Sunnyside Sparks: How Turkmenistan’s Youth Are Turning Up the Heat on Urban Resilience

Maya Ashirova, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Emergency Preparedness Specialist

In late July 2025, while much of Turkmenistan was braving another sweltering summer, 30 young people from across the country gathered in a cool room buzzing with energy — not from air conditioners, but from curiosity and commitment. They were participants of the Youth Summer School on Climate Change, organized by UNICEF, and they had one mission: to understand and act on the rising threat of climate change. What none of them expected was that a fictional city would spark real-world urgency.

They were introduced to the case of “Sunnyside”, once a green haven known for its mild summers and tree-lined streets. But now, Sunnyside was in crisis. The city had endured four consecutive weeks of heatwave, with daily highs above 43°C (109°F) — the longest ever recorded. Residents, especially the most vulnerable — children, elderly people, and outdoor workers — were struggling to cope. Electricity blackouts, rising air pollution, and a water supply nearing its limits turned the heatwave from a seasonal inconvenience into a public health emergency.

As the young participants stepped into the shoes of Sunnyside's crisis planners, something clicked. "This could be Dashoguz," said Dovlet, a 17-year-old from northern Turkmenistan, where the legacy of the Aral Sea disaster has left his community water-stressed and exposed to environmental extremes. “It’s hot during the day and even at night, with no break to recover. There’s nowhere to cool down — people, animals, and even plants are under stress,” said Dovlet. It was during the summer school that he learned there’s a name for this phenomenon — tropical nights — when nighttime temperatures stay so high that the body can’t cool down properly, increasing health risks, especially for the most vulnerable.

Over the course of the workshop, students mapped vulnerabilities, debated priorities, and proposed solutions. The ideas poured out: emergency call centers, SMS-based alert systems, hydration points near bus stops, radio campaigns, school awareness programs, and even youth-led outreach through social media.

What strengthened their motivation further was learning that heatwaves are officially recognized as a public health concern in Turkmenistan. The government has already taken steps by adopting the Plan of Actions to Prevent the Health Effects of Heat of Population in Turkmenistan, which outlines preventive and response measures. This national plan set a critical backdrop for the youth’s efforts — reinforcing the urgency of community-level engagement and the role of informed citizens, including youth.

But perhaps the most powerful shift came when they realized they could start acting immediately with knowledge and their voices. The young participants decided to spread reliable heatwave preparedness tips to their peers. Backed by the UNICEF Health Team, they drafted a campaign focused on the basics of heatwave survival: 

• Be prepared: Know how hot it will be and plan activities accordingly. Keep a simple emergency kit with ORS packets, fans, water bottles, and a checklist for heat stress symptoms.
• Keep your home cool: Draw curtains during the day, ventilate at night, and use fans or ACs if possible.
• Stay out of the heat: Avoid being outdoors during peak heat hours. When outside, wear sunscreen, light cotton clothes, and stay in the shade.
• Stay cool and hydrated: Drink water before you’re thirsty, carry a wet towel to cool down, and check for nearby cooling shelters or clinics. 

“We can’t ignore this anymore, it’s not just about climate change somewhere far away — it’s about how we survive summer here, in our own cities.”  mentioned Dovlet.

The youth summer school may have started with imaginary exercises, but it ended with a real plan: to launch a youth-led awareness campaign and bring knowledge to their communities through digital means. They are determined to ensure that children and youth are not just seen as vulnerable groups — but as drivers of resilience.