The Emerging Leaders Conference (ELC) is designed to identify outstanding high school age students in Turkmenistan with demonstrated leadership skills and to encourage their development as leaders. The ELC is a 4-day event that guides participants through self-exploration and evaluation of their own leadership strengths and weaknesses. Through study sessions, workshops and lectures from guest speakers, participants are empowered to understand their leadership capabilities and find ways to continue to develop their leadership skills. At the conclusion of the ELC, students gather to share original essays they have written about their leadership role models and to participate in group reflection. As a final project, the students plan and carry out a community service project after the conference concludes. The Emerging Leaders Conference emphasizes servant leadership and prepares young high school students to become community leaders.

ELC is held annually during January in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Applications for the 2012 ELC will be made available in early December on our website. Contact the ELC Program Manager at ELC@tycvf.org for more information.