Author: Grana Ziia, AFEW-Kyrgyzstan
On March 19, the ground floor of the Palace of Sports in Bishkek was crowded: teenagers, civil servants, representatives of the city hall and non-governmental organisations, social workers of district administrations and AFEW-Kyrgyzstan team all gathered together for the opening ceremony of a new youth centre.
In the spacious hall, decorated with felt paintings and bright red wallpapers, the Deputy Director of the State Agency for Youth Affairs, Physical Culture and Sports Mirlan Parkhanov welcomes all the guests. He says that this centre was opened last year to organise events and conferences for young people.
– Now, with the support of AFEW-Kyrgyzstan, a teenage centre is opened here. A psychologist and a social worker are now working here. They will organise free counselling for adolescents and their parents, organise useful leisure activities for young people, those who wish can join sport clubs and do other extracurricular activities, – Mr. Parkhanov is saying and inviting all guests for a tour around the centre.
The most important thing is to have trust from children
Guests are entering the interactive room. Judging by the interest with which they take pictures there, they like this room very much. Inside there is a dozen of bright fashionable beanbags, a shelf with board games and brochures about health, family planning, and drug use prevention. On the walls, there are posters with the rules of the centre and announcements of various competitions and grants for young people. There is a computer, a projector and a big screen for teenagers in the corner of the room.
Another room is a room for the staff of the centre and individual consultations of adolescents with a psychologist, social workers and other specialists. It is cosy here. There are also felt paintings and framed carpet, cookies on the table, and a few pillows on the sofa.
– We tried to create the most relaxed atmosphere here so that the children can trust us. I hope it worked out! – says the psychologist of the centre Margarita.
A place for useful leisure and development
After the tour, the guests gather in the conference room again. AFEW-Kyrgyzstan manager Chinara Imankulova begins the presentation of the services of the youth centre and talks about the idea of opening the centre.
– Last year, with the support of the Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP), AFEW-Kyrgyzstan conducted a study on the prevalence of psychoactive substances usage among adolescents in Kyrgyzstan. The data obtained showed that it was time to begin working on prevention. Thus, this centre appeared. We want all teenagers to come here, and not just those who use psychoactive substances or are in a difficult life situation. Here, teenagers will have a safe space to relax, to talk to their peers and get professional support, – says Chinara.
The psychologist and social worker of the centre add that this form of work with adolescents is the most effective. When children come from different groups, they communicate with each other, share interests and help each other. Therefore, no one feels deprived and lonely.
Joined efforts are needed
In her presentation, Chinara is saying that the centre will also function to increase the capacity of psychologists, social workers and pedagogues, doctors and juvenile inspectors. Guests perceive the news with enthusiasm, because, according to them, there is a need for constant professional growth.
The guests of the event are also saying that Bishkek needs such a centre for a long time. They also talk about the problems they face in their practice. After the discussion, they develop a plan of cooperation with the centre: how to guide children, how to interest them, how to organise training sessions.
Employees of professional lyceums are saying that they are ready to hold master classes for teenagers; representatives of the city hall promise to help with the transportation for outdoor events; the department of physical culture and sports is ready to engage teenagers from the centre in free sports activities. After all, only with joined efforts, we can build a healthy future.
