Local young people participated in the international training course in Georgia.
The youngsters, supported by “Bridge to the Future” Youth Public Union took part in the training course held in Kobuleti, Georgia between 17.10.2023-25.10.2023, in the frame of Erasmus+ training program “EMPOWER – A program on youth-driven community development”. The program was dedicated to youth empowerment, youth-led community development and organized by European Intercultural Forum e. V. At this training course, 3 members from “Bridge to the Future” YPU represented Azerbaijan among 7 countries. The event aims to develop competences that are needed to empower young people to actively engage in community development. In the frame of training course the Azerbaijani team showcased practical instances directed to the development of youth empowerment in Azerbaijan and also involved in workshops about finding possible solutions for the related issue. To learn more about our organization’s Erasmus+ programme, projects, and announcements, please follow this link: https://bfngo.az/en/erasmus-2/
“Social entrepreneurship skills development program of young people” project ended.
The project “Youth Social Entrepreneurship Skills Development Program” organized by “Bridge to the Future” Youth Public Union with the support of the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan ended with final event of the Forum. In the 1st phase of the project, between 13-15th October, 2023 training course gathered selected 25 participants in Ganja engaged in sessions covering key topics, including “Understanding Social Entrepreneurship,” “Distinguishing Social Entrepreneurship from Charity,” “Business Model Canvas Explanation,” and “Donor Identification.” Additionally, young participants collaborated on different projects team work, delivered presentations, and participated in energizing activities based on non-formal education methods. On October 25, 2023, the final event of the project, the Forum event on “Social entrepreneurship: potential opportunities, current situation and expectations” was held in Ganja. At the event, Parviz Aliyev, head of the Analysis and Work with Partners Department of the Ganja-Dashkasan Regional Employment Branch of the State Employment Agency, Anar Aliyev, the coordinator of the Ganja-Kazakh regional coordination office of the Small and Medium Business (SMB) Development Agency, Tural Rustamov, a startup specialist of the Innovation Center of the Azerbaijan Technology University, and “Tamas Sarvi” LLC SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP the founders of the enterprise Kübra Alakbarova and Sudaba Mammadova participated. Presentations were made about the relevant services and programs of the institutions participating in the forum, including a panel discussion on the field of social entrepreneurship, and the questions of the event participants were answered. The forum event ended with the presentations of the project ideas on social entrepreneurship prepared by the participants of the training course. The project’s main objective is to educate young people residing in Ganja, encouraging them to explore the concept of social entrepreneurship, express their ideas in this field, and establish partnerships with both governmental and private institutions to promote social entrepreneurship. It should be noted that the training course phase of the project was implemented in partnership with the “ASAN Volunteers” Organization.
Our young people participated in the youth exchange project in Italy.
A team of five, supported by “Bridge to the Future” Youth Public Union took part in the Erasmus+ youth exchange “Earth Connects,” held in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy between 26.08.2023-02.09.2023. The event, dedicated to #SDG goals, was co-financed by the European Commission and the Italian Youth Agency, and organized by TDM 2000 International. At this youth exchange program, three members from “Bridge to the Future” YPU and two representatives from the partnering organization “Azerbaijani Students and Alumni Platform (ASAP)” represented Azerbaijan among 12 countries. As part of the exchange program, focused sessions on Sustainable Development Goals equip young participants with information about essential areas like efficient resource utilization and increasing public awareness. The Azerbaijani team showcased practical instances of environmental projects in Azerbaijan, engaged in thematic workshops and also conducted a presentation on the country’s culture. To learn more about our organization’s Erasmus+ programme, projects, and announcements, please follow this link: https://bfngo.az/en/erasmus-2/
The international study visit in the field of youth work in Azerbaijan has ended.
“Bridge to the Future” Youth Public Union hosted the study visit in Azerbaijan within the project ”Discover the Caucasus – 10 Years after: Study visits exploring the youth sector in the Caucasus”. The project was funded by the German National Agency of the EU`s Erasmus+ programme and coordinated by the European Intercultural Forum e. V. (EIF). The project aims to foster transnational partnerships for youth-led community development driven by local and international youth stakeholders committed to a youth-centred approach to education, participation and cooperation. Within the study visit, between July 8-15, 2023, there were visits to various state and non-governmental organizations operating in the field of youth work in Baku and Ganja, and their experiences and activities were presented to participants of the visit. During the study visit, visits were carried out accordingly, to the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Youth Foundation, National Assembly of Youth Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (NAYORA), ASAN Youth Organization, Ganja Youth House, as well as different non-governmental organizations operating in Baku and Ganja, presentations and panel discussions were held about the youth policy and youth work conducted in Azerbaijan. 28 young people from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain and Ukraine participated in the study visit. It should be noted that the National Assembly of Youth Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (NAYORA) and Tourism Volunteers Organization provided technical support in the implementation of the project.
The organisation was represented in the PBA in Czech Republic.
Huseynkhan Hajizada, Chairman of “Bridge to the Future” Youth Public Union, participated in the international activity “Volunteering beyond borders – creating partnerships for European Solidarity Corps projects involving neighboring partner countries” in Prague, Czech Republic, on June 25-29, 2023. The Czech National Agency in cooperation with the partners of the Strategic Cooperation of National Agencies and SALTOs “Beyond Borders” is organising a Partnership-building activity (PBA) to foster volunteering projects and partnerships between Programme countries and neighbouring partner countries within the European Solidarity Corps. About 80 expert representatives from more than 24 countries and 65 organizations were represented in the partnership building activity.
