Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic / February 25, 2021 – Yesterday the opening ceremony of the Youth Center in Balykchy city of Issyk-Kul region was held with participation of representatives of the City Hall, Representatives of the Plenipotentiary of the Government in the Issyk-Kul region, Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

This center is one of 10 Youth Centers established with financial support of the Government of Japan and UNDP in close partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic and partnering local authorities in order to engage youth into wider social, economic and public life of the local community.

The Youth Centers will feature youth initiative groups established in all 10 pilot villages and towns, which will assist local self-government and local youth in implementing joint youth development plans. It is expected that youth initiative groups will provide interaction between local government and youth on the implementation of certain priorities in the field of youth policy at the local level.

«The establishment of Youth Centers corresponds to the priorities of the youth policy of the Kyrgyz Republic. We hope that these Youth Centers will contribute to closer work with young people and contribute to sustainable development at the local level» - Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic, Deputy Minister Kanat Shabdanbekov.

«The government of Japan has previously, too, provided assistance to the Kyrgyz Republic in different areas, including a joint project with the UNDP on elections, assistance in preventing natural disasters, and other projects, as well as building the capacity of local communities. I am convinced that the current project, by providing support in preventing violent extremism among the youth and promoting the youth's independence, is crucial for the stability of both the Kyrgyz Republic and the Central Asian region as a whole.

Due to the spread of the coronavirus infection, unemployment has become a serious social problem in the Kyrgyz Republic. There is hope that the opening of this Center will help improve the youth's economic opportunities and encourage them to actively participate in the community's life,» said the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Sigeki Maeda in his opening speech.

«The project funded by the Government of Japan aims to increase opportunities and participation of youth in local development, by creating favorable social and economic opportunities, such as youth centers, jobs, joint development plans, thereby giving them opportunities for self-realization and to participate more in the sustainable and peaceful development of their cities and villages» - explained Tomica Paovic, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative.

Plenipotentiary Representative of the Government in the Issyk-Kul region Elchibek Djantaev expressed gratitude to international organizations which tremendously contribute to socio-economic development of the Issyk-Kul oblast. He has admitted that number or organizations united in aim to support the initiative of the establishment of the Youth Center “Ordo”.

The project supported 31 social projects from the fund to support local youth initiatives for a total of 55,000 dollars and 47 start-up and entrepreneurial projects of young people with a capital of 270 thousand dollars. As a result, 225 new jobs were created, 25% of which were for women. Twelve jobs were given to vulnerable youth and 5 to people with disabilities. In addition, more than 4,000 girls and boys received training in legal issues, social skills, conflict resolution, religious studies and entrepreneurship.

The youth centers were initiated as part of a regional project, "Strengthening Community Resilience and Regional Cooperation to Prevent Violent Extremism in Central Asia," funded by the Government of Japan.