OSCE Programme Office supports ninth annual Zhas (Youth) Camp in Kazakhstan

Life values, growth opportunities and essential needs of young people in the modern society were the focus of the annual three-day Zhas (Youth) Camp that concluded on 21 October 2018 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Some 150 young people from across the country, sociologists, and representatives of academia, media and non-governmental organizations took part in the event comprised of expert panels, guest lectures and interactive workshops. Participants discussed issues related to the development of critical thinking and media literacy among youth, gender equality and the implementation of gender-oriented policies, as well as volunteering and civic engagement of young people.

Guest speakers from Germany, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Federation shared their vision of what steps should be taken in order to deliver successful social projects. The Youth Mapping study prepared by the NGO Youth Information Service of Kazakhstan on the needs of young people and related development programmes in a number of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries was also presented at the event.

The youth camp was co-organized by the Youth Information Service of Kazakhstan, a national NGO, 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 event is part of the Office’s efforts to promote youth engagement in resolving issues of security and development.