Organization for Security and Co-operation in EuropeOSCE Office in Baku
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Photo story: Promoting active citizenship for Azerbaijani youth
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Successful activism requires particular skills such as how to run a campaign, how to build a network and how to mobilize people. As part of its efforts to promote political pluralism the OSCE Office in Baku hosted a four-day workshop on 6-10 May for 26 Azerbaijani youth activists to share their experiences and learn new organizing strategies.
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Photo 1 of 6“We felt that it was crucial to offer this type of training and support to young people, including the opportunity to network with each other, as youth in Azerbaijan become more active in a political life of the country,” says Jacqueline Carpenter, the Head of the Democratization Unit at the Office in Baku. The workshop brought together political activists, journalists and members of non-governmental organizations. They attended training sessions on public advocacy, increasing women's public participation, networking and coalition-building. The youth activists also learned new team-building techniques and had the opportunity to run their own mini-campaigns. (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev) -
![Polish campaign consultant Sergiusz Trzeciak talked about campaigning in print and on the web. "My idea was to bring some Polish experiences here," he says. "I wanted to show how these could be applied across the board."
To do this, he had students sort through dozens of Polish campaign flyers to analyse what elements are most effective. He also offered ideas for online networking and evaluated participants' websites.
"It was interesting to learn from the Polish experience," says participant Jeyhun Atayev, who works for anti-corruption NGO Transparency International. "I tried not to just copy, but to apply my own experiences." (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev)](http://www.osce.org/files/imagecache/gallery_thumbnail/images/hires/2/d/78515.jpg?1307526570 "Polish campaign consultant Sergiusz Trzeciak talked about campaigning in print and on the web. "My idea was to bring some Polish experiences here," he says. "I wanted to show how these could be applied across the board."
To do this, he had students sort through dozens of Polish campaign flyers to analyse what elements are most effective. He also offered ideas for online networking and evaluated participants' websites.
"It was interesting to learn from the Polish experience," says participant Jeyhun Atayev, who works for anti-corruption NGO Transparency International. "I tried not to just copy, but to apply my own experiences." (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev)")
Photo 2 of 6Polish campaign consultant Sergiusz Trzeciak talked about campaigning in print and on the web. "My idea was to bring some Polish experiences here," he says. "I wanted to show how these could be applied across the board." To do this, he had students sort through dozens of Polish campaign flyers to analyse what elements are most effective. He also offered ideas for online networking and evaluated participants' websites. "It was interesting to learn from the Polish experience," says participant Jeyhun Atayev, who works for anti-corruption NGO Transparency International. "I tried not to just copy, but to apply my own experiences." (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev) -
Photo 3 of 6Three local experts were also invited to offer insight into the particular challenges of Azerbaijan. They discussed how to establish civic and political groups, including student and political youth organizations, coalitions, cultural unions and movements. They also presented strategies for efficient networking and raising awareness. (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev) -
Photo 4 of 6Participants had the opportunity to put their lessons into practice right away. On the first day, they were split into eight teams and each given a position to defend. Topics ranged from questions of freedom of religion to women's rights. Over the next three days, the students devised plans to convince their peers that their positions were correct. Campaign posters covered the conference hall, showing up on doors, walls and even the water cooler. Some teams even sent out text-message calls for support. (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev) -
![At the end of the conference, attendees voted for the two most effective campaigns. A team campaigning for unrestricted freedom of religion and conscience got more votes than other groups due to a better campaigning and negotiating strategy. The winners had lunch with Ambassador Bilge Cankorel, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku. Participant Beyim Hasanli, an activist from the opposition Popular Front Party, said the conference has given her the tools she needs in her activities more effectively. "I learned about a number of issues related to campaigning and networking," she said. In the photo, Polish campaign consultant Sergiusz Trzeciak presents a certificate to a participant. (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev)](http://www.osce.org/files/imagecache/gallery_thumbnail/images/hires/a/2/78529.jpg?1307537429 "At the end of the conference, attendees voted for the two most effective campaigns. A team campaigning for unrestricted freedom of religion and conscience got more votes than other groups due to a better campaigning and negotiating strategy. The winners had lunch with Ambassador Bilge Cankorel, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku. Participant Beyim Hasanli, an activist from the opposition Popular Front Party, said the conference has given her the tools she needs in her activities more effectively. "I learned about a number of issues related to campaigning and networking," she said. In the photo, Polish campaign consultant Sergiusz Trzeciak presents a certificate to a participant. (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev)")
Photo 5 of 6At the end of the conference, attendees voted for the two most effective campaigns. A team campaigning for unrestricted freedom of religion and conscience got more votes than other groups due to a better campaigning and negotiating strategy. The winners had lunch with Ambassador Bilge Cankorel, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku. Participant Beyim Hasanli, an activist from the opposition Popular Front Party, said the conference has given her the tools she needs in her activities more effectively. "I learned about a number of issues related to campaigning and networking," she said. In the photo, Polish campaign consultant Sergiusz Trzeciak presents a certificate to a participant. (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev) -
Photo 6 of 6Following a request from the workshop participants, the Office plans to conduct another workshop on public relations for youth activists in the autumn. (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev)
![Polish campaign consultant Sergiusz Trzeciak talked about campaigning in print and on the web. "My idea was to bring some Polish experiences here," he says. "I wanted to show how these could be applied across the board."
To do this, he had students sort through dozens of Polish campaign flyers to analyse what elements are most effective. He also offered ideas for online networking and evaluated participants' websites.
"It was interesting to learn from the Polish experience," says participant Jeyhun Atayev, who works for anti-corruption NGO Transparency International. "I tried not to just copy, but to apply my own experiences." (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev)](http://www.osce.org/files/imagecache/medium/images/hires/2/d/78515.jpg?1307526570 "Polish campaign consultant Sergiusz Trzeciak talked about campaigning in print and on the web. "My idea was to bring some Polish experiences here," he says. "I wanted to show how these could be applied across the board."
To do this, he had students sort through dozens of Polish campaign flyers to analyse what elements are most effective. He also offered ideas for online networking and evaluated participants' websites.
"It was interesting to learn from the Polish experience," says participant Jeyhun Atayev, who works for anti-corruption NGO Transparency International. "I tried not to just copy, but to apply my own experiences." (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev)")
![At the end of the conference, attendees voted for the two most effective campaigns. A team campaigning for unrestricted freedom of religion and conscience got more votes than other groups due to a better campaigning and negotiating strategy. The winners had lunch with Ambassador Bilge Cankorel, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku. Participant Beyim Hasanli, an activist from the opposition Popular Front Party, said the conference has given her the tools she needs in her activities more effectively. "I learned about a number of issues related to campaigning and networking," she said. In the photo, Polish campaign consultant Sergiusz Trzeciak presents a certificate to a participant. (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev)](http://www.osce.org/files/imagecache/medium/images/hires/a/2/78529.jpg?1307537429 "At the end of the conference, attendees voted for the two most effective campaigns. A team campaigning for unrestricted freedom of religion and conscience got more votes than other groups due to a better campaigning and negotiating strategy. The winners had lunch with Ambassador Bilge Cankorel, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku. Participant Beyim Hasanli, an activist from the opposition Popular Front Party, said the conference has given her the tools she needs in her activities more effectively. "I learned about a number of issues related to campaigning and networking," she said. In the photo, Polish campaign consultant Sergiusz Trzeciak presents a certificate to a participant. (OSCE/Elgun Taghiyev)")
