On 12 August, Ashgabat hosted the YOUTHx festival, dedicated to International Youth Day. This was reported by the news agency Orient.

The event, organised by the EU Delegation to Turkmenistan in cooperation with ‘Creative Corner’ and ‘Ynamly Kepil’, brought together young people from the capital to learn, socialise and exchange ideas.

The festival programme was dedicated to developing skills that are in demand in the digital age: communication, leadership, teamwork and project management. Participants attended interactive workshops on public speaking, digital etiquette, goal setting and decision making.

A separate section was devoted to pitching ideas, where young people presented projects on socially significant topics ranging from ecology to inclusiveness. The best initiatives received certificates.

Support for young people and human capital development remain an important area of EU cooperation with Turkmenistan, including the creation of open platforms for dialogue and learning.