants came from all over Russia and beyond, such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Ekaterinburg, Tyumen, Samara, Ryazan, Ufa and others. Initiator of Worldwide Congresses for Persons with Disabilities since 1999 and idea inspirer Thomas Kraus came from Germany at these difficult times to renew and fortify bridges between countries!

The congress was held at the Kazan Federal University, the second oldest university in Russia, in the centre of the city. It was said that it is impossible to hold such a congress nowadays, but despite all the difficulties in the process of organising it, as the participants wrote: “the congress was very meaningful, heartfelt, human and simply amazing”. There was an atmosphere of unity.

It was impossible and not even necessary to understand which of the participants was a person with a disability and which was an accompanying person. The value was in the unity, in the fact that everyone was heard and seen. Everyone had the opportunity to express themselves, to present their activities, to make new contacts. In less than a month after the congress, several joint projects of great importance for the country and even for the world have already emerged.

There were presentations from organisations, motivating personal stories, creative numbers and projects. There was also a city tour to the Old Tatar Sloboda, the historical centre of the city. Participants were immersed in the culture of the Tatar people, dancing national dances, drinking Tatar tea with local delicacies. Participants received diverse gifts from T-shirts to chak-chaks.

After such a rich and authentic event, many participants expressed the desire to organise Congresses in their own cities.

Kazan, December 2023