IRI Hosts Youth Civic Activism Conference

November 20, 2004

November 20-21 - IRI conducted a youth conference entitled "Civic Activism: Moving from Ideas to Action" in Lenkoran, Azerbaijan. Approximately 60 youths representing both ruling and opposition parties, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and students from five regions (Sabirabad, Saatli, Imishli, Masalli, and Lenkoran) attended the two-day event. The format of the conference was largely interactive and included workshops on NGO formation, fundraising, and volunteerism, as well as group discussions on regional issues and development of a specific action plan.

Conference participants put their civic activism into action one afternoon during the event when they initiated and implemented their own volunteer projects. Some assisted a local orphanage, while others completed odd jobs at the city museum or planted trees at the university campus. One group went to the streets of central Lenkoran and conducted a get-out-the-vote campaign for the municipal elections as well as a mini polling project, asking more than 100 people about their views on municipalities.

The conference was part of IRI's continued youth program in Azerbaijan designed to encourage youth to be active in politics and their communities.

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