Youth Center Opens in Osh, a Modern Space for More Than 120,000 Young Residents

Osh, Kyrgyz Republic, June 3, 2026 – Today Mayor's office, UNDP and representatives of the Russian Embassy in Kyrgyzstan has opened a Youth Center in Osh. Janar Akaev, Mayor of Osh city, Roman Svistin, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Osh, and Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative attended the ceremony.

June 3, 2026

Photo: Outdoor ceremony with a large crowd seated in rows under trees.

Group of formally dressed people at a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside a building, cutting a red ribbon.

Wall plaque with Russian flag and logos, QR code beneath; teal, white, and gray balloons nearby.

Photo of students studying in a bright, modern classroom with desks and laptops.

Man in a suit plays chess with a child at a table while photographers and spectators watch.

The new center is designed to become a point of attraction for young people, a space for learning, professional development, and the building of bridges and trust between youth and local authorities in the implementation of youth policy.

The establishment of the center supports the implementation of the National Development Programme of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2030, which places a strong emphasis on human capital development, youth employment, and sustainable regional development.

"It is essential to provide young people with opportunities to realize their ideas, acquire new skills, learn modern technologies, and actively participate in public life. The Youth Center is designed precisely for these purposes. This project was implemented with the support of the United Nations Development Programme, and I would like to express my deep gratitude to our partners for this collaboration,"

- said Janar Akaev, Mayor of Osh City.

Janar Akaev, Mayor of Osh City

UNDP Kyrgyzstan

The Youth Center in Osh was established jointly by the City Mayor's Office and UNDP with the financial support of the Russian Federation. The total area of the building exceeds 1,000 m². The Osh City Mayor's Office constructed a new building, investing approximately $435,000 from the municipal budget. The contribution of the project, funded by the Russian Federation, amounted to more than $132,000, which was allocated for interior finishing, and the procurement of IT equipment and furniture. Thus, the total volume of investments in the facility amounted to approximately $525,000.

"I am very glad, on behalf of the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, to take part in the launch of the UNDP youth center, financed with the assistance of the Russian Federation. I very much hope that the opening of the youth center will contribute to the comprehensive development of Osh and the region. Russia is ready to continue providing financial and other assistance through the UN."

- Roman Svistin, Consul General of the Russian Federation,

Photograph of a man in a suit speaking at a podium on a stage with blue banners and a metal truss. — Roman Svistin, Consul General of the Russian Federation

UNDP Kyrgyzstan

The center plans to launch number of courses, such as Russian, English, and German languages, "Jash Jaratman" programme to develop leadership and public speaking skills for youth aged 16 to 25, the "Young Teachers PRO" program to prepare school students for National Graduation Examination Tests (ORT); art and creative skills development, etc. The center will provide a dialogue space between youth and Mayor’s Office in the implementation of youth policy. The center's space is fully equipped to host conferences, trainings, and operate in a coworking mode.

“UNDP supports the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in advancing regional socioeconomic development, expanding opportunities for youth and women, and strengthening small and medium-sized businesses. A major focus of our partnership is creating economic opportunities for young people through entrepreneurship, digital skills, public-private dialogue, and access to modern educational and youth spaces. These initiatives support employment and also help strengthen social cohesion by creating inclusive spaces where young people can contribute their communities,”

- said Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative.

A woman in a light beige suit speaks at a podium on an outdoor stage with blue banners. — Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative

UNDP Kyrgyzstan

The opening of the Youth Center in Osh was made possible thanks to the close cooperation between the City Mayor's Office, the Ministry of Culture, Information and Youth Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, and UNDP. The substantial contribution of the Mayor's Office to the construction of this new, modern building clearly demonstrates the commitment of local authorities to creating favorable conditions for youth and their readiness to invest in the city's future.

Over the past decade, UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Information and Youth Affairs o has established 20 youth centers across the regions of Kyrgyzstan to create favorable conditions for youth development and expand employment and self-employment opportunities for young people to build trust and social cohesion.

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