OSCE Office promotes leadership and critical thinking skills among young people in Tajikistan

KAYRAKKUM, Tajikistan, 6 August 2008 - The OSCE Office in Tajikistan is helping young people develop leadership and critical thinking skills at a Civic Education Summer Camp that started today in Kayrakkum.

The 15-day summer camp, which is being held at the Orlyonok health resort by the Kayrakkum reservoir, brings together 100 participants from across the country to learn about good governance, democracy, civil society, political participation and elections.

"Our goal is to help young people recognize the importance of understanding the law and empowering civil society, and to promote critical thinking," said Klaus Rasmussen, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan. "We will continue working with talented youth after the summer camp as well, including helping participants with follow-up activities such as organizing roundtable debates and creating their own NGOs or initiative groups."

This is the ninth Civic Education Summer Camp supported by the OSCE Office through its Field Office in Khujand. The camp has been implemented in co-operation with different organizations, including this year's partner Youth and Society, a local non-governmental organization that seeks to inspire students to value democracy, legal awareness and civil society.