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SwapUp Astana Coming

SwapUp
Leadership Project

‘We unite Central Asian Youth for Change’
SwapUp is a youth initiative established in 2023 and runs events such as:

Leadership Skills
🪧 We teach Leadership Skills
Projects
🪧 We upscale your small Projects
Central Asian Community
🪧 We are uniting Central Asian Community

What is SwapUp?

SwapUp was founded in 2023 as a youth initiative to run book exchange and SDG Events. We have over 12 events and 1,480 participants. From 2025 we moved to fully-funded Leadership Programs and our goal is to unite Central Asia with programs.

1.4k+Impacted
12+Events Run
About The Project

SwapUp Unites
Central Asia for Change

Our History
2023
Book Exchange

Book Exchange

SwapUp started in 2023 as a book-exchange event. Our concept was “One Book- One Saved Tree”. We conducted it in 5 cities and exchanged over 586 used books.

2024
SDG Awareness

SDG Awareness

SwapUp added in 2024 SDG Awareness Events where we shared our insights on fighting global problems. Average of 150+ people event in over 6 cities.

2025
Leadership Programs

Leadership Programs

SwapUp moved in 2025 to Leadership Platform where we teach 5-fully funded leaders how to launch their youth initiatives. 2 programs run until 2026.

About SwapUp Baku

Win your Spot to
Baku

SwapUp Baku is our 3rd fully-funded 3-day leadership program where YOU as youth can skyrocket your project ideas and your leadership skills. We have 15 funded seats—5 fully-funded, 5 partially funded, and 5 self-funded.

Who can apply

  • 15-35 years of age
  • Citizens of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
  • Students, young workers, project owners, passionate youth with social activities
  • Passionate to create change in your community
  • Has social activities like project, club, community, academic activity, volunteering experience
  • Any fields can apply

What SwapUp
Values Most

🗣️
Value 1

Youth Who Have a Voice

🌍
Value 2

Youth Who Change the Community

🤝
Value 3

Youth Who Unite People Together

Program Timeline

SwapUp Leadership
Baku Program

24–26 April 2026
01
Day 1 - 24 April

Social Activity
Program

Packed with unique social activities and tests to develop your impact.

  • Your Leadership Style
  • Your Communication Skills
  • Your Project Impact
Social Activity
02
Day 2 - 25 April

Academic Mentorship
Day

Deep dive trainings on your project image and branding with owners.

  • Branding & Leadership Session
  • NGO Owner Training
  • Startup Owner Training
  • BrandFace Owner Training
Mentorship
03
Day 3 - 26 April

Graduation & Cultural
Activity

Finalize your journey with certification and explore the beauty of Baku.

  • Official Certification Ceremony
  • Project Video Shootings
  • Cultural Tour around Baku
Graduation
Our Mission

Our goal is to unite
Central Asian Youth with

Building a sustainable ecosystem for the next generation of leaders.

Goal 1

Leadership Programs

We create fully-funded leadership programs across CIS countries with a specific focus on Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan.

Target:

Upscale youth initiatives across CIS and create a powerful network across Central Asia.

Goal 2

SDG Awareness

We travel across whole regions within CIS to run massive awareness events focused on SDG issues that youth faces daily.

Target:

To empower youth with the tools and knowledge needed for meaningful community change.

Goal 3

Leadership Clubs

Our future vision is to collaborate with student unions to create SwapUp Leadership Clubs where youth can announce projects and invite others to join.

Target:

Create a robust network between student unions for project exchange and participation.

If you want to help us and host events or host a club, please contact us through our email

News are coming

Are you waiting for our
new leadership programs?

June 2026

Tashkent Summer Camp

Get ready for an intensive leadership experience in the heart of Uzbekistan.

August 2026

Astana Leadership Program

Join elite youth leaders in the capital of Kazakhstan for project scaling sessions.

Stay tuned for applications!
Roadmap

SwapUp
Future Vision

Pioneering the future of Central Asian youth connection.

Central Asia
Central Asia Vision
Year 2027

Target 1: Leadership Clubs

Create Leadership Clubs in collaboration with student unions of Central Asian Top Universities where students exchange their projects and gain audience for them.

Year 2028

Target 2: SwapUp Union App

Connect Leadership Clubs within all student unions with one single app, where members can announce their projects/events/initiatives and join those initiatives with all travel expenses covered by us.

If you want to support us in our initiatives, please contact us through our email

FAQ

Common Questions

Young passionate people who are aged 15-35 years old. You must be citizen of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan. School/lyceum/university students, social workers and professionals workers are welcome to apply.

Yes, in total we have 15 funded seats

5 fully-funded seats, 5 partially funded seats and 5 self funded seats.

You can choose which category works for you best and apply.

Fully-funded package includes full coverage of your participation in our program, namely we will provide:

  • Full rounded airfare trip
  • Hotel Booking
  • Meals at the event
  • Program Participation fee
  • Merchandise
  • Cultural Tour
  • Official Certification
  • Alumni Status after graduation

We have 15 seats in total. There are 3 funded types that you can apply: 5 fully-funded, 5 partially-funded, and 5 self-funded.

1) Apply for fully-funded if you are sure about your passion and your vision to create change in community.

2) Apply for partially-funded if you are sure about your community impact and you are willing to cover your plane tickets by yourself.

3) Apply for self-funded if you are unsure about your vision, but you have a plan to run a project in the future and can financially afford your plane tickets and program participation.

No, it is not refunded under any conditions. Under Terms and Conditions you sign your signature understanding that 6,99$ application fee goes to your application review and background check of your application. The application fee is not connected with participation status, it is an administrative fee to check and review your application.

Under the application form, you consent that you agree with the terms and willing to proceed with your application. If you disagree with the terms and conditions, we suggest to withdraw your application.

We need people with a passion to create change. It doesn’t matter how you are creating change - you may have a project, club, community, academic research, social media page, website, tech app, startup.

We will select people who have clear plan, long-term community change and passion to change the world with a certain theme. Any theme and any field is welcomed to apply as long as it is connected with community change.

No, we don’t need any language certifications but you must know English to participate in the program. All program parts will be conducted in English.

1 April 12:00 GMT+5 - We will announce results of 5 fully-funded category and invite 50 semi-finalists to interview

1 April 12:00 GMT+5 - We will announce results for partially funded seats. Waitlist seats can be possible if previous partially funded candidate rejects their seat.

20 March 11:00 GMT+5 - Interview times will be announced for self-funded seats. If you get accepted after the interview, you can proceed with program participation fee.