International Scientific and Practical Symposium "Transforming Society: new directions and models of social development" Time - 8-10 June 2015. Venue - Yakutsk The organizers - the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Russian public organization "Union of social pedagogues and social workers," Yakutia regional branch SSOPiR, Ministry of Labour and Social Development of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The main purpose of the event - to discuss issues related to the new legislation on social services in Russia, drawing attention to the development of social services, including social work and social services of the Far North and the Arctic and Asia- Pacific regions, the exchange of experience between experts from different regions Russia and from abroad. Members and guests - specialists of social sphere of the Far East and Siberian Federal Distrist, representatives of the Public Council of the Ministry of Labour of Russia, the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, Council for the Disabled Russian-Chinese Committee of peace, friendship and development, the National Centre for Disability, Charity Foundation of Timchenko, the company "Business Russia", "Ortomoda", "Effecton" etc. Foreign participants - specialists of social sphere of China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Singapore, the UK and Italy. Representatives of the Council of Europe (Strasbourg) are also invited. Symposium timed to a social worker Day in Russia. The celebration of the Day for the first time organized by the Union of social pedagogues and social workers and the Yakutia branch of the Union for social workers operating in the harsh conditions of the Far North and the Arctic, in the area of the permafrost. The symposium will allow a large number of experts from the most remote corners of Yakutia to meet colleagues from other regions, with experts from abroad. Russian speakers who has confirmed their participation Dr Dashkina Antonina - President of Union of social pedagogues and social workers (Moscow) Sutormina Elena, First Vice President of the International Public Foundation "Russian Peace Foundation", chairman of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on the development of public diplomacy (Moscow) Topoleva -Soldunova Elena, chairman of the Public Council of the Ministry of Labor, member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation ( Moscow) Rybal'chenko Sergey I., chairman of the Committee on Social Policy, Public organization "Business Russia", a member of the Public Council of the Ministry of Labour (Moscow) Sidnev Alexey - CEO Senior Group, chairman of the Association of Private service providers for the elderly "The world of the older generation" ( Moscow ) Dr Lysenko Alexander E. - Expert on Disability ONF, a member of the Federal Council of interbranch Russian public organization "Business Russia", the expert of the Analytical Centre of the Government of the Russia (Moscow). Dr Igor V. Arkhipov - Director of Scientific and Technical Center for Gerontology, Vice-President of the Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics of the Russian Federation (Moscow) Foreign speakers who confirmed their participation (with representatives from China, Japan and Korea the discussion is underway) Dr Fabio Casati, professor of engineering and computer information of the University of Trento, (Italy). Tony Widmer, director of the Russian-European Fund for social reforms (UK), Member of the Board SSOPiR (UK) We welcome all people who would like to participate and speak at this event Logistic of the event Arrival in Yakutsk – 6- 7 June 2015 (the planes to Yakutsk from abroad can be taken via Moscow, Seoul, Peking, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk ) June 8 - participation in the celebration of a social worker Day with the presentations of leading experts - guests of Symposium/ The number of participants appr. 600 people. June 9 – workshops on the themes of the Symposium 1. "Social well-being of older people" (facilitator - Fabio Casati) 2. "Public-private partnership in the social sphere as a way of improving the quality of social services to the population" (facilitator - Rybal'chenko SI) 3. "The Role of NGOs in the development of social services for vulnerable groups" (facilitator – Topoleva -Soldunova EA) 4. "Federal, regional and international social programs for people with disabilities" (facilitator – Tony Widmer, Lysenko AE) June 10 - workshops and master classes on the ship for social workers and older people representing NGOs of Yakutia. Master classes will be held on the ship as part of the tour on the "Lena Pillars" (stay on the boat - two nights - June 9 and 10. Return to Yakutsk on June 11 in the morning) June 11 - summarizing the results of Symposium, meeting with the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Development of the Republic, visiting