OSCE helps connect youth to decision-makers in Kyrgyzstan

A three-day summer school for young politicians was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek together with the International Republican Institute in Kyrgyzstan, and the Legal Prosperity Foundation from 26 to 29 June 2018 in Bishkek. The school aims to strengthen the capacity of young leaders in Kyrgyzstan and promote their engagement in decision-making processes. The agenda included a panel discussion on the issues of youth employment, as well as problems with accessing higher education for people with special needs.

Firty-five young leaders of diverse backgrounds, including representatives of state bodies and civil society, journalists, bloggers, and representatives of SMEs and local self-government bodies, were selected on a competitive basis. Among the participants were also young individuals with special needs who strive to play an active role in policy- and decision making. Deputy Prime Minister  Altynai Omurbekova, parliamentarians Aida Kasymalieva and Aisuluu Mamashova, and representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and the State Human Resources Office shared their experiences and gave recommendations on how to actively participate in the nation’s public life and decision-making processes.

“We hope that the summer school will help to motivate young people, regardless of their background, to become active in public and political life, be ambitious and make their voices heard. The school also serves as a platform for connecting youngsters and decision makers in order to discuss youth issues,” said the Acting Senior Human Dimension Officer, OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek representative, Kahramon Sanginov.

The programme of the summer school included training sessions on strategic communication, election campaigning and political debates and discussions on the fundamentals of lawmaking.