Nukher gathers friends International workcamp in Buryatia Fostering pacific cohabitation, harmonious multiculturalism, and sustainable development are the main challenges facing the regions of Russia today. It is particularly important to involve Russian linguistic and cultural minorities in the activities aimed at protection of and fostering their rights at international, national, and local levels. Effective participation of these communities in such activities can result in better management of the area's human, social, and economic resources as well as better control of local government actions in order to guarantee equal rights and non-discrimination for all. The efforts to promote autochthonous languages and strengthening civil societies should strive to increase the relationships between democracy and national identity, promote tolerance, set up educational systems that disseminate messages of pacific cohabitation and mutual understanding, and implement policies that stimulate local development. The project “Nukher gathers friends” aimed to inform the people of the Republic of Buryatia of their human rights as well as linguistic and cultural rights. International workcamp “Nukher gathers friends” took place in Khori and Eravna regions of the Republic of Buryatia and in Ulan-Ude from 10 to 31 August 2008. Aims of the project were: • to promote human rights education in Buryatia; • to raise awareness on linguistic and cultural rights of minorities; • to promote intercultural dialogue; • to contribute to the overcoming of isolation of young Buryat villagers and their inclusion into global democratic processes. Within the framework of the project exhibition on HR and HR presentations were presented to the youth in Buryat villages. In order to promote Buryat language “Terminator 2” in Buryat translation was shown in Buryat villages as a part of HR presentations. The volunteers prepared a drama presentation on HR – a fairy tale that was shown to children in a summer camp near Sosnovoozerskoe in Eravna region. There were discussions on HR in Uldurga and Sosnovoozersk during Teachers' Conference (5 discussions) (Eravna region), creative presentation on HR for children in a summer camp, as well as 2 discussions, a game from the Compass and a film show with students of the Buryat State University (Ulan-Ude). International volunteers were able to learn Buryat culture via communication with local inhabitants and project participants. Local people, eager to share with the participants their traditions and culture organized quite a stuffed program of visits. We think that we managed to give to foreign volunteers an excurse to Buryat culture and to make friends with citizens of Buryat villages. Intercultural evenings were organized within the framework of the exhibition and there we tried to find ways to present the issue of HR to local people. In sum, we think that the goals of the workcamp were reached and we did a lot in promoting HR in the region. People in the regions were able not only to see the exhibition on HR but also films that are impossible to see in cinemas, such as “Square” about political situation in Belarus, a French documentary “Kursk. Submarine in troubled waters”, and “Terminator 2” in Buryat. Though many other tangible outcomes of the project might not be seen at the moment, in fact, despite all the problems it was a real breakthrough being the first project in HR promotion in Buryatia.