Head of the Department of Ethnopsychology and a Master's Student Present Reports at the VI Udi Youth Forum in Moscow

On September 6, the VI Udi Youth Forum was held in Moscow. The event brought together Udi from Moscow and the Moscow Region, as well as specialists in Udi culture – linguists, anthropologists, and ethnopsychologists. Reports at the forum were presented by Olga Sergeevna Pavlova, Head of the Department of Ethnopsychology and Psychological Problems of Multicultural Education, Faculty of Social Psychology, MSUPE, and Karina Garyevna Lelari, a student of the Master's program "Cross-Cultural Technologies in Psychological Counseling."

Olga Sergeevna presented some findings from her study of Udi youth ethnopsychology in her report "Ethnic Identity of the Udi in a Multicultural World." In a multicultural society, the Udi face the challenge of preserving their ethnic identity and passing it on to future generations. This necessitates the search for new effective ways and forms of preserving, updating, and transmitting ethnic identity. The focus of her presentation was on the self-presentation strategies of the Udi in a multi-ethnic environment and the factors influencing the stability of ethnic identity among the younger generation.

Karina Garyevna spoke about the possibilities of preserving the Udi language and the ethnopsychological study of the linguistic identity of Udi in Russia.

The Udi are a small – barely more than 11,000 people worldwide – but very ancient Caucasian ethnic group (the Udi and their culture and religion are mentioned in the works of Strabo and Pliny). Currently, more than half of all Udi live in Russia. Preserving the cultural heritage of Russia's small peoples is a crucial task for both specialists and activists from among the representatives of the various ethnic groups of Russia.

The contribution of ethnopsychologists to the preservation of Udi cultural heritage was acknowledged by the forum organizers. In a letter of gratitude, the head of the UdiMedia Center for the Preservation and Development of Udi Culture, Felix Dinchari, expressed gratitude to O.S. Pavlova for her research in the field of Udi ethnopsychology, particularly noting her respect for traditions, attention to cultural diversity, and commitment to mutual understanding. It is precisely such qualities that help strengthen the bond between generations, preserve spiritual values, and create an atmosphere of trust and cooperation.