UCA Partners with United Nations to Host Youth Forum in Naryn

To inform the upcoming intergovernmental Sustainable Development Goals Summit, scheduled for September 2023, the United Nations (UN) hosted youth seminars globally with a special emphasis on rural towns. In Kyrgyzstan, the UN partnered with University of Central Asia’s School of Arts and Sciences to host the youth seminar at UCA’s Naryn campus. The event brought together 40 youth from Naryn, including five UCA students. The aim of the session was to listen to youth voices on how to make the world a fairer, greener and a more sustainable place.

The high-profile seminar saw the presence of Mr. Altynbek Ergeshov, Governor of Naryn Oblast, Ms. Antje Grawe, UN Resident Coordinator for Kyrgyzstan and Dr. Barkat Fazal, Diplomatic Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network in Kyrgyzstan. Dr. Soheil Ashrafi, Associate Dean at UCA Naryn and host of the event, encouraged youth to use their "power of imagination" and be the "agents of change". He also reiterated UCA’s commitment to the development of mountainous communities in Central Asia, especially the three founding states.

During the forum, the youth spoke of the need for more socio-economic opportunities for rural youth and for equal and inclusive opportunities for youth with disabilities.