The project “Our cultural capital city: In the research of youth” has been completed.
The project “Our cultural capital city: in the research of youth” implemented with the financial support of the Youth Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan and “Bridge to the Future” Youth Public Union has been completed. 15 local young researchers who won the right to participate in the project conducted research on the history, monuments, cuisine, folklore and other cultural examples of the city of Shusha, and booklets were prepared as a result of the research. “Shusha Cultural Festival” was held in Ganja city in order to ensure the presentation of booklets printed within the framework of the project and to ensure the awareness of the city population about the project. The festival was surrounded by the presentation (distribution) of “SHUSHA” booklets and music for the local pupulation of Ganja city. At the last stage, the booklets were presented in secondary educational institutions No. 10, 16, 24, 27 and 41 operating in Ganja city, and booklets were presented to a total of 100 students. It should be noted that the purpose of the project is to educate young people studying in the city of Ganja and the city population about the history, monuments, cuisine, folklore and other cultural examples of the city of Shusha through booklets, informative sessions and a festival, and in addition, to create resources in this direction.
The representative of the union participated in the international seminar in Poland
The representative of “Bridge to the Future” Youth Public Union, Fatima Valiyeva participated in the international seminar “XXISTRIM – XXISTRIM – Building On the Past, Looking Towards the Future” held within the #Erasmus+ Programme in Krakow, Poland between 9-13 November, 2022. The aim of the project is to share the best practices of the European Solidarity Corps by the participants, to conduct discussions and workshops to make these projects more inclusive and sustainable. Furthermore, within the framework of the project, the participants visited the schools and kindergartens in which ESC volunteers are hosted, many activities have been organized in order to plan possible collaborations and further actions. The representative of the organization had a meeting with Ilahin Huseynov, an ESC volunteer who is doing ESC in the STRIM organization by the support of “Bridge to the Future” Youth Public Union in Krakow. In the meeting, they have discussed about his activities in the kindergarten. It should be noted that 30 representatives from 10 different programme and partner countries participated in the project.
“Supporting small entrepreneurship and business activities of regional youth” project ended.
“Bridge to the Future” Youth Public Union carried out the training courses within the project “Supporting small entrepreneurship and business activities of regional youth” funded by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The goal of the project is to increase the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills of young people from Ganja and surrounding regions in realizing their small business ideas, and at the same time to give a partial boost to solving the problem of youth employment in the region. On December 3-7, 2022 in Ganja city, 25 young participants selected from Ganja and surrounding regions were trained on “Business entrepreneurship and business idea development”, “Branding in business activity” and “Financial field”. Sessions were held on the main topics of preliminary information and registration of entrepreneurial activities. The training course was conducted based on non-formal education methods.
“I Agricultural Innovation Fair” was organised in Ganja
On October 25, 2022, within the framework of the “Strengthening of Agricultural Advisory Services (AAS)” project I Agricultural Innovation Fair was organized in Ganja. The main goal of the I Agricultural Innovations Exhibition, which is implemented through the partnership of state and private institutions, is to create a synergy – a bridge between individuals and institutions engaged in the field of Agriculture. Representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Agrarian Services Agency (ASA) under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Executive Power of Ganja City, parliament members of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the rector of the Azerbaijan State Agrarian University (ASAU) participated in the event as official guests. The “Strengthening of Agricultural Advisory Services” project is conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the financial support of the European Union. In addition to the preparation of the five-year strategy, it also operates in the direction of testing the proposed model in 2 regions of the country – Ganja-Gazakh and Guba-Khachmaz.
A Database of Service Providers is being created for members of the Commodity-Based Agrarian Advisory Platform in the Ganja-Gazakh region
A Database of Service Providers is being created for members of the Commodity-BasedAgrarian Advisory Platform in the Ganja –Gazakh region of Azerbaijan within the framework ofthe “Strengthening Agrarian Advisory Services (AAS)” project which will consist of at least 50consultants. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Food andAgriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The main task of the service provider database is to create and increase database of AASproviders working nationwide in agricultural field in order to create financialresources/opportunities for the CBAA platform members. Also is proactively to assist facilitatorsto increase Service Provider networks of private and public advisors from research, academic,and consultancy sector, output buyers, input sellers, credit services, etc. (at least 50 advisors) The Service Provider shall also involve relevant specialists from local and regional AAS sectoron as-needed basis to provide advisory services on issues demanded by CBAA members,simultaneously shall identify business opportunities for the CBAA platforms to raise funds. In initial phase our expert Jafar Jafarli met with facilitators from 3 regions (Samukh, Shamkir,Agstafa) in order to discuss in detail further steps to increase database of network of private andpublic agrarian providers from research, academic, and consultancy sector, output buyers, inputsellers, credit services, etc. which basically covers the value chain. Currently, 20 people from theGanja-Kazakh region have been met and their consent has been obtained to join the platform, theprocess will continue until the 50 members are completed.