A new youth environmental project has been launched in Azerbaijan’s Gakh region, aiming to turn local young people into active guardians of their natural surroundings. The project, called “Green Life Ambassadors: Ilisu-Sarybash Environmental Educational and Camp Program”, is being run in the villages of Ilisu and Sarybash and will continue until 1 December 2026, according to the project announcement published on 2 November 2026.
The project is supported by the Youth Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, under its grant competition for youth organisations and initiatives in development, innovation and social activity. It is led by Salam Ibragimov.
What the project does
The programme aims to raise environmental knowledge among the youth of the Gakh region, promote a responsible attitude towards nature, and support young people’s active participation in protecting their local territories. Its themes include environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, the consequences of climate change, and the use of environmentally friendly habits in everyday life.
Participants take part in interactive training sessions, group discussions, environmental games and practical activities. They build knowledge and skills in waste reduction and sorting, water and energy conservation, reuse, and the role of young people in protecting nature.
Action in Sarybash village
One important part of the project is an environmental campaign and practical conservation action in the village of Sarybash. Through these activities, participants are expected to strengthen their skills in observing nature, identifying environmental problems in their area, taking part in waste collection and sorting, and working as a team.
The organisers say the project aims not only to educate young people about environmental issues, but to turn them into active participants who bring positive change to the places where they live. Participants are expected to promote environmentally responsible behaviour in their daily lives and to involve others in these initiatives.
Why youth ambassadors matter
Youth ambassador programmes have become a familiar way for communities to spread climate awareness from the ground up: trained young people carry what they learn into their families, schools and neighbourhoods. Similar efforts are under way elsewhere, including a Green Ambassador programme for young climate leaders in Liberia, which Watan News covered earlier this week.
The launch comes as global attention turns to the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026, where youth participation and grassroots climate action are again part of the wider conversation. Azerbaijan itself hosted the COP29 climate conference in Baku in 2024, and youth-focused environmental projects such as this one continue that engagement at community level.
Read more about youth climate leadership: Liberia Opens Green Ambassador Programme for Young Climate Leaders
Key facts
- Project: Green Life Ambassadors: Ilisu-Sarybash Environmental Educational and Camp Program
- Where: Villages of Ilisu and Sarybash, Gakh region, Azerbaijan
- Period: October to December 2026, continuing until 1 December 2026
- Support: Youth Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan
- Led by: Salam Ibragimov
- Activities: Interactive training, group discussions, environmental games, practical conservation action, waste collection and sorting
