The forum brought together young women from different parts of Belarus in Minsk. It was organized by the youth wing of the Belarusian Women’s Union and the Youth Council under the Council of the Republic. The platform continued an initiative launched in 2025 and was designed to give young women an opportunity to openly discuss issues of concern to them, exchange experience and put forward their own initiatives. «I am confident that these forums will be held on a regular basis. It is very important that the initiative comes from young people,» Natalya Kochanova said.

According to her, an open dialogue between different generations is of great importance. Experienced people can share their life and professional expertise with young people, while young women can raise topics that require special attention.

Family, motherhood and the demographic situation

One of the highlights of the discussion was family and children. Participants asked why, despite state support measures, young people do not always decide to start a family, and asked how to talk to young people about family values without turning such conversations into moralizing.

Natalya Kochanova stressed that young people should be spoken to openly and in a language they understand. She noted that attitudes toward family and children often develop through life experience, when people begin to value their loved ones, children, and grandchildren more deeply. She said, state support measures should be complemented by genuine human communication and the opportunity to see real-life examples of family life.

The participants also raised issues that women may face after having a child, including professional seniority, future pension provision, and the situation of women working in the social and healthcare sphere.

Self-development and education

Another block of questions concerned education, personal and professional development. Natalya Kochanova urged women to continuously improve themselves regardless of their position or chosen profession, stressing the importance of working independently on personal development.

According to her, this is not only about getting a formal degree. Reading, working with literature, broadening one’s horizons, the ability to receive new information and lifelong learning also play an important role.

Natalya Kochanova noted that a person’s professionalism is not determined solely by the number of diplomas they hold. In her words, society should respect people for their knowledge, skills, responsibility, and attitude toward work.

Prestige of labor and skilled professions

Another important issue was the need to raise the prestige of trade jobs and engineering professions. A representative of the machine-building industry asked how young people could be encouraged to take an interest in industry and see the prospects of working in the real sector of the economy.

Natalya Kochanova linked the decline in interest in trade jobs to changes in social attitudes, when parents at a certain point sought primarily to provide their children with higher education. She said the situation is changing today, and the importance of professionals who directly make goods is becoming increasingly evident. 

She stressed that working people should regain due public respect, regardless of whether they work in manufacturing, construction, agriculture or the social sector. «You can have no higher education and still be a highly cultured person. And having several degrees in itself does not define a person,» Natalya Kochanova said. She cited examples of women working in traditionally male-dominated professions, including construction and manufacturing. According to her, such professionals deserve recognition and should be recognized on an equal footing with people from other professions.

Women in the workplace and respect for everyday work

During the discussion, participants also raised the broader issue of society’s attitude toward women’s work. They spoke about women working in construction, industry and agriculture, as well as nurses and other professionals. Natalya Kochanova noted that it is precisely the daily, often unnoticed work of such people that produces results benefiting the whole of society.

According to her, it is particularly important to recognize people who conscientiously do their jobs and tell their stories of achievement, as such examples help foster respect for work among the younger generation.

Women’s health and life circumstances

The participants spoke about professional workloads, motherhood, balancing social roles and situations in which women have to overcome difficult life circumstances.

Natalya Kochanova stressed the importance of human support and compassion. According to her, a person does not always need formal assistance; sometimes it is more important to have an opportunity to talk, be heard and receive support from those around them.

That is why, she believes, women’s organizations, youth associations and public organizations should not only hold events but also remain platforms for genuine communication.

Women’s leadership and the opportunity to be heard

Forum participants also asked about women’s leadership, interaction between young people and older generations, and communication with government bodies.

Natalya Kochanova noted that such meetings are important because they enable young people to communicate directly with government officials, ask questions and receive answers without intermediaries.

She recalled that she herself had repeatedly held similar meetings with women in the regions and stressed that direct dialogue makes it possible to better understand one another’s positions. «When you meet a person, look them in the eye and talk to them, then you can draw your own conclusions,» Natalya Kochanova said.

According to her, young people receive a huge amount of information from the internet, but live communication remains essential for forming their own attitudes toward what is happening.

Initiative and support for one another

In conclusion, Natalya Kochanova urged the participants not to limit themselves to discussing issues at the forum, but to take the ideas and proposals they developed back to their regions. She noted that the forum’s topics are in line with the country’s social and economic development priorities, including demographic security, a comfortable life for citizens and regional development.

She said unity is manifested not only in addressing major national tasks, but also in the willingness to lend a helping hand to a particular person: a woman, a girl or a family facing a difficult situation. «Women’s strength is a great strength,» Natalya Kochanova said. She wished the participants success, fruitful work and the implementation of initiatives developed during the discussions.

The second national youth women’s forum Women’s Energy for a Great Cause was held in Minsk on 23 September, continuing a tradition launched in 2025. In 2026, 200 young women aged 18 to 31 working in the real sector of the economy took part in the forum, along with representatives of government bodies, experts, and public figures.