Azerbaijan Launches 7th Diaspora Youth Summer Camp in Zangilan Under ‘Reviving Cities’ Theme
Zangilan, The Gulf Observer: Azerbaijan officially inaugurated the 7th Diaspora Youth Summer Camp in the Zangilan district on August 2, bringing together more than 120 young representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora from 64 countries for a week-long programme focused on cultural heritage, national identity, and urban revitalisation.
The camp is jointly organised by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. In line with President Ilham Aliyev’s decree declaring 2026 as the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture” in Azerbaijan, this year’s edition is being held in the East Zangezur region under the theme “Reviving Cities.”
The opening ceremony featured a retrospective video highlighting President Ilham Aliyev’s historic visit to Zangilan and the official raising of Azerbaijan’s national flag in the city. Participants also viewed presentations showcasing the achievements of previous Diaspora Youth Summer Camps and the ongoing activities of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora.
The camp, which will continue until August 8, is designed to provide young members of the Azerbaijani diaspora with a comprehensive understanding of the history, culture, and post-conflict development of East Zangezur and Garabagh.
The programme includes visits to Azerbaijan’s liberated territories, educational workshops, panel discussions, Azerbaijani language classes, and interactive sessions with government officials, experts, families of martyrs, and war veterans.
Organisers said the initiative aims to strengthen the ties between young diaspora members and their ancestral homeland while promoting awareness of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage and reconstruction efforts in the liberated regions.
The Diaspora Youth Summer Camp was first launched in Sheki in 2018 and has since been hosted in Shamakhi, Shusha, Nakhchivan, Lachin, and Khankendi. Over the years, the programme has brought together more than 700 young participants from 84 countries, serving as an important platform for fostering engagement between Azerbaijan and its global diaspora.
