Youth Environmental Leaders from Across Central Asia Unite for a Greener Future
GULISTON, Tajikistan – From August 10 to 16, 2026, the shores of the Sughd Region became a hub for regional cooperation as more than 40 delegates from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan gathered for the "Our Green House" environmental summer camp. The initiative brought together eight educators and 33 secondary school students—all active members of “Green Patrols,” youth-led groups dedicated to fostering ecological stewardship within their local schools and communities.
Organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in partnership with the Youth Group on Protection of Environment (YGPE) and the Aarhus Centre in Khujand, the camp was made possible through the generous financial backing of the European Union (EU).
From Theory to Practice
Over the course of six days, the camp moved beyond traditional classroom learning, immersing students in interactive workshops and team-building exercises. The curriculum focused on critical regional issues, including water pollution, the impacts of climate change, and the pursuit of sustainable development.
A highlight of the program was a collaborative clean-up operation along the Kayrakkum Reservoir. By physically removing waste from the shoreline, participants transitioned from learning about environmental degradation to taking direct, tangible action. "What I enjoyed most was when the whole camp went together to the Bahri Tojik Reservoir and took part in a clean-up action along the shore," said Ruslan Juraev, a student representative from Kyrgyzstan.
Building a Transboundary Network
The camp encouraged participants to view environmental challenges through a regional lens. Through creative workshops and an intensive "climate quest," the students identified shared ecological risks facing Central Asia and mapped out how cross-border cooperation could lead to more effective solutions.
Barno Egamova, a teacher from Tajikistan, underscored the long-term impact of such gatherings: “I believe that camps like this help children become more responsible, active, and mindful of the world around them, while gaining new knowledge, valuable experience, and good memories.”
The event concluded with the development of a collaborative action plan for the "Green Patrols," ensuring that the momentum generated during the week will be translated into long-term initiatives in their home countries.
"I really enjoyed meeting young people from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and hearing about what they are doing for the environment in their schools," said Ermatova Okila Abduzhalil-qizi, a student from Uzbekistan. "I’m going home with lots of new ideas and, honestly, even more motivation to do something useful in my own community."
Commitment to Sustainable Legacy
This initiative is part of a broader, EU-supported effort to empower the next generation of environmental leaders. By building cross-border networks, the OSCE and EU are helping to ensure that the youth of Central Asia remain at the forefront of the fight for a healthier, more sustainable environment.
The camp was hosted under the umbrella of the project "Stakeholder Engagement for Uranium Legacy Remediation in Central Asia – Phase III." Implemented by the OSCE and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this project works to mitigate the long-term health and environmental risks posed by uranium legacy sites, which remain a significant concern for the safety of communities across the region.
