Youth Leadership Camp Fosters Cross=Cultural Understanding in the North Caucasus

A group of 85 talented and motivated young leaders from across the North Caucasus gathered at a mountainous retreat in the Elbrus region of Kabardino-Balkaria for a ten-day Youth Leadership Camp.

Held from July 22 through August 2, the camp provided youth between the ages of 18 and 24 with a unique opportunity to develop their leadership skills while learning about the diverse cultures of the North Caucasus through trainings, sports, and cross-cultural events. The camp included delegations from Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, and Stavropolski Krai. In selecting participants, the Youth Initiative for the Promotion of Peace in the North Caucasus (YIPP) staff made a particular effort to reach out to youth from multi-ethnic villages in remote areas that had not previously benefitted from international development assistance.

The intensive camp training curriculum was designed by expert trainers from Moscow who had previously conducted a Training of Trainers (TOT) program for a group of 14 young trainers, YIPP alumni, and staff. Participants were divided into five smaller groups. The camp training curriculum included such topics as leadership, project writing and implementation, effective communication, teambuilding, ethnic conflicts and conflict resolution, peace and tolerance, cross-cultural interaction, and multiethnic understanding. Trainers presented a range of theoretical material that was reinforced through interactive exercises and group discussion. For example, a communication exercise required participants to work together to draw a picture of their group as a living organism, with each member comprising an integral part. Each trainer carefully observed group dynamics during the exercise and led a discussion analyzing questions such as who played what role in the group during the exercise, who did not actively participate, and why.

The training sessions were complemented by opportunities for participants to gain practical leadership and management experience. Participants elected their own government – including a president and committees on health, sports, culture, and media. Each committee planned activities, such as contest promoting healthy lifestyles and a demonstration of wedding traditions. Educational activities were mixed with volleyball and football, yoga classes, mountain hikes, and a day-long trip to Mount Elbrus. In the evenings, participants gathered to watch presentations on different Republics, participate in skits and games, and share their national dances with their new friends.

The camp was organized by IREX as part of the Youth Initiative for the Promotion of Peace in the North Caucasus (YIPP) program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). YIPP aims to reduce the potential for violence in the North Caucasus by empowering youth from isolated and conflict-prone communities with the skills and knowledge they need to serve as catalysts for community and economic development.