Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (July 24, 2008) – Forty young leaders from vocational lyceums and university students participated in the Youth Conference in Issyk-Kul.

UNDP Vocational Education for Street Children in the Kyrgyz Republic Project aimed to ensure the right of a child to participate in the decision making process that impacts their lives organized the conference.  This event provided knowledge and skills to 40 young leaders in critical thinking, leadership and participation. The young leaders represented children from the vulnerable families, orphans, street children obtaining vocational education in the lyceums of Bishkek.

The partner organizations invited to the conference to present their work included UNV-UNDP Youth Programme, which provided information about the volunteer clubs and its activities, and the Center for Protection of Children, which conducted trainings on child participation, team building and leadership using interactive methods.

Intensive trainings were conducted indoors and outdoors that gave children pleasure to work and enjoy at the same time.  “I liked the conference very much and would like to thank you, I liked games, coffee-breaks, teams, respect, solidarity, new friends, and role plays,” said Violetta Samohina, Professional Lyceum # 43.  Another participant, Slava Korsikov, Professional Lyceum # 43, emphasized that he “got a lot of information for himself and his future life.”

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

For further information, please contact:
Oksana Orozbaeva
Child participation component coordinator
Phone: 996.312.663.885 x. 112
Email: oksana@prp.undp.kg