By Azar Seyidli ’22 (Baku, Azerbaijan, placed by CIEE in Archer City, TX)
After her exchange year, Gulay Aliyeva ’24 has been dedicated to uplifting Azerbaijani youth through meaningful projects to help school-aged children and teenagers unlock their potential and find opportunities to grow.
Gulay finds joy in supporting young people as they develop skills, build friendships, and prepare for future careers. She believes workshops and training programs are powerful tools for teenagers to connect with others and discover their interests. “Those experiences meant so much to me growing up,” Gulay shares. “I was lucky to have opportunities that shaped my journey, and I want to pay it forward. Many young people just need a bit of encouragement to see what they’re capable of.”
A defining part of her journey has been her involvement in the Azerbaijani Women in Science organization for the past three years. She has contributed to programs like the United Nations Development Programme’s Women in STEM Mentorship program and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Everyone is Powerful in Engineering program, connecting women in science with young girls to inspire them to explore new possibilities. “It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of initiatives that encourage girls to dream big in science,” she says.
Gulay’s experience with the FLEX program was a turning point in her life. “FLEX opened my eyes,” she reflects. “It taught me independence, empathy, and how to focus on impactful projects.” The program gave her the confidence to create opportunities for others, which she’s been doing since returning to Azerbaijan.
Her recent initiatives include a partnership with the Azerbaijani Women in Science organization and FLEX Alumni. Together they launched Pathway to Be a Future Leader: Skills for Success, a five-week program for 8th to 11th graders. The program attracted 23 students from rural areas and 30 from Baku and surrounding regions. Gulay designed workshops on leadership, essay writing, critical thinking, communication, and interview preparation, culminating in an American Culture Day and an alumni meet-up.
To make the program accessible to all who applied, she coordinated online workshops for students living outside of Baku and organized two in-person sessions for participants in Baku. Gulay collaborated with professionals and FLEX Alumni to deliver the workshops, ensuring participants gained valuable skills and insights.
Participants praised the program, with one sharing: “This project was really beneficial. It taught us how to prepare, what to write, and which qualities to highlight. The best part were the new friends and useful information!” Another participant cherished hearing from a FLEX finalist in America, saying it made them even more excited to learn about the program.
Gulay intentionally involved current exchange students and alumni to enhance the program and foster a sense of community among FLEX participants. “It was important to bring FLEXers together and create a supportive network,” she explains.
Her thoughtful approach is already making an impact. Encouraged by positive feedback and inspired by the participants’ enthusiasm, Gulay is committed to continuing her efforts. “There’s always more to learn, but I’m excited to keep growing and finding new ways to support young people,” she says. Through her projects, Gulay demonstrates that small, thoughtful steps can create meaningful change, one initiative at a time.
Featured alumni:
Gulay Aliyeva ’24 (Baku, Azerbaijan placed by American Councils in Fenton, MO)
