Youth empowerment in Central Asia

Youth Vision for Water in Central Asia
Download the Vision produced by youth in English and Russian.
We have had a presence in Central Asia for over 20 years, focused on our field projects in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Youth have always been at the heart of our activities in Central Asia. We are mobilizing and empowering a new generation of water leaders in the region to contribute to a sustainable and peaceful development.

Youth gets mobilized in the region

Driven by the desire to link water and peace, together with the youth we are determined to strengthen actions in the region. Several activities are led to empower Central Asian youth committed to water and we induced the creation of a Water Generation movement by uniting young people to join forces to implement a Youth Vision. Rooted in the World Youth Parliament for Water and inspired by the Blue Peace movement, the team generated several action waves targeting transboundary cooperation, educational exchange, application of modern know-how, and popularizing WASH (water sanitation and hygiene). Youth participation at river basin councils became the stepping-stone in this movement. Through our committed work, youth from Central Asia have from now on the opportunity to make their voice heard by decision-makers. Depuis 2018, nous supportons le renforcement d'un réseau régional, Central Asia Youth 4 Water. http://cay4water.org/

What do we want to achieve in Central Asia?

We wish to empower of a new generation of water leaders in Central Asia to contribute to a sustainable and peaceful development of the region through transboundary integrated water resource management. To accomplish this, we aim to enhance the young changemaker’s capacities, strengthening their voice at local, national and regional level, and increasing exchanges between the youth from the region and at global level. In other words:
  1. Giving youth a voice by empowering young water leaders and providing opportunities for connecting them among the states, in the region and with international community.
  2. Encouraging youth to take concrete actions on the ground to influence and implement actions at local and regional levels based on enhanced skills and knowledge.
  3. Providing wide outreach to the youth voice and activities to fosters an open dialogue, including on Water & Peace.

The Astana Workshop, a milestone for youth

In June, the first Astana Youth Workshop on Water - organised during the Expo2017 - helped identify key messages for youth and water in Central Asia. This was an important step on the road to the 8th World Water Forum in Brasilia in March 2018. The results were especially valuable for the following General Assembly of the World Youth Parliament for Water, which was held alongside the World Water Forum. However, strengthening youth engagement in Central Asia and contributing to a sustainable future for their region is the primary goal.

Thanks to our Partners

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Results

  • A transboundary dialogue was organized on the Chu Talas Basin
  • A Youth Parliament for Water was created in Afghanistan
  • Youth signed an agreement with Kazakhstan and Tajikistan basin council to have a permanent representation in basin meetings.
  • A regional network is strengthened.