Ashgabat, 5 November 2020: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Turkmenistan and the Youth Organization of Turkmenistan named after Magtymguly started two new professional trainings in an online format for young people.

The goal of the trainings is to provide professional art skills to young people who’ve been facing difficult economic situation due to unemployment or underemployment. The trainings engage over 75 young men and women from five regions of Turkmenistan and Ashgabat.

“The main purpose of our project is to provide inclusive opportunities for young men and women in our country for their development, employment and involvement in their communities. Some of these trainings are taught by peers.  I am proud of our trainers – very talented young people who became high performing professionals in their areas. The choice for the professions to offer in this training was also a response to the needs and interests of young people voiced at numerous meetings in the pilot cities of Ashgabat, Mary, Tejen, Turkmenabat, Turkmenbashi and Dasoguz.  Photography and Graphic Design are among the top professions now and are in high demand.” noted Mehri Karakulova, UNDP youth project coordinator.

Currently, the trainings are conducted in online format.  To ease the process, project staff developed a series of text and video lessons in Russian and Turkmen languages available at https://orient.tm/category/lesson/ to help young people to get to the level of regular users of Internet.  Online format of the trainings is now becoming popular among youth.  They enjoy being able to learn professional skills in an online format and at the same time they meet new people from all over the country, share their knowledge and experience as well as make friends.

The new series of trainings includes two subjects: the art of photographing aimed at those who are taking their first steps in photography and graphic design course for those who want to become a professional graphic designer. During the workshop, young people develop skills of using professional photo cameras and special graphic software. Professionals from the respective spheres shared their experience and knowledge of the application and use of the art skills in daily lives.  The art of photographing will proceed for 7 days, the graphic design courses will proceed for 10 days.

The joint project  “Strengthening Community Resilience and Regional Cooperation to Prevent Violent Extremism in Central Asia” funded by the Government of Japan has already provided opportunities for over 600 young men and women in 6 pilot cities of the project were able to get the professions of their interest, receive instruments and equipment to start employment.  85% of these young people were able to get a job, find self-employment and started own small businesses.