The year before, a youth exchange with young people from both cities had already taken place in Salzgitter. Now there was finally to be a reunion in Russia from July 12 to 21. The group was accompanied by two experts from the city of Salzgitter.

The group traveled around 2500 kilometers, approximately 14 hours, by minibus and plane on the Salzgitter-Berlin-Moscow-Voronezh-Stary Oskol route.

The young people were accommodated in host families on site. There was a lot to experience during the ten days of the youth exchange. From the official reception at the Staryj Oskol city administration to a colorful and cheerful get-to-know-each-other program in a youth cultural center, the program included exciting visits to the steelworks, the open-cast mine and a confectionery factory. Cultural and historical highlights also included a visit to the city's newest art museum, a cave monastery in the middle of a picturesque landscape and a visit to the memorial and museum in Prokhorovka.

The young people learned how to bake, fill and decorate original Russian pancakes at the vocational school, where electronic blackboards are now also used, following the example set in Salzgitter. The Russian principal had seen this once during a visit to the German twin town and was impressed. Wherever the group from Salzgitter went, they hoped for further good cooperation with their "friends from Germany".

The project flew by for everyone involved, with working groups and free time together. Grateful and impressed by the numerous experiences, the warm hospitality and the successful organization of the varied program, there were a few tears when it was time to say goodbye.

The city administration of Staryj Oskols expressed a clear desire to continue the youth exchange between the two cities, which was also welcomed by the guests from Salzgitter. So perhaps there will be a continuation of the youth meetings in Salzgitter next year.