On May 26, Irkutsk will host Neighbors Day for the first time, a celebration meant to help residents get to know each other better and build good neighborly relations.

As we have already written, on May 26, the “Neighbors’ Day” will be held in Irkutsk for the first time! This holiday is a step toward improving relationships between neighbors in an apartment building. Organizing and holding such a holiday will allow active citizens to find support among the population and establish cooperation with public organizations, authorities, and business structures.
The idea of holding such a day was born in Paris in 1990, when Antanas Perifan and a group of friends from the association “Paris for Friends” decided to organize a celebration for neighbors in the 17th district of Paris. The purpose of the holiday was to unite people living next to one another and to resist the growing isolation in society, in order to jointly implement various projects for the benefit of residents.
And in 2005, 16 countries and 4.5 million people took part in “Neighbors’ Day.” Dublin, Brussels, Geneva, Paris, Luxembourg, Manchester, Lisbon, and Rome participated in the large celebration of neighbors.
In 2007, 7 million people from 725 cities in 28 countries took part in “World Neighbors’ Day” already!
World Neighbors’ Day is celebrated annually on the last Tuesday of May. This year we decided to give Irkutsk residents the opportunity to get acquainted with this holiday. We invite you to cooperate.
The holiday is planned to be held simultaneously in several courtyards of the city, in those places where residents themselves show initiative in organizing it. On May 5, a meeting of the organizing committee was held at the administration of Irkutsk, attended by the event organizers: the Administration of the City of Irkutsk in partnership with the Irkutsk city branch of the public organization “All-Russian Council of Local Self-Government,” the studio of creative ideas “Postscriptum,” the educational project for the public “School of Active Citizens,” representatives of management companies, and active citizens who expressed a desire to organize the holiday in their courtyards. Representatives of youth organizations and representatives of the trade union committees of universities were also present at the meeting, and they expressed readiness to involve young people in the celebration of “Neighbors’ Day.” Various formats for holding the holiday were proposed by them. Thus, students of ISU proposed holding, on the basis of their dormitory, a dubbing contest for cartoons using an overhead projector. The chairman of the student trade union committee of IRGUPS, Egor Tursky, proposed holding sporting events. Active citizens also suggested a ceremonial opening of “Neighbors’ Day” by hanging a painting in the entrance hall, inviting performers, and much more.
Activists of the “School of Active Citizens” even shared their experience of holding neighborhood-wide holidays. It turns out they still exist in Irkutsk! The Novoleninsky district TOS, for example, congratulated, as an entire courtyard, a neighboring couple on their golden wedding anniversary, having lived together for 50 years.
At this meeting, people had the opportunity to learn more about the event, offer their ideas, and join forces with those who strive to make our city better.
During the meeting, one of the organizing committee participants, Vladimir Dmitrevich Ryzhenkov, even composed a poem dedicated to “World Neighbors’ Day.”

Since May 26, 2009 - World Neighbors’ Day, a holiday of good neighborliness!
To live in harmony, to trust your neighbors,
And to avoid quarrels and disputes more easily!
But a clear mind takes the lead:
It does not let conflicts run wild!
Oh, wise ones! Settle your neighbors’ disputes!
Have mercy and forgive their sins!
And give all neighbors advice:
Live and don’t be sad!
Do not bother anyone!
Do not judge anyone!
Honor old age and love children!
And for that - a bow to you from the earth!
We invite you not to stand aside either! Anyone can organize Neighbors’ Day - the main thing is the desire!
Additional information can be obtained by phone:
89025111710 – Shadkhina Anna, studio of creative ideas “Postscriptum”
89648227081 – Pavlenok Daria, studio of creative ideas “Postscriptum”
24-26-24 – Public Relations Department of the Administration of Irkutsk