KYRGYZSTAN: Successful Youth – Successful Country KYRGYZSTAN: Successful Youth – Successful Country
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KYRGYZSTAN: successful youth – successful country KYRGYZSTAN: successful youth – successful country FOREWORD On 18 December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaim- ing the year commencing on 12 August 2010 as the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. The Year coincides with the 25th anniversary of the first International Youth Year in 1985 that was titled “Participation, Development and Peace.” In 2007, the 1.2 billion people between ages of 15 and 24, those the United Nations refers to as “youth,” were the best educated young generation in history. Amounting to 18 percent of the world’s popula- tion, today’s youth are a tremendous resource for national development. However, the benefits from a large and dynamic youth population don’t ensue automatically. When societies provide adequate guidance and opportunities for youth in their education, health, employment, sports and leisure activities, the young people’s talents and energy can be unleashed early on empow- ering them to meaningfully contribute to development of their communities, their countries and the whole world. Over half of the Kyrgyzstani population is under the age of 25, and about 32 percent is between 15 and 25. The youth of the country (those between ages of 15 and 25) were born in the last decade of the Soviet Union and in the early years of the country’s independence. They grew up in time of massive changes in their immediate social environments that included both challenges and oppor- tunities. The socioeconomic transformation in the whole Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region brought about significant changes in labor market prospects for young people. Those changes include new skills and educational requirements that often cannot be met because of de- teriorating educational institutions and a fragile social fabric. Under Soviet socialism, employment was ensured by the State for all and was considered not an option but a duty. While choice was lim- ited, the system provided young people a sense of security, assured a largely predictable path from school to work and gave access to benefits and social services provided by State-owned enterprises (2007 World Youth Report). Now, the situation is different. As a “young” state, both historically and demographically, Kyrgyzstan faces serious challenges: this Report demonstrates the potential to transform these challenges into real opportunities through focused efforts to tackle youth’s human development problems. To unleash the full potential of Kyrgyzstani youth, harness their energy to contribute to the so- cioeconomic and cultural development of the country, and make their transition into adulthood as smooth as possible, reliable channels of two-way communication are of utmost importance, including studies of youth problems, and studies of different segments of youth (school and univer- sity students, employed and unemployed youth, urban and rural youth, young men and women). This National Human Development Report puts exactly this type of research forward for the whole country. The authors surveyed 1,000 young people; the sample is representative and reflects the gender and age composition of the youth population in the Kyrgyz Republic. The respondents were asked their opinions about themselves and their environment. This nationwide survey of youth became the starting point for further expert analysis. Youth live through the impact of the same trends as the rest of the country’s population such as the global economic crisis, globalization and climate change. I have found it fascinating how young people respond to the current challenges. We have commentary and opinion on what young people think from experts, policy analysts, sociologists, economists, and experts in education, culture, and medicine. But, at the end of the day, what shines through in the report are the views of youth. Young people want quality educa- tion that meets the labor market requirements, adequate youth-friendly health services, access to information and modern technologies. The NHDR-2009/10 on youth in Kyrgyzstan is based on the results from this broad survey, followed by the focus group meetings and roundtables with young people throughout the country and expert analysis. This truly participatory approach provides us with a snapshot of youth’s needs and wants as they perceive and understand them. The group of independent authors looked at the components of human development (health, education, social activism, etc.) through the prism of values that affect youth’s behavioral patterns. We learned that young people in Kyrgyzstan most value getting education and making the right career choices. Their value orientations are related to the ideas about social order, its economic and political foundations, and perspectives on soci- ety’s historic development. I believe that the views of youth on these issues constitute an important factor in assessing current societal processes and development trends in the country. KYRGYZSTAN: KYRGYZSTAN: successful youth – successful country successful youth – successful country This report is based on the premise that good policies can make a real difference. It provides a set FOREWORD of recommendations for decision and policy makers, including approaches to the youth affairs and priorities in education, healthcare, employment, environment, and social activities. One of the re- On 18 December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaim- port’s goals – to attract the attention of policymakers and public figures to the problems of young ing the year commencing on 12 August 2010 as the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and people – will be achieved through the wide coverage of the study results. We expect that the results Mutual Understanding. The Year coincides with the 25th anniversary of the first International will debunk some of the clichés and myths about youth of Kyrgyzstan and help to more effectively Youth Year in 1985 that was titled “Participation, Development and Peace.” In 2007, the 1.2 channel resources into specific policy measures in various areas. billion people between ages of 15 and 24, those the United Nations refers to as “youth,” were the best educated young generation in history. Amounting to 18 percent of the world’s popula- The final report has eight chapters. Chapter I contains an analysis of human development in tion, today’s youth are a tremendous resource for national development. However, the benefits Kyrgyzstan and provides related human development indexes. Chapter II examines the country’s from a large and dynamic youth population don’t ensue automatically. When societies provide youth policy and its impact on the dynamics of youth’s development and prospects in Kyrgyzstan. adequate guidance and opportunities for youth in their education, health, employment, sports Chapter III provides insights into youth’s values and articulates their needs and wants as they have and leisure activities, the young people’s talents and energy can be unleashed early on empow- expressed them during the nationwide focus groups. Chapter IV discusses education and pinpoints ering them to meaningfully contribute to development of their communities, their countries and the major problems in the area. Some of the major problems are the lack of focus on society’s the whole world. needs, and in particular, on training modern, competent professionals with skills and knowledge sets that are in high demand. Chapter V analyzes labor and employment and links these issues Over half of the Kyrgyzstani population is under the age of 25, and about 32 percent is between 15 with the high level of migration of youth. The chapter reveals that youth believe that migration is and 25. The youth of the country (those between ages of 15 and 25) were born in the last decade the best way to meet the needs they can’t fulfill at home because of limitations related to age and of the Soviet Union and in the early years of the country’s independence. They grew up in time of socioeconomic status. Chapter VI considers young people’s health and its links to the healthy life- massive changes in their immediate social environments that included both challenges and oppor- style culture which has to be shaped in the society to provide for the healthier younger generation tunities. The socioeconomic transformation in the whole Commonwealth of Independent States and human capital of the country. Chapter VII elaborates on youth’s social connections and pros- (CIS) region brought about significant changes in labor market prospects for young people. Those pects, including issues of family, security, and environmental problems that will have an impact on changes include new skills and educational requirements that often cannot be met because of de- their generation in the years to come. Chapter VIII provides a broad picture of youth’s social activi- teriorating educational institutions and a fragile social fabric. Under Soviet socialism, employment ties covering their leisure time, cultural development, mass media preferences, participation in the was ensured by the State for all and was considered not an option but a duty. While choice was lim- decision-making processes and issues of access to reliable sources of information. ited, the system provided young people a sense of security, assured a largely predictable path from school to work and gave access to benefits and social services provided by State-owned enterprises The report wraps up with a set of recommendations for the national decision-making centers and (2007 World Youth Report). Now, the situation is different. As a “young” state, both historically and international community to help the country harness its youthful energies to make real progress in demographically, Kyrgyzstan faces serious challenges: this Report demonstrates the potential to the human development of the country. Together, the analysis and associated recommendations transform these challenges into real opportunities through focused efforts to tackle youth’s human constitute a powerful tool that we hope will spark results-oriented dialogue and action towards development problems.