Strengthening civic engagement of young women and men in Kyrgyzstan to prevent recruitment into violent and criminal groups, and address local security concerns

Building on Saferworld and Foundation for Tolerance International’s (FTI’s) existing work on strengthening community security in Kyrgyzstan, the proposed project would expand our engagement with young women and men in Batken, Chui, Osh and Jalal-Abad provinces. Through a range of trainings, experience exchange workshops, smalls-grants and outreach at the national, sub-national and local levels, the project will provide spaces for young men and women – from both rural and urban areas – to come together and discuss the issues that affect them (such as civic identity, gender equality, family pressures, trafficking in persons, violence in schools, and recruitment into violent or criminal groups). This will lead to their greater civic engagement and joint activism to demand for young people’s concerns to be addressed. The project will provide the means for young women and men to identify their priorities locally and to come up with solutions that provide positive avenues for positive self-expression, which will reduce their involvement in violent or criminal groups that undermine peace and stability.