OSCE Programme Office in Astana supports the eighth annual Zhas (Youth) camp in Kazakhstan

The involvement of young people in social activities and youth empowerment were the key topics of the OSCE-supported Zhas (Youth) Camp, an annual two-day event which concluded on 29 October 2017 in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan.

Some 70 young people and representatives of local authorities, civil society, the business community and academia, shared their experiences in addressing the challenges of implementing youth-oriented policies and promoting sustainable development and youth empowerment. Participants also discussed issues related to raising awareness of human rights among youth, gender equality, access to education for young people, the provision of public services in urban areas and social entrepreneurship.

Local and international experts from Belarus, Czech Republic, Georgia and the United States gave lectures on how to implement successful social projects and led interactive workshops on project management and the development of public campaign strategies.

The event was the last in a series of three weekend camps held in Aktobe, Karaganda and Petropavlovsk during September and October. The camps were co-organized by the NGO Youth Information Service of Kazakhstan and the OSCE Programme Office in Astana with support from the Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the United States Embassy in Astana. The series brought together over 200 young people, who shared their views and ideas on different initiatives.

The event is part of the Office’s efforts to promote youth engagement in resolving issues of security and development.