institutions. June 12 – return home Information about Yakutia Geographical situation The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) occupies most of the Northeastern part of the Asian continent. It extends 2000 kilometers from north to south and 2500 kilometers from east to west. It occupies an area of 3 103 200 square kilometers forming 1/5 of the territory of Russia. The territory of Yakutia is larger then the territories of France, Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden, UK, Finland, and Greece put together. The Novosibirskie Ostrova and some other Arctic islands are part of the territory of the Republic. More then 40 per cent of the territory is above the Arctic Circle. There are three time zones – six, seven, and eight hours ahead of Moscow. The capital of the Republic – Yakutsk – is 6875 kilometers from Moscow and 1814 kilometers from Vladivostok. The difference between Yakutsk and Greenwich time is 8 hours. Yakutia is rich in natural contrasts. The climate is sharply continental with a range in temperature from +40 C in the summer to -60 in the winter. The Pole of Cold (the absolute coldest point of the Northern Hemisphere) is situated in Yakutia where a record negative temperature of -71.2 ° C was recorded. Winter in Yakutia is continuously cold but with little snow accumulation, while the summer is short and dry with high temperatures prevailing through most of the territory during this time. Also the Air is fresh and clean. During winter, the low altitude of the Sun determines a short day over most of the territory of Yakutia. The Polar Nights begin on the territory which is above the Arctic Circle. The Sun seems to forget about that area. Darkness and twilight take charge for several months. Some nights are lit up by the Aurora Borealis, the natural phenomenon that can only be observed along the latitudes occupied by this territory. Due to the comparatively high altitude of the Sun, and the dryness and clarity of the air, summers are mostly sunny; the Polar Days begin. A day can last up to 20 hours along the latitude of Yakutsk, while farther North, the Sun never drops below the horizon. Almost the entire territory of Yakutia is located in the continuous permafrost zone. During the summer the upper layer of soil thaws to a depth of about 3.5 meters. Numerous well-preserved remnants of pre-historic giant animals have been found in Yakutia. The largest permafrost area in the world of 1500 meters lies in the Western part of Yakutia. The phenomenon of permafrost is studied at the Permafrost Institute and its sub-terrain laboratory, here in Yakutsk. The name for the multinational republic comes from the name of its indigenous people, the Yakut. The Yakut formed an ethnic unity comparatively late, when Tungus- Manchurian herdsmen had already settled on that territory. Living on the land with severe climate conditions, the Yakut formed an ethnic unity with one language, and called themselves sakha. Tungus-Evenk people used to name the Yakuts “Yako” and transferred this pronunciation to Russians whom they met before the Yakut. Russians named the Yakut yakolskiye people. Gradually phonetic changes formed the modern name of the nation. Yakutsk is the capital of the Republic. It is the oldest city on Yakut territory. It was established in 1632. A quarter of the entire population of the Republic lives in Yakutsk. The population of the whole republic is under one million people. Yakutsk is the governmental, scientific, and cultural centre of the Republic. Excellent theatres, museums, modern art galleries, top sport arenas, all welcome visitors. Yakutia is very rich with diamonds, oil, fish, fur and many other treasures of the nature. Lena's Pillars which the participants of the Symposium will visit are a natural rock formation, which was made a World Heritage site in 2006. Numerous fossils and ancient organisms can be found at these pillars, and the area is important for its fossil record of the explosion of life in the lower Cambrian. It has also been the site of many mega-fauna fossils such as mammoth (Mammulhus primigenius Blum), bison (Bison priscus Boj), fleecy rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiguibatis Blum), Lena horse (Eggus lenensis Russ), and Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L). Evidence of ancient human life can be seen from the rock paintings and manuscripts from the area. About Symposium again The Union of social workers of Russia has a very strong branch in this remote area of our country. The symposium in this area of Russia will be very important for our international guests because not many people know how social workers can deliver services to vulnerable people during very severe winter which lasts for 8 months Our symposium will take place in June when summer comes to this beautiful land. You are all welcome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .