State support and the role of volunteering in the life planning of Russian and Belarus students

The article reveals the role of volunteering in shaping the life plans of students in Russia and Belarus. Modern youth policy is aimed at actively and massively involving youth in various volunteer projects. Young people often get their first volunteer experience while studying at a university and it is important to understand how volunteering is included in the life plans of the most active youth groups – students. The authors analyze the results of a sociological survey of thirdyear university students in the Sverdlovsk region (Russia) and the Grodno region (Belarus) conducted in 2024 (N=3000, the sample is quoted by gender and educational profile of respondents). The life plans of Russian and Belarusian youth are studied, the characteristics and motivation of their volunteer activity are revealed. It is proved that Russian students prefer medium-term planning and practically do not use long-term prospects in their life strategies, while Belarusian youth are characterized by short-term planning mainly for the next year. The results of the study prove that the experience of students' volunteer activities has a direct impact on the horizon of their life planning.