News & Events
December, 2004 -
February, 2005
 | |
Steve Bsharah opens
the world of technology
to Tajik kids in Gissar,
Tajikistan |
US Teachers Explore Tajikistan on Three Week
Teacher Exchange Visit
From February 20 to March 10, U.S. School Connectivity teachers
Norma Barber (Ukiah, Oregon), Steve Bsharah (Delano, CA), Doug
Hatten (Duluth, MN), Emily Leary (Denver, CO), Andy Magness and
Jen Peterson (San Diego, CA) spent three extraordinary weeks in
Tajikistan in what has been called “the experience of a lifetime.”
The U.S. Teacher Exchange gave these 6 Connectivity teachers the
unique opportunity to gain a first-hand
understanding of the School Connectivity program and the
role it plays in a country of students and educators eager to
interact with others in the global community.
With the days filled with vibrant visits to ILCs, active
discussions with fellow educators, chats with local students
about Tajik and American culture, presentations about the U.S.,
generous hosts, delicious Tajik food, spirited traditional music,
lively dancing, and sincere toasts to
the newly formed but everlasting friendships, the teachers and
welcoming students, teachers, officials and community members
shared in the building of personal friendships and international
understanding.
The U.S. teachers taught Tajik students about their local
communities and how they were very similar to Tajik communities
in many ways, introduced and played lacrosse and the traditional
American game of baseball with ILC students, and demonstrated
that music shared between cultures can be appreciated by
everyone regardless of nationality. They answered personal and
political questions, open about life in the U.S. with both its
problems and its freedoms. The communities and homes the
teachers visited welcomed them openly and warmly, interested in
learning about the U.S. and excited to show the beauty of
Tajikistan and its people.
At every ILC the teachers were met
with warm welcomes, performances, traditional food, and gifts,
which all reflected the tremendous appreciation for the School
Connectivity program and the ability to connect with their
students. And with all the knowledge, understanding, insight,
appreciation and friendships the teachers have gained through
their time in Tajikistan, they are sure to bring Tajikistan back
with them to share with their students and with the U.S.
To read about the teachers’ experiences and thoughts, visit:
http://tojikiston.com/connect/forum/index.php
 | |
David Fay with
his students
in Istanbul,
Turkey. |
Connectivity Students Meet American Diplomats Online
During February 9th – 15th RI-SOL held a forum to introduce
Connectivity students in Tajikistan with the life and work of
American Diplomats. This forum was an opportunity for two
American Diplomats - David Fay and Jon Larson who will be
working in the region to directly learn from students from
different regions of Tajikistan.
Students from the Internet Learning Centers in Sarband,
Kayrakkum, Isfara and Nurek had a lot to say and many opinions
and impressions from Tajikistan that they shared on this forum.
The students were ready and happy to talk about culture,
traditions, life, and economy in Tajikistan.
Connectivity students were also interested in what the
diplomats knew about Tajikistan, and how the world views
Tajikistan. On the Forum David Fay wrote: ‘Thank you for your
interesting questions. I will be working in all five countries
in Central Asia, and hope to spend a considerable amount of my
time in Tajikistan. I suppose that, like Jon, the hospitable
people and rich history is what sparked my interest in the
region. We unfortunately know very little about the region in
the US... but we should know much more. I believe that the world
needs to know about the traditions of your region - that they
will help us better understand an important part of the world.’
The Connectivity students are ready to help them in any way they
can.
Please, read more here: http://tojikiston.com/connect/forum/viewforum.php?f=15
 | |
Students
explore
migration maps
in Nurek’s ILC
|
Students Learn About Migration
Issues in Tajikistan and US
The February collaborative project gave Connectivity students a
chance to learn about a very real and important issue in both
Central Asia and the US - migration. The ‘Migration – The World
of Gastarbeiter’ (a German word meaning “guest worker”, a
foreign laborer working temporarily in an industrialized country.)
lesson opened new information and ideas to Connectivity students
and teachers.
Students spent hours interviewing their families, relatives and
community members to find out how migration has affected their
family and some of the reasons why members of their families
moved or did not move. These kind of questions helped students
better understand their origins and how migration effects their
economy and culture.
Using migration and immigration statistics which were taken from
the Report on Labor Migration from Tajikistan from the
International Organization for Migration, and with the help of
Internet research using National Geographic maps, students
created maps where they could analyze migration areas and
population statistics to determine how geography, economics,
politics, and other characteristics of a region affect the
lifestyles of the people who live there, and whether they stay
leave.
Students showed how migration is a very real factor in their
own lives when teachers asked them; “Where would you like to
live in the future and why?” Of course Tajiks said that they
would like to live here – in Tajikistan, because it’s their
motherland, but almost all of them said, if they won’t be able
to find a job here, they would like to go to Russia and work
there.
