For most countries around the world, engaging youth in national politics is often a challenge. Kyrgyzstan, a burgeoning democracy in Central Asia, is no exception. Youth often feel disconnected from policy making and believe their voice matters little in their country's future. As part of an effort to reduce youth unemployment and encourage youth inclusion, Kyrgyzstan introduced a new law in 2010 requiring a youth quota for political parties: a minimum of 15 percent of each political party's candidates must be under the age of 36.
But youth also need the training and experience to become these future candidates. That's why Kyrgyzstan is working with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to offer internships for youth in the Kyrgyz Parliament. By arranging university internship experiences with Members of the Kyrgyz Parliament (MPs), students get an inside look at what it takes to run and govern a country.
These internships are not about filing papers: students gain exposure to the skills needed to plan policy, solve social problems, and work towards a consensus. Interns assist MPs with policy research, liaise with public officials, and collaborate with other representatives on parliamentary initiatives. The interns also participate in a Model UN Forum to constructively critique and openly debate controversial policy issues in Kyrgyzstan with the goal of providing viable solutions.
Cholpon: A Future Advocate for Kyrgyz Education
While pursuing a degree in Public Administration, Cholpon worked with MP Rasulov Mairambek Alisherovich on introducing a new bill addressing the shortage of preschool and childcare facilities in the capital.
From drafting letters to Kyrgyz ministries and government departments to providing background research on sponsored bills, Cholpon learned to communicate effectively with colleagues, to conduct business negotiations, and to lead meetings. She describes her experience in the Kyrgyz Parliament as a period of rapid acceleration toward her personal and professional goals.
Cholpon plans to work in the Ministry of Education to improve the Kyrgyz education system after graduation.
Anvar: A Future Member of Parliament
Anvar, a Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) alumnus, has aspired to work in the Kyrgyz Parliament since he was a teenager. His FLEX exchange year in Anchorage, Alaska broadened his perspective of the world and sparked ideas on how to improve social policies in Kyrgyzstan.
Anvar worked with MP Levina Tatyana Vladimirovna on the Committee for Social Policy. He helped MP Vladimirovna draft a law to restrict smoking in public places (a major public health issue in Kyrgyzstan); assisted with setting up public street lights for a local district in Bishkek; and collaborated with a documentary filmmaker to set up interviews with public officials and identify filming locations for a documentary on Kyrgyzstan.
Anvar also had the chance to meet and work with MP Bekeshov Dastan, the first blind Member of Parliament in Kyrgyzstan's history. MP Dastan was so impressed with Anvar's work that he invited Anvar to start collaborating on future projects together.
