Oriented on making people closer

The UNODC Regional Youth Network in Central Asia for Turkmenistan, together with the youth initiative Creative Corner Turkmenistan, held an interactive workshop on digital skills and media literacy at the UN House in Ashgabat. The age range of participants ranged from 14 to 40 years old, which created a dynamic environment for sharing knowledge and experience needed to behave confidently and responsibly in the digital space.

A workshop focused on real results

The workshop aimed to develop key digital skills, improve media literacy and inform about methods of preventing psychoactive substance use in the digital environment. As part of the event, participants learned:

✅ Developing digital skills – mastering tools and platforms for effective online interaction

✅ Media literacy – critical perception of information, identifying disinformation and fact-checking

✅ Preventing psychoactive substance use in the digital environment – gnizing harmful content and creating a culture of digital safety.

Interactive training format

The workshop was distinguished by its practical and interactive approach. Participants worked with real scenarios, analyzing information from a media literacy perspective, and also participated in group exercises, developing critical thinking and teamwork skills.

Shukurgeldi Myradov, leader of the UNODC Regional Youth Network for Turkmenistan, emphasized the importance of digital responsibility in the context of substance use prevention: “In today's digital world, media literacy and critical thinking are becoming essential skills. Young people are increasingly exposed to disinformation, including content promoting drug use. This workshop was intended to become a platform for developing digital skills, forming a responsible approach to information consumption and raising awareness of methods to counter dangerous content.”

In turn, Abdyrahim Agadzhikov, the speaker of the session and the founder of the Creative Corner Turkmenistan initiative, noted that the seminar contributed to the development of thinking and an innovative approach to the perception of information: “Creativity is not only an art, but also a way of thinking, solving problems and analyzing information. In the conditions of information overload, it is important to learn to critically perceive sources, question data and effectively use digital tools. This seminar helped participants not only to better navigate the media space, but also to apply a creative approach in everyday life.”

Building a safer digital future

The workshop proved its effectiveness and relevance: participants gained valuable knowledge about digital technologies, developed critical thinking skills, and learned how to protect themselves from disinformation and harmful content. The event highlighted the importance of youth initiatives aimed at digital security.

The UNODC Regional Youth Network plans to continue working in this direction, providing young people in Turkmenistan and Central Asia with more opportunities for development in the digital era.

ORIENT

Photo: Creative Corner Turkmenistan