On October 13, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, Turkmenistan successfully hosted the final stage of the nationwide competition “Youth for a Safe Future”. The event was organized by the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan (NRCST) jointly with UNICEF within the framework of the Program “Strengthening Local and National Capacities for Emergency Preparedness and Response”. The initiative aimed to enhance young people’s knowledge and awareness of disaster risk reduction, foster a culture of safety, develop decision-making skills in emergency situations, and actively engage the younger generation in preparedness efforts.

The competition brought together young people aged 16 to 20, including students from 120 targeted “Green Schools,” NRCST volunteers, and participants of the “Wheelchair Tennis” program of the Tennis Federation of Turkmenistan. The organizers placed special emphasis on inclusivity and equal opportunity, ensuring reasonable accommodations and full accessibility across all stages for participants with disabilities and special needs.

The competition took place in two key stages. During the initial selection round from October 1 to 5, held remotely, participants submitted original essays on the topic “How can youth contribute to disaster risk reduction?”. From hundreds of submissions, a central panel of judges comprising specialists from NRCST and UNICEF selected up to 130 finalists—20 from each region (velayat) and 30 from Ashgabat city.

The final stage was held simultaneously on October 13 across six venues: in Ahal, Balkan, Dashoguz, Lebap, and Mary velayats, as well as in Ashgabat city. It was conducted as an interactive tabletop simulation exercise featuring practical and physical activity elements woven into a continuous scenario. Teams of 5 were formed on-site through random assignment among the qualified finalists. Throughout the exercise, participants demonstrated not only theoretical knowledge, but also strong teamwork, risk assessment, and rapid decision-making in simulated emergency situations.

Following the intensive team tasks, the jury selected one winning team at each of the six regional locations. All members of the winning teams were awarded valuable prizes from the organizers. The competition highlighted the high commitment and willingness of Turkmenistan’s youth to contribute actively to building safe and resilient communities.