The democracy requires active participation of citizens. The media should keep citizens engaged in the business of governance by informing them. However, media remains underdeveloped in most Eurasian countries where Turkmens reside, while ethnic minorities are also marginalized in several countries of the region. The project of the Foundation for Educational and Media Initiatives will inform millions of Turkmens in Eurasia about democratic values through media outlets in the Turkmen language.
The total number of Turkmens in Russia, South Asia and the Middle East is close to 15 million, which is three times more than those in Turkmenistan. Most of them are deprived of recognition as a separate ethnic group and they feel disadvantaged for political and ethnic reasons. There is almost no Turkmen-language independent media in those countries and the vacuum is often filled by extremist ideologies and authoritarian messages contrary to the universal values of justice and human dignity.
The project will address the problem by providing knowledge and information for the millions of Turkmens in the region on anti-terrorism issues, women rights and gender equality, children's rights, civil rights, tolerance, rights of minorities, media freedom, free-market economy and other information via Turkmen-language media platforms and engaging them in support of democracy. It would also help the Turkmen voices in those countries to be heard by the international community.
The anticipated outcome of this project will be an increased number of socially conscious, politically literate and active Turkmen communities in Eurasia, who will be able to influence the direction and process of governance in their host countries. It will foster peace and social consensus, and promote tolerance without which democratization is threatened. It will provide warring group mechanisms for mediation, representation and voice needed to settle differences peacefully.
