LocationsListening to Young People: Building Resilience and Opportunities in Kyrgyzstan
December 25, 2025
Strengthening social cohesion and fostering resilient communities often comes across as abstract—policy frameworks, national strategies, or high-level discussions. But when you visit a youth centre in Min-Bulak AO of Alexandrovka village or join a roundtable in Kadamzhai or Kerben, the conversation becomes concrete, practical, and full of possibilities. Here, strengthening communities is about creating opportunities for young people to thrive every day.
At the youth centre in Min-Bulak AO of Alexandrovka village
On the ground, building resilient and cohesive communities is about more than slogans or policies. It is the daily experience of young people shaping their own futures. Youth focus on the opportunities they want to see in their communities: spaces where they can connect, create, and be heard; platforms to develop their skills and pursue their aspirations; and environments where they can thrive.
These priorities highlight development pathways and the foundations of long-term community resilience. By focusing on these opportunities, local partners are driving solutions that strengthen cohesion, empower youth, and create lasting positive change in their communities.
This year, with the support of the Government of Japan, UNDP expanded its work with young people and municipalities across five locations: Min-Bulak AO of Alexandrovka village, Kerben, Kadamzhai, Cholpon-Ata, and Osh to explore how local initiatives can empower communities.
Local partners, including youth groups, municipalities, and community leaders, approach challenges with practical, community-centered solutions. They focus on enhancing safe spaces for young people, fostering creativity and skills development, improving access to constructive dialogue, and strengthening connections between generations. These priorities align directly with Kyrgyzstan’s national development goals, demonstrating how local action complements broader policy objectives.
Daiki Naito, UN Volunteer from Japan, shares information about youth and entrepreneurship in Japan at a UNDP bootcamp in Osh
Together with teachers, social workers, municipal staff, women’s councils, and civil society organizations, young people developed Youth Action Plans that translate their aspirations into concrete initiatives. Municipalities actively supported these plans, co-financing renovations and resources for youth centres in Kadamzhai and Min-Bulak AO of Alexandrovka village, exemplifying ownership and a shared commitment to nurturing young talent.
The results speak for themselves. Over 122 young people participated in bootcamps, developing skills in leadership, teamwork, communication, and creative problem-solving. By the end of the year, more than 300 youth across the five pilot locations were actively engaged in community projects, creating networks of youth champions who are driving positive change.
Japan’s partnership has been essential in this work. It has empowered local communities to define their priorities, strengthened systems that support young people, and provided the resources needed to transform aspirations into action. This collaboration demonstrates how sustainable community development thrives when it is locally driven, inclusive, and forward-looking.
Looking ahead, UNDP will continue to support initiatives that expand opportunities, strengthen social cohesion, and ensure every young person in Kyrgyzstan feels valued, capable, and empowered to contribute.
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