The future of Uzbekistan’s youth is being rewritten
The past five years have seen a dramatic change to the way the youth of Uzbekistan are included and supported. There are now more investments, policies, and programs in place than ever before, helping young people in their search to find their place in life, and leaders in their effort to better society for generations – now and in the future.
The future change makers
Covid-19 has shown how easy it is for public life to be disrupted, and why no aspect of it should be taken for granted. This is especially true for young people as they are at a particularly formative time in their lives. They are not only preparing to take the next step in their education or careers; they are also beginning to form their own opinions and experiences.
The diversity of their views means young people are one of the most valuable resources to support societal development – a perspective that has allowed Uzbekistan to create a framework, built around their needs. It works by giving them the tools they need to achieve their goals and empowering them to become the very best they can be.
An accessible education
While schools were closed as a result of the pandemic, one in eight young people were left without any access to courses, teaching or training across the globe. This not only stunted opportunities for personal progression but increased the risk of school dropouts.
To get students back on track, Uzbek officials have launched a new funding system, providing educational loans to fee-payers, and the ‘One Million Uzbek Coders’ project, which aims to teach more than a million young people the basics of computer programming for free.
Numerous schemes have been created to grant access to some of the most prestigious foreign universities, and to inspire the next generation of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professionals. Namely, ‘Ibrat Language Camp’, ‘Future Scientist’, ‘100 Ideas for Uzbekistan’, ‘First Step to Business’ and the ‘El-Yurt Umidi’ foundation exist to prepare Uzbekistan’s youth for the emerging digital economy and future job opportunities.
Building the career ladder
As the next workforce, young people will play a leading role in the growth of Uzbekistan’s business ecosystem. To ensure their success, a number of employment initiatives have been introduced, including a $100 million investment from the ‘Fund for Reconstruction and Development’ to finance youth projects. A ‘Fund for Supporting Young Entrepreneurs’ has also been established alongside a new microcredit system to help young people launch their business ventures.
Uzbekistan’s mission to broaden the job market comes at a pivotal time as, prior to the pandemic, 178 million global youth were employed in the sectors hit hardest by the crisis. To reverse the damage, half a million young people have been granted croplands for the very first time, resulting in the creation of around 700,00 jobs. Through the ‘Youth Notebook’, they can also receive subsidies for the purchase of equipment, tools, seeds and seedlings.
Amplifying young voices
Committed to maintaining the momentum around youth support, Uzbekistan is working closely with global organizations to solve the problems faced by young people. Earlier this year, it became a member of the ‘Human Rights Council’ and the advisory board on ‘Youth Affairs of the Mutual Trust Council in Asia’. An initiative was also put forward to declare Uzbekistan the capital of the ‘Turkic World Youth’ in 2022.
While the voices of young people have the ability to shape a more inclusive, more hopeful world, these institutions have the ability to make sure they’re heard – something which Uzbekistan is increasingly demonstrating. By enforcing smarter investments across human rights, employment programs, and educational services, it is laying the groundwork for young people and paving the way for the next generation.