Democratic youth organizing

Young people aged between 14 and 29 years make up one-third of the Central Asian population. They struggle with unemployment, poverty, an inadequate educational system, and have limited opportunities to participate in their countries’ social, economic, and political life. Young people rarely get to voice their opinions and put their priorities on the political agenda, in any meaningful way. Additionally, they are often the most vulnerable to the environmental crisis and bear the brunt of its consequences, including poor nutrition and lack of access to clean drinking water, among others. Young people often lack awareness of their rights and ways to influence their own lives or the lives of their communities. This is exacerbated by prevalent hierarchical, patriarchal norms across the societies in Central Asia, characterized by ageism, gender inequality, gender-based violence, and discrimination based on ethnicity.

National youth development policies tend to prioritize moral education of the youth, aiming to preserve traditional, sometimes discriminatory, ideas and values. There is a lack of open and inclusive platforms where youth from diverse backgrounds can gather, develop their own ideas, and initiate projects. Additionally, there is an absence of tools and methods that would align with their own perspectives and that ­would allow young people to deepen their awareness, knowledge and democratic influence. Youth civil society organizations struggle to secure funding and support, especially from domestic sources. As a result, the youth civil society sector remains quite atomized. Shrinking and closed civic spaces create additional obstacles for meaningful youth participation, making it difficult for young activists to operate without facing personal risks.

             Youth

          Decision-makers

Educational insitutions