08/31/2026
Peace Education Working Group Highlight - Kyrgyzstan) Excited about the great youth-led climate work supported by colleagues from the Foundation for Educational Initiatives (Aleksandr Ivanov), with support from the American University of Central Asia (Dr. Nina Bagadasarova). They hosted a two-day educational seminar introduced youth to the links between climate change, peace, security, and youth participation. Participants discussed local environmental challenges and developed ideas for youth-led initiatives with a goal to improve environmental literacy, support youth in the development of leadership qualities, collaboration skills, and to increase civic engagement.
The youth analyzed the environmental problems in their areas, learned to identify causes and consequences, and explored ways to involve the local population in environmental protection activities. During the seminar, participants formed four project teams and developed youth-led initiatives to address local environmental and climate-related challenges in Kara-Balta, Birlik, Kochkor, and through a public photo exhibition. The initiatives focused on urban biodiversity, environmental education, tree seedling cultivation, community environmental engagement, and raising awareness of human impact on nature.
1. Kara-Balta: School Initiative on Urban Environment and Biodiversity - Senior students, with support from the school and the Kara-Balta City Youth Centre, raised awareness of climate change, urban biodiversity, and the quality of the local environment. Students built and installed feeders and shelters for birds and squirrels in the park, organized an awareness campaign, and conducted a quiz for younger students.
2. Birlik: School Greenhouse and Tree Nursery - Senior students in the village of Birlik created a school greenhouse and nursery for growing tree seedlings to be planted in the community. The project combined environmental education with practical student participation in greening and improving the local environment.
3. Kochkor: “Clean Kochkor” Initiative - A youth women’s group, with the participation of volunteers, youth associations, women’s councils, business representatives, and local residents, developed environmental information materials and an online campaign reaching more than 2,000 users. The group also established cooperation with the environmental committee to continue joint environmental activities.
4. Photo Exhibition: Human Impact on Nature in Kyrgyzstan - implemented in partnership with an environmental organization, presented Kyrgyzstan’s natural landscapes alongside visual evidence of environmental degradation, including impacts on glaciers and other vulnerable ecosystems. It also served as the venue for the final meeting of representatives from the youth-led initiatives.
Article (Russian) - https://lnkd.in/gSStEiSY