For Tajikistan students this lesson was doubly useful.
Because all rural communities have families from which
members migrated to Russia, Kazakhstan or other countries
to find a job and help their families to stay alive. Fathers, sons, and husbands are working far from their native land
because they have to feed their families. Many students didn’t
know where their relatives are working, but during this activity
they could find these places on the map and highlight them. Now
they know where their relatives are, and what they as the next
generation can do to prevent labor migration from
Tajikistan.
Though this lesson Connectivity students came to understand the
economic situations in Tajikistan and the US better. It is also
important that parents and community members also participated
in this activity - this shows the global meaning
and importance of educational activities.
Please, visit our
forum here:
http://tojikiston.com/connect/forum/viewforum.php?f=25 to read the Connectivity
students’ views.
Please, visit also our website here: http://www.connect-tajikistan.org/en/sc_migration.html
to see the Connectivity Students’ maps and presentations.
 | World War II Veterans
Warren Tindale and Glen
Saunders came to talk
with the class and share
their stories. McKinleyville
High School,
McKinleyville,
California
|
Oroville High School and Tajikistani Students Bring History to Life
In January, Connectivity students from the US and
Tajikistan were working on their new educational
activity called Personal History. This activity gave
students a chance to study historical events
that were experienced by members of their families and communities
through news, television, or firsthand experience.
Students were asked to think about events outside
of their own country or ethnic groups on a more global scale.
Connectivity students, in teams with their partner schools from the US,
selected the most interesting and important history topics for them and
their country. Most of the school teams selected World War II and Cold
War topics, because students discovered that these events connect the
US and Tajikistani people more than other topics.
Tajikistani schools also made presentations on
Terrorism and the Afghan War. Students interviewed
officials, people on the street, and Afghan War
participants, which opened a door to the history
and modern life of the world.
In the US, students and teacher George Thornton
from Oroville High School in Washington explored
the way historical events impacted their community.
By asking family and community members about
what historical event impacted their lives the most,
and about other outstanding events and inventions
of their time, students learned about the fascinating
history surrounding them.
Just by having an interest in history and asking
questions, students were able to learn about the
impact of the Vietnam War, the Cold War, President
Kennedy’s assassination, the fall of the Berlin Wall,
the Gulf War, and other major events. It was a
valuable lesson that large historical events affect
average citizens profoundly, even years and decades later.
And you never know the impact of
these events - until you ask!
Please, visit this website http://www.connect-tajikistan.org/en/sc_oral_history.htmlmll
to see Connectivity students presentations.
 | |
On-Site Educator
Zebo Muradova explaining
Paint program to students
from school #23,
Kolkhozobod.
|
RI-SOL and UNICEF Empowering Youth in Rural Communities
On January 15, RI-SOL and UNICEF began an
Internet learning program on the subject “Empowering Youth in Rural Communities”.
This project involves 180 students and teachers from 15 rural schools of Tajikistan.
These trainings are provided by the local staff of RI-SOL in the Internet Learning
Centers of Isfara, Istaravshan, Kurgan-Tyube, Sarband and Vakhsh. Over 10 weeks
teachers and students will participate in 40 hours of trainings on Saturdays and
Sundays on computer and Internet use as well as participation in Internet forums
and lessons on public health and hygiene.
The students are active participants of UNICEF’s “Water Sanitation and Hygiene”
project and have learned many important issues on household water security, water
and sanitation in the school environment, how to keep water clean and how to stay
healthy and many other questions. As
a result of these courses they are now quite experienced in
public health and hygiene issues but lack the computer skills,
knowledge of the Internet and ways to pass their knowledge
on to a wider and larger audience.
The goal of this training is to increase computer
capacity and skills among youth by training them with
basic computer and Internet skills (Microsoft Office, email,
educational online forums, and Internet use) so they can develop
their skills in sanitation and hygiene, as well as share them with
others in their schools and communities. At the conclusion of the project,
students will participate in developing a project website. And later the website
will be handled by the off school activity department of the Ministry of Education.
Even after the first lessons the students were
amazed at how quickly they understood how to
use the Internet and on the first day already posted messages on the Internet forum:
http://tojikiston.com/connect/forum/
viewforum.php?f=12.
By the end of the 10 weeks they will have created
websites based on the lessons they learned
at their trainings with UNICEF. This project is a
great example of how the Internet can help pupils
share information and learn from each other.
 | Connectivity student
feeding a sick
child
at the Boarding School
in Gulyakandoz.
|
Connectivity Students from Gulyakandoz Help Orphans from their Community
On January 21st all Muslims celebrated Qurban
Bajram (Eid-al-Adha), one of the most sacred and important
holidays in Islam. During this festive day people
visit their relatives, friends, neighbors, the elderly and
orphans. Part of the tradition of the Qurban
holiday is to feed the poor and orphans
in your community.
