Growing up in post-conflict Tajikistan, Mahnoz Rahimzoda saw few spaces for youth voices in public life. “There was no space for students to share their thoughts or take part in global discussions,” she says. “I wanted to get involved, but I didn’t know where to start.”
That changed when she joined a youth workshop organised by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Programme Office in Dushanbe (OSCE POiD). Inspired, she stayed on to help organise future events. Today, Mahnoz leads the OSCE Alumni Programme, Network by Consensus, connecting more than 1,700 young people across Central Asia. She also helped launch Central Asia (+) Youth Talks with the OSCE, later engaging the World Bank to co-host, giving youth a seat at the table in discussions on peace, climate, and gender.
Through the Kofi Annan Changemakers programme, Mahnoz deepened her leadership journey even further:
- Expanded her youth engagement work across Central Asia
- Built trust and delegation skills that helped her lead remotely while studying abroad
- Found a global network of peers and intergenerational mentors who share her values.
“I realised that leadership doesn’t mean doing it all yourself—it means building a community that shares the mission.”
And the ripple effects are tangible. Young people with whom Mahnoz worked have gone on to lead initiatives in education, climate, and technology. One participant now works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Another created Tajikistan’s first comics. Others launched STEM programmes for girls or built the country’s first online learning platform.
From a single workshop to a region-wide movement, Mahnoz is showing how proper support can fuel long-term youth leadership.