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YOUTH LEADER: Samir Tagiyev

Samir Tagiyev, founder of the YES Azerbaijan Network, is leading the way for a new generation of leaders in his country.  As Azerbaijan transitions from its soviet legacy to a market-oriented economy, the transformation requires an equally important shift in mind-set.  Samir is at the helm of a movement to push young people to think in new democratic terms. 

While attending a university in Baku, Azerbaijan, Tagiyev noted the prevalence of a system of bribery was hindering his education. Aside from the traditional implications associated with such actions, these bribes were also an indication of an inadequate education system.  Samir felt that bribery was limiting classroom learning, hindering student’s educational progression, and imparting incorrect values and morals.  He observed that inadequate teaching was leading students to failing test scores, which were ultimately being rectified by students bribing the teacher in order to pass the class and progress through the university.   The financial burden of this custom was accompanied by the implicit skill deficiency acquired through this system.  Those students, who did graduate from university, often found that they have not gained the necessary knowledge and skills to be competitive in the job market.  

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It is in response to this problem that Samir formed Youth Without Frontiers, a student association to advocate and lobby for the interests of youth.  Samir organized his peers around a petition against paying to not learn. The group undertook awareness raising activities with teachers and students and brought to light the injustices that were taking place at the expense of the students’ learning.  Soon the movement expanded from Samir’s university to others in Azerbaijan and as the name implies, its reach has no limits. 

Samir estimates that the interventions had a positive effect on at least 30 percent of the students from his university. They lobbied for their rights, and consequently partook in real classroom learning that resulted in actual high grades and the skills needed to land them a job.  “In fact,” he says, “many of the students that were part of this movement in 1998-1999 are now running for government positions, some in the Ministry of Youth.”  Samir calls this movement his positive mafia for youth development.

Motivated by his belief that youth can make a difference, and need support, Samir continues to be involved in youth development today through his work with Youth without Frontiers, the Youth Employment Summit (YES) Campaign, and other bilateral and multilateral projects.  His efforts are currently focused on a Youth Parliament initiative, in which he and a Youth Employment Coalition are working to form a link with the newly elected parliamentarians who are soon to take office.  His goal is that the Youth Parliament will be able to work with the new parliamentarians to provide input on youth needs, and potential means of addressing them.  This plan is supported by the Minister of Youth, and the good news is that the current leader of the Parliament has allowed this Youth Parliament to sit-in on its very first session.