OSCE Centre in Bishkek on International Children’s Day supports sports and arts event for young people

KARAKOL, Kyrgyzstan, 1 June 2011 - A one-day sports and art event initiated by Issyk-Kul Juvenile Delinquency Inspectorate with the support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek started today in the city of Karakol in northern Kyrgyzstan.

The event is organized upon the initiative of the Issyk-Kul Juvenile Delinquency Inspectorate and civil society on the occasion of the International Children’s Day marked on 1 June.

This sports and arts competition will bring together around 150 high school students from various parts of the Issyk-Kul Province. The event implemented by regional representatives of the Ministries of Interior, Education, as well as Youth Ministry staff in Issyk-Kul Province aims to foster teamwork and unity and to increase understanding of the value of friendship. 

Lilian Darii, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, stressed the importance of the event: “This competition provides an environment for children where they can understand the value of mutual support, loyalty and team spirit. The OSCE will continue supporting initiatives focusing on involving the younger generation in building up a safe public environment”.

Elena Tishakova, the Head of the Juvenile Delinquency Department of Issyk-Kul, which deals with young offenders, said: “Children who are growing up nowadays in a sometimes aggressive and hostile environment often lack exposure to important human values. By organizing this event we hope to strengthen the sense of goodwill and to promote mutual understanding between adults and young people.”

The event is a part of the Community Policing Project, run by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek within the framework of its Police Reform Programme.