The Yay Fest, Azerbaijan’s largest youth festival, continues to unfold. The festival’s fourth week is designated as COP Week, specifically organized for COP29 volunteers. Throughout the week volunteers engaged in various green initiatives and interactive events, focusing on topics such as COP processes, environmental conservation, and the role of youth in tackling climate issues.
From the 5th to the 9th of August, the camp welcomed nearly 230 COP29 volunteers. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Shamakhi and immersed in nature, the event featured interactive training sessions led by experts from the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company, allowing volunteers to enhance their skills through various practical workshops. The camp’s extensive training programme seeks to raise youth awareness of climate issues, enhance environmental education, and encourage sustainable behaviours. while also expanding their understanding of the COP process.
During the camp, an interactive session titled “In Service of Nature” was organised by the IDEA Public Union, where Elchin Babayev, the head of Baku State University, highlighted how the youth’s responsible approach to the environment contributes to collective efforts.
It is worth noting that, following President Ilham Aliyev’s Order, the year 2024 has been declared the Year of Solidarity for a Green World in Azerbaijan. In this context, and with the country set to host the prestigious COP29 event this year, the 2024 camps at Yay Fest are placing a special emphasis on ecology, climate change, environmental conservation, and the role of youth in tackling these issues, including topics related to COP29. Organised under the slogan “Together for a Greener Future”, this year’s festival is jointly organised with the support of the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation, IDEA Public Union, COP29 Presidency, the Union of Azerbaijan Student Youth Organisations, the Union of Azerbaijan Volunteer Organisations, the “CAVAN” Youth Movement Public Union, and the Young Volunteers Public Union. The festival, consisting of eight camps and spanning a duration of two months, will see the participation of over 2,000 young people in total.
