Madagascar won the "Our Generation" International Television Competition for Children's Original Song.

      A grand final of the International Television Competition of Children’s Author Song “Our Generation” — one of the largest and most prestigious competitions in the field of children’s musical creativity — took place in Moscow. The victory was claimed by a trio of young singers from Madagascar with the song “Keep Learning” (Fianarana foana).

      Vocalists from 16 countries took part in the final: China, Brazil, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, the United States, Madagascar, Mongolia, Egypt, Armenia, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia and Russia. They all presented original authorial compositions — many of which were written by the young performers themselves or created with their active participation.

      “Our competition brings together talented children from around the world, and every year we see the level of performance skill and the originality of musical works grow,” said Stella Khachanyants, general producer of the ‘Our Generation’ competition. “These children are not only true artists but also authors who reflect sincere emotions and important thoughts in their songs. It is precisely such young creators who shape the future of the musical stage and inspire us to develop the competition. We are proud of each participant and confident that ‘Our Generation’ will continue to support and unearth new names in the world of author song.”

      Preparation for the competition was taken very seriously: the children rehearsed their numbers daily, worked on their image, and consulted with professionals on performance and stage presentation. This approach allowed the young artists not only to represent their country honorably on the international musical stage but also to make professional progress, revealing their creative potential to the fullest.

      During their week in Moscow, the children not only had the chance to see the capital’s main sights and learn more about Russia, but also made new friends. This friendly interaction and creative spirit had a positive effect on their performances in the final — the participants sincerely supported one another on stage. As a result, the sense of competition was hardly felt, while warmth and mutual respect prevailed. The young artists were supported by star hosts — Alsou, Vyacheslav Makarov and young performers Milana Agapeeva, Margo Shvedova and Lyubov Yaskevich — as well as by Khabib, who performed his hit “Oy, kakaya ty!”. Experienced television presenters Anton Zorkin and Lipa Teterich provided professional and substantive commentary throughout the contest.

      As a result of the vote, first place in the competition went to the trio from Madagascar. The performance by Mishella Andriambelomalala (14), Brenda Mamondjisu (13) and Riantsa Andjaratina (13) was highly praised by the professional juries in the participating countries and resonated with viewers around the world. The girls also received the maximum number of points from the Russian jury, which included performers Yulia Kovalchuk, Masha Sheikh, Kirill Turichenko and the young artists Taisia Skomorokhova and Gabriel Alexandrov.

      “This victory is very important for our country. We are glad that we were supported and that our song was appreciated worldwide. It inspires us to continue developing and to give people our songs. Thank you all for believing in us,” the winners shared.

      At the end of the event, the organizers warmly congratulated all the participants, emphasizing their talent and courage. They stressed that each of them is already a true artist and expressed confidence in their professional future.

      “The ‘Our Generation’ competition has become a real platform for creative exchange and friendship among children from different countries,” said Marat Zakirov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Dvizhenie Pervykh. “Each participant performed with dignity, with soul and great love for music. This year representatives of 16 countries confirmed their participation — a vivid testimony that interest in the project is growing and its international status is strengthening. The changing geography of participation is also noticeable, and the performance by a representative of the United States of America is indicative. The work on preparation includes not only the final event but also qualifying rounds in the countries; such a systematic approach leads to a noticeable improvement in the level of performances. Dvizhenie Pervykh has supported this competition as a strategic partner for the third year in a row, because it is important for us to create opportunities where young people can reveal their talents, share culture and find friends around the world.”

      The main organizer and founder of the ‘Our Generation’ competition is the Center for Creative Development “Academy of Contemporary Art.” It is held with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. The strategic partner of the competition is the All‑Russian public‑state movement of children and youth “Dvizhenie Pervykh.” The television partner of the competition is the NTV channel.

      The competition’s information partner is Detckoe Radio (Children’s Radio). International media support is provided by TV BRICS. Competition partners include Konfitreid — a Russian manufacturer of confectionery products in the Candy & Toys category — and Kalinov Rodnik, which supplied the contestants with the children’s water “Kalinov Rodnichok.” The official beauty partner of the competition is the Image Agency “Persona.”

      Recall that the ‘Our Generation’ competition launched in Russia in 2023 under the motto “Music Without Borders” with the aim of revealing the creative potential of children and teenagers aged 9 to 16, as well as promoting the exchange of cultural values among participating countries. In its three years of existence it has not only attracted the attention of the professional community and a wide audience, but has also become a worthy alternative to Junior Eurovision, significantly surpassing it in terms of organization and the quality of contestant preparation. An important condition for participating in ‘Our Generation’ is a live performance of a new composition written by the participant themselves, or one in which they have actively participated in its creation.