DUSHANBE, March 25, 2013, Asia-Plus – The Young Leaders Alumni Conference took place in Dushanbe on March 25.

According to press release issued by the United State Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Office in Tajikistan, the meeting that was held in the framework of the Young Leaders Program brought together eighteen alumni of the Yung Leaders Program from the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) as well as Zarafshon and Rasht valleys.

The meeting participants reportedly shared their experience in promoting youth activism and leadership.

The Young Leaders Program (YLP) is a four-year initiative, funded by USAID and implemented by Counterpart International.  The goal of YLP is to build a pro-active, civically-engaged and socially-conscious generation of young people able to take ownership of their future and contribute to the development of their country.

The program is framed by two programmatic objectives: 1) To increase youth activism and leadership promoting positive change at the community level; and (2) To improve the quality of youth services provided by local civil society through the development of a Tajikistan-focused and tested youth programming framework.

At the end of four years, the program will result in an increase in the civic knowledge and action of more than 1,000 young people and more than 20 youth civil society organizations (CSOs).  This will lead to improved trust and a more positive perception of youth as contributing members of the community; leading to increased interaction among community youth and community stakeholders.