Young people of Kyrgyzstan need to be heard!

Samar Kanatov Start Date: Sep 28, 2021 - End Date: Oct 22, 2021
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Leadership/Training Program
  • Professional Development
  • Glasgow, United Kingdom

My Travel Story

by: Samar Kanatov Start Date: Sep 28, 2021 - End Date: Oct 22, 2021
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Leadership/Training Program
  • Professional Development
My name is Samar Kanatov. I am a second year student at American University of Central Asia. This year I have been selected as a delegate for the 16th UN Climate Change Conference of Youth — COY16 — to represent Kyrgyzstan in Glasgow, UK.

I have been working in the field of climate advocacy with young people for several years. One of my most notable pursuits was the position of a Youth Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #13, Climate action. Furthermore, earlier this year in an initiative team of young climate activists I co-organized The First UN Youth Conference on climate change in Kyrgyzstan — Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) 2021. It is a local version of COY, the global conference, and has been approved by the YOUNGO/UNFCCC to be organized by our team in Kyrgyzstan. 

Since I was born and raised in a small village in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan, I know from personal experience the difficulties young people from the countryside and remote areas face in their longing for self-development.

Nowadays, they are still deprived of many opportunities and it is currently even fortified and hardened by the effects of climate change on rural people’s lives, those who are most exposed to it. Hence, I plan on focusing on the work with youth on their education and resilience to climate change, raising new climate leaders of our region. 

For my plans and future aspirations of community service, participation in COY16 is an exceptional opportunity. It will not only provide a chance to present Kyrgyzstan's youth’s Statement on climate change that we jointly constituted recently to the global community, but will also serve as a ground to learn and prepare for engagement on even higher levels.

Growing on this experience, I will be able to speak for young people of my country and region, for their future under the increasing challenges of climate change effect. I am eager to reciprocate this experience as service to my university as well as to my country and whole region with the perspective of participation in COPs in the future.



  • Glasgow, United Kingdom

More Travel Information