Youth from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan joined efforts for peace and gender equality

In addition, the camp facilitated networking and exchange of knowledge among young people from cross-border provinces, so that upon arrival they could conduct a series of advocacy actions on promoting gender equality, access to natural resources, inclusive and efficient natural resources management processes.

“I’m very happy to be part of this project, participating in it, I strengthened my knowledge not only on gender equality, access to natural resources and efficient management of natural resources, but also made new friends among young people from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. I believe our friendship will be strengthened over time, and we will jointly conduct plenty of useful projects and events” shares Kaniet Jamilova from Batken province, Kyrgyzstan.

Also, participants worked with innovative media tools, such as shooting and producing video materials and organizing forum theatres on topics such as gender inequality and domestic violence, fake news and media literacy, youth activism and their role in peacebuilding.

“Thanks to this camp, I gained useful knowledge and learned about media literacy and how to prepare multimedia products. Thanks to this project, we made new friends among youth in Tajikistan and will strengthen our friendship with them” says Talant Shamshiev from Batken province, Kyrgyzstan.

On the last day, participants presented their action plans, describing how they will multiply knowledge gained and increase awareness on issues, related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), efficient natural resource management, women empowerment and media literacy. To increase awareness of SDGs, specifically on SDG 5 Gender Equality, SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 10 Reduced Inequality, participants plan to conduct training sessions to school and university students, also through forum theatres, preparing multimedia products and conducting debates afterwards on gender inequality, domestic violence, and rational use of water. Also, participants plan to conduct sessions on media literacy to show how to verify information in social media, strengthen critical thinking and conduct actions on UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security; UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. These events are planned to start from September to December 2018, reaching over 4,500 people in border communities.

Munira Akhmedova, Sughd province, Tajikistan: “I’m in Issyk-Kul for the first time, thanks to this summer camp, participants from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan became friends and will be able to implement joint activities in the future.”

Participants established their own network, named “Youth for Peace” existing now via Facebook, where young people from border provinces of both countries will share reports on completed advocacy actions and campaigns.

The summer camp has been initiated by UN Women Europe and Central Asia Regional Office in support to the joint cross-border project funded by UN Peacebuilding Fund and implemented by UN Women Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in partnership with other UN agencies.This camp was organized in partnership with the Representative Office of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in the Kyrgyz Republic with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).