July 5 marks the 24th anniversary of the establishment of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora. Especially in recent years, the Committee has been implementing various projects aimed at organizing Azerbaijanis living abroad, strengthening diaspora activities, conveying Azerbaijani realities to the international community, and actively involving youth in this process.
During this period, the role of youth living abroad in diaspora activities has particularly increased. Summer camps, forums, training programs, and various projects not only bring together Azerbaijani youth living in different countries around the world but also contribute to the preservation of their national identity and the formation of a unified diaspora network.
Modern.az learned the opinions of young diaspora activists operating in various countries on the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora.
Diaspora activity further strengthened our national identity
Masuma Rustamli, coordinator of Azerbaijani Diaspora Youth in Sweden, stated that she has been living in Gothenburg, Sweden for 11 years and has been involved in diaspora activities for many years. Currently, she is one of the volunteer activists of the Azerbaijan Karabakh Center operating in Sweden, as well as participating in various projects and initiatives as the coordinator of Azerbaijani Diaspora Youth in Sweden.
According to her, although family plays an important role in preserving the mother tongue, national identity, and Azerbaijani values, the projects implemented by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora are of particular importance in this direction:
"I am a living example of this. During my 11 years in Sweden, I have participated in events organized by diaspora organizations. These activities have helped me to understand my identity, language, and culture more deeply. I have learned more about Azerbaijani values and strengthened my national attachment."
M. Rustamli stated that one of the main goals is to raise Azerbaijani children born and raised in Sweden to be connected to their roots. In this direction, various educational projects are implemented with the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora.
"Especially within the framework of the "Let's not forget and let's not let others forget" project, we organize events related to genocide, memorial days of our martyrs, Victory Day, Independence Day, and other significant dates. Thanks to these events, children and youth growing up abroad learn their history, preserve their national identity, and further strengthen their spiritual ties with Azerbaijan."
She noted that the Azerbaijani language school operating in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, also plays an important role in this direction.
"As Azerbaijanis living abroad, we try to represent our country with dignity. We have always felt the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora in conveying correct information about Azerbaijan, promoting our culture, and conveying our realities to the international community. This support enables us to operate with more confidence and on a wider scale."
Masuma Rustamli stated that one of the things that makes her happiest is the strengthening of relations between Azerbaijani youth living in different countries day by day.
"I believe that every Azerbaijani living abroad is an unofficial ambassador of our country. Regardless of where we live, we must represent our Azerbaijan with love and pass on our language and national identity to future generations."
Summer camps and forums lay the foundation for long-term collaborations
Togrul Aliyev, a member of the Board of Directors of the Azerbaijani Diaspora Youth Association (ADY) and coordinator for Italy, believes that the projects implemented in recent years aimed at bringing together Azerbaijani youth living abroad, supporting their initiatives, and strengthening their ties with Azerbaijan are yielding real results.
According to him, he highly appreciates the activities of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora in this regard:
"I must note that especially Summer Camps, forums, various training programs, and youth projects have created very valuable platforms for Azerbaijanis living in different countries to get to know each other, exchange ideas, and put forward common initiatives. These projects are not just events; as a result, long-term friendships, collaborations, new projects, and active diaspora activities are formed."
Togrul Aliyev stated that as members of the Azerbaijani Diaspora Youth platform, they are also active participants in these initiatives, and their experience shows that strengthening relations between Azerbaijani youth living in various countries has a positive impact on both personal development and general diaspora activities.
"Thanks to the connections established and joint initiatives implemented within the framework of the projects organized by the Committee and the comprehensive support provided, a strong environment of cooperation has been formed among young people living in different countries. This helps us to represent Azerbaijan more confidently and professionally in the countries where we live."
He noted that today, diaspora activity is not limited to providing information about the country, but also serves to promote Azerbaijan in various fields.
"In this regard, the support provided by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora to young people makes a significant contribution to their formation as more active, initiative-taking, and responsible diaspora representatives."
According to Togrul Aliyev, one of the most important results of the implemented projects is the strengthening of the sense of solidarity among Azerbaijani youth living in different countries.
"Most importantly, these projects create a feeling of 'I am not alone' among young people. Regardless of where we live, we can unite around common values, support each other, and jointly defend the interests of Azerbaijan. I think this is very important both for the strengthening of our diaspora and for the upbringing of future generations of Azerbaijani youth."
The coordinator for Italy also congratulated the staff of the Committee on the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora.
"Today, it is already clear that the formation of a strong diaspora requires systematic and continuous activity. The State Committee on Work with Diaspora, through the projects it has implemented over the years, has made significant contributions to bringing together our compatriots living abroad, especially young people, strengthening national solidarity, and more active representation of Azerbaijan in the international arena."
He stated that he believes the Committee's activities will expand further in the future.
"I believe that the Committee will continue to expand its activities, provide more support to the initiatives of Azerbaijani youth living abroad, and increase its contribution to the development of our diaspora with new projects and international cooperation platforms. A strong, knowledgeable, and active diaspora is one of Azerbaijan's greatest spiritual pillars in the world, and the continuity of the work done in this direction is of great importance for all of us. I wish the Committee new achievements in its future activities and successful projects that serve to further strengthen the Azerbaijani diaspora."
The support of the Diaspora Committee has contributed to both my professional development and my scientific activities
Murad Aliyev, a diaspora activist operating in China and a doctoral student in Educational Technologies at Beijing Normal University, stated that the activities of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora have made a significant contribution to both his professional development and his more active participation in diaspora activities.
According to him, the Committee's support began primarily with his participation in the VI Summer Camp, and this experience was significant for him both personally and in terms of national identity.
"The State Committee on Work with Diaspora has supported my activities in several important directions. First of all, the opportunities created for my participation in the VI Summer Camp allowed me to communicate directly with Azerbaijani youth living in different countries, learn from their experiences, and become part of a large network. This was a very important experience both for my personal development and in terms of national identity."
Murad Aliyev noted that the information exchange created by the Committee through social platforms and diaspora networks also created conditions for Azerbaijanis living in various countries around the world to become closely acquainted with their activities.
"The information exchange carried out by the Committee through social platforms and diaspora networks allowed me to constantly get acquainted with the activities of Azerbaijanis living in various parts of the world."
He stated that as a researcher, the support provided by the Committee also had a significant impact on reaching a wider audience with his scientific activities.
"At the same time, as a researcher, I want to say that with the support of the Committee, my scientific activities have been covered on various media platforms. This support has enabled me to gain wider recognition both in Azerbaijan and internationally, and to reach a wider audience with my scientific activities."According to Murad Aliyev, the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora was not limited to diaspora activities for him, but also played a great role in his professional development and the strengthening of his national identity.
"Overall, the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora has been significant for me in terms of professional development, networking, and strengthening national identity. I thank you for your support," M. Aliyev emphasized at the end.
