The Role of Childhood Games in Shaping Adult Life
The Ashgabat Youth Conference of the United Nations held its first regional conference, and it was a remarkable success. Youth from different countries in Central Asia had the opportunity to participate in role-playing games as delegates of the United Nations. This gave the young participants a chance to simulate the activities of UN commissions and committees, and to try and come up with solutions to global issues such as climate change and global security. The young participants underwent these activities as an educational process, as well as an opportunity to develop skills such as diplomacy, leadership, and teamwork.
The USAID Safe Migration in Central Asia project’s Regional Director, Eleanor Valentine, expressed the importance of collective efforts to solve modern global issues. She emphasized that the participation of the youth was crucial in resolving the challenges that the world faces today and will continue to face in the future. A large percentage of the population of Turkmenistan, as well as in Central Asia, is comprised of young people, and they will be the ones responsible for solving these future problems.
In the role-playing games, the young men and women from different countries engaged in stimulating debates and discussions. They were allocated different countries and had to represent their assigned nation during the debates, sometimes supporting opposing points of view which allowed them to see situations from different perspectives. Each session provided an opportunity for the participants to express the views and the position of the country they were representing.
The forum brought together young people and international experts from the United Nations, allowing the young generation to connect and consult with these professionals. The enthusiasm and integrity of the young participants contributed to the success of the conference, along with the collaboration between the Turkmen government, the UN agencies in Turkmenistan, and USAID.
The forum emphasized the importance of the youth’s involvement in addressing global issues. The implementation of this conference provided an opportunity for the young generation to acquire valuable knowledge and experience while exchanging ideas with their peers and international experts. This event not only served an educational purpose but also underlined the significance of the young generation’s contribution to solving future global challenges.
