“I don’t want to simply learn about climate change—I want to be part of the solution. Through this Summer School, I hope to gain the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful contribution to my community, represent the voices of young people from Turkmenistan in climate discussions and inspire other young people to take action,” said participant Lachyn Durdyyeva.
“Being selected through this highly competitive process is a great honour. The Summer School is a unique opportunity to learn from leading experts, collaborate with like-minded young people from across the country and develop practical solutions that can help our communities become more resilient to climate change,” said participant Rahman Garahanov.
The 2026 Youth Climate Summer School will serve as the official preparatory platform for LCOY Turkmenistan 2026, the national youth climate conference endorsed by YOUNGO, the official youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). As part of the programme, participants will contribute to developing the National Youth Statement for COP31, ensuring that the priorities and perspectives of young people in Turkmenistan are reflected in global climate discussions.
For UNICEF, supporting youth leadership means creating opportunities for young people not only to discuss climate challenges but also to actively shape and advance solutions. Following the Summer School, participants will have the opportunity to design and implement their own youth-led climate initiatives, with selected projects receiving mentoring and technical support from UNICEF and partner organizations. Through initiatives such as the Youth Climate Summer School, UNICEF is helping strengthen meaningful youth participation in decision-making and empowering young people to become agents of positive change for a more sustainable future.
