OSCE Programme Office supports annual youth camp in Kazakhstan
ASTANA, 17 October 2015 – The implementation of youth-oriented policies, the promotion of sustainable development and youth empowerment are the focus of the sixth annual two-day “Zhas (Youth) Camp” that began today in Astana, Kazakhstan.
It is the second in a series of three weekend camps held in October that were co-organized by the Youth Information Service of Kazakhstan and the OSCE Programme office in Astana with support from the Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
The Astana camp attracted some 150 representatives of local authorities, civil society, the business community, academia and young activists from northern and central regions of the country. Local and international experts from Kyrgyzstan, Poland, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States will lead interactive workshops and panel discussions, most notably on leadership, local self-governance, environmental protection and successful implementation of social and business projects.
The key topics include transparency and effectiveness of public youth councils, problems of consumerism culture and values connected to an eco-friendly lifestyle. The emerging leaders will also examine the role of youth in politics and civic engagement, the provision of public services in urban areas and social entrepreneurship.
“The OSCE consistently engages young people in the debates on transnational security threats thus encouraging them to come up with innovative approaches and creative solutions to meet new and old challenges,” said Natalia Zarudna, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana. “The purpose of these efforts is to enable young leaders to take destiny into their own hands and assume responsibility for the development of their countries and their regions in the spirit of mutual trust, respect and co-operation.”
Irina Mednikova, Director of Youth Information Service of Kazakhstan Public Foundation said: “We must focus on the needs of young people and urge state institutions to treat them as partners and not just as objects of national policies. The youth should play a bigger role in decision-making and the implementation of key public initiatives.”
As a result of the discussions, participants will develop a set of recommendations for the Ministry of Education and Science, in particular concerning the promotion of the work of public youth councils. They will also review some ideas for social projects coined at the previous ZhasCamp meeting in Shymkent to be implemented in co-operation with the Youth Information Service in 2016.
This year, reaching a larger number of youngsters nationwide, ZhasCamp left its traditional venue in Almaty. Three consecutive events in Shymkent, southern Kazakhstan, Astana and Aktau, western Kazakhstan, are expected to bring together over 400 young and active people who will generate ideas, share values and put forth various initiatives.
The event is part of the Office’s long-term efforts to support youth empowerment and involvement in the decision-making process in the host country in line with priority of the Swiss and Serbian Chairmanships.