FRIENDSHIP CENTERS MODEL
The Friendship Centers were created as part of the “Transboundary and Intersectoral Dialogue for Tolerance and Peace in Central Asia” project funded by the European Union. The project aims to strengthen multilateral transboundary dialogue and cooperation between Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan in order to promote tolerance, understanding, and prevent radicalization.
The objective of the Friendship Centers is to function as a dynamic network hub for various transboundary initiatives, activities to develop the potential of civil society organizations and youth discussion platforms, as well as for the development of educational and informational materials.
The Center’s activities within the project include:
- Increasing and strengthening the potential of young people and local civil society actors to promote understanding, peacebuilding, good interethnic relations, and ethnic and religious tolerance.
- Supporting various formats of dialogue, such as discussion clubs, debate programs, trainings, and regional youth expert forums.
As part of the project’s activities in “Friendship Centers”, a total of at least 120 events are planned.
According to the work plan of the Center for Tolerance (CfT), the following actions are envisaged:
- Conducting trainings, debate and discussion programs, educational events, and video conferences
- Conducting Training of Trainers (TOT) for three countries
- 18 future youth trainers (at least 50% women) will undergo special training for trainers (TOT), which will be held at the CfT Center in Osh
- Conducting 10 regular events at the center
- 5 different informational and 5 dialogical events in each series will be held at the CfT center (educational sessions with students and representatives of civil society to increase awareness and various information and educational events, approximately 10 events). 200 participants from the project’s target groups.
- Supporting the organization and conducting of at least 6 trainings conducted by a trained group of instructors for youth leaders.
- Each training event will be oriented towards 20 participants, and the total number of trained young people will be around 120, who will be invited to participate in discussion and debate events in the future.
- Supporting the organization of discussion clubs based on the Center for establishing sustainable and constructive dialogue in the youth environment (at least 10 events during the Project’s activities). A series of discussion club meetings will be organized with the participation of 20 people in each event, with a total of 200 participants.
- Supporting the organization of debate tournaments based on the Center, consisting of 10 events. A series of debate tournaments will be organized with the participation of experts and judges, with 10 tournaments in the CfT center. Participants will compete in teams of 3 people. It is expected that 20 such teams will be formed per country, i.e. 60 people per country.
- Supporting the conduct of online events and support for the Web platform of the Centers for Tolerance within the Project.
- Conducting a series of “Blogging School” trainings for youth, consisting of 6 one-to-two-day trainings. Participants will learn how to work with social media to support the web platform.
- Organization of media space. An initiative youth group creates media content for trainings, events, and social media.
