Center for Friendship, Interethnic Harmony and Tolerance

FOR WHOM IS THE CENTER CREATED?

The Centers of Friendship were established as part of the European Union-funded project “Cross-Border and Cross-Sector Dialogue for Tolerance and Peace in Central Asia” aimed at strengthening multilateral cross-border dialogue and cooperation between Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to promote tolerance and mutual understanding and prevent radicalization.

Purpose of the Center: To function as a “Hub” – a dynamic networking hub for various cross-border initiatives, capacity building activities for civil society organizations and youth discussion platforms, and the development of educational and informational materials.

The activities of the Center within the framework of the Project:

Building and strengthening the capacity of students and local civil society actors, in order to promote mutual understanding, peacebuilding and good inter-ethnic relations, ethnic and religious tolerance.
Supporting various formats of dialogue, such as discussion clubs, debate programs, trainings, and regional youth expert forums.

Target groups:

Youth in all three target countries (ages 18 to 35)

• Youth activists from local grassroots organizations
• Young representatives in local authorities
• Young teachers in universities in the border regions
• High school students and seniors
• Teachers
• Representatives of civil society
• Journalists
• Local communities in the border regions.

Activity in the center:

In accordance with the work plan of the Friendship Centers (CfF) the following activities are envisaged:

• Conducting trainings, debate and discussion programs, educational events, video conferences;
• Conducting CfT for three countries;
• 18 future youth trainers (at least 50% women) attended a special training for trainers (TOT); which was held at the Center CfF in Osh;
• Conducting 10 regular events at the Center;
• 5 different information and 5 dialogue events in each series were held at the centers. (Awareness training sessions with students and civil society representatives and various informational and educational activities, approximately 10 events.) 200 participants from the project’s target groups;
• Support for organizing and conducting at least 6 trainings by a trained team of trainers for youth leaders;
• Each training event will focus on 20 participants, and the total number of young people trained will be about 120, who will then be invited to participate as participants in discussion and debate events;
• Supporting the organization of discussion clubs on the basis of the Center for establishing a sustainable and constructive dialogue in the youth environment (at least 10 events during the Project). A series of meetings of the discussion club was organized with the participation of 20 people at each event, the total number of participants will be 200 people;
• Supporting the organization of debating tournaments at the Center, consisting of 10 events;
• A series of debate tournaments with experts and judges is organized, with 10 tournaments per CfT center. Participants will compete in teams of three;
• It is expected that 20 such teams will be formed per country i.e. 60 people per country;
• Support for online events and support for the Centers’ Web-based platform as part of the Project;
• Conducting a series of trainings “School of Blogging” for young people, consisting of 6 one- or two-day trainings. Participants are trained to work with social networks to support a web platform;
• Organization of media space. The Youth Initiative Group creates media content for trainings, events, and social networks.

The Center is equipped with modern equipment which allows quality holding of various events with the wide involvement of young people, representatives of local state authorities, civil society, journalists and other stakeholders.

The Center is equipped with modern equipment which allows quality holding of various events with the wide involvement of young people, representatives of local state authorities, civil society, journalists and other stakeholders.

The Center provides high-speed and high quality Internet connection for participation in online events and trainings.

The Center is equipped with:

• Video and photo equipment for conducting online events and video and photo filming of the events;
• Laptops for video broadcasting and creation of video content;
• Printer;
• Network media for information storage;
• Software (software for creating cartoon clips, creating videoconferences, etc.)
• Air conditioner with the function of humidification and air purification;
• Bactericidal recirculator;
• Green areas.
• The video production studio with modern equipment, which makes it possible to combine work on a transparent board with shooting video without further editing, drawing clearly visible sketches, graphs, texts, etc.