In Gulyakandoz there is a boarding house which
is located in Degmay village. 75 kids live
there, some of them from single-parent families
whose fathers were killed during the war in
Tajikistan, and some of them are from poor families.
Their parents brought them to the boarding house because
they can’t feed and treat them anymore, but all of the
kids are sick - physically and mentally.
On Monday January 17 Connectivity students from Gulyakandoz
School #16 decided to help the inhabitants of the boarding house with a hot
homemade meal. The best family meal is
mastova - rice soup. Students brought all the ingredients from their houses, as their parents
also contributed to the effort. The School #16 cook, Usmon Aliev, cooked mastova for the
boarding house.
The boarding house director Oliya Azizhodjaeva
allowed the students to feed “the patients” by hand. It was not easy
for them to see their eyes full of “waiting” for their portion.
The students also brought some bread and gave it to everybody.
Cook Usmon told a friend, Rustam Bobodjonov, who is the cook from
School #6 in Gulyakandoz about this visit to the boarding house.
Cook Rustam offered to bring the students back to School #16 by car.
He said that next time he would help the students to cook and will
bring the students to the boarding house with his own car.
For their next visit to the boarding house on February 22nd,
Connectivity students from Gulyakandoz plan to cook milk rice
porridge and feed all departments of the boarding house.
 | Bahri Mirzoev
from Ora International
group of kids with
disabilities
|
On the first page of our newsletter I would like to sum up last year’s activities and
to talk briefly about our plans for the future. We can
say that our collaborative project has achieved great results.
In 2004 students from the US and Tajikistan worked on various projects
together, and received lots of new knowledge about culture, traditions,
religion, rights and duties of people in each others’ countries. They have
also learned how to send messages, presentations and photos to each other
and most importantly - how to respect each others opinions. Students,
teachers, and community members have learned basic computer skills, in
fact many of them had never seen a computer or the Internet before.
This year we are planning even more interesting educational activities. Students
and teachers of both Tajikistan and the US will have a chance to learn more about
each others’ history, migrations and national games. They will also participate
in forums and chats with each other.
Of course next year we will continue our collaborative projects with kids
with disabilities from Ora International. We have a new group of kids from 6-14
years old. We will be happy if we can help these kids learn how to use the
computers and the Internet.
Last year also brought great sorrow to all the world. The tsunami in South Asia
took away the lives of thousands of people. This tragedy has changed us and our
planet forever. Please, read the story on the next page to see how students in the
US and Tajikistan have reacted to this tragedy.
At the end, we want to thank everyone who has worked with us in 2004 and we
look forward to our future cooperations in 2005!
Anastasiya Reshetova,
Editor
 | Relief International
medical relief team
providing health
services in Sri Lanka
|
Relief International and Youth Help in South Asia Tsunami Disaster
On December 26th, 2004, a massive 9.0 earthquake caused a devastating tsunami in South Asia
which has killed over 150,000 people. Relief International is working to help the victims
of the tsunami by providing immediate relief in the short-term and livelihoods-rebuilding
programs in the long-term. Currently Relief International has a medical and relief team
in southern Sri Lanka providing medical assistance to survivors of the tsunami and focusing
on the provision of clean water. With the generous support of donors and concerned citizens,
Relief International has been able to raise funding to provide these relief and health services
to people who desperately need them.
The Quarters from Kids project is a great new opportunity for youth to get involved in helping
the victims of the tsunami. Quarters from Kids
is a nationwide grassroots initiative in the U.S.
to mobilize youth, as well as adults who support them, to join the effort in helping the
affected people in South Asia. Kids across the U.S. are encouraged to fundraise and support an
organization in its relief work for the tsunami disaster.
Relief International will be providing Kid Kits to the children in South Asia, which
include food and school supplies. The Kid Kits will provide children with items they
need during these difficult times. With the support of School Connectivity U.S. partner
schools, as well as other youth across the U.S., Relief International will be able to
further help children in South Asia recover from the tsunami disaster and build brighter futures.
(For our Tajikistan and Central Asian readers: a Quarter is 25 US cents, a quarter of a
dollar and the largest denomination coin in common every day circulation in the US )
For more information, visit http://www.ri.org and click on Quarters from Kids.
 | |
Wall with flowers
and pictures in Sarband
School #1. Students in this
school are grieving with
South Asia
|
Tajikistani Internet Project to Victims of the
Tsunami in South Asia
While thinking about how we can support the countries of South Asia in their sorrow, we had
an idea: to ask our students in ILC’s to draw pictures for the children in South Asia, what
they feel, what they know about this tragedy.
Students instantly responded to our request and we have already received more than 50 drawings.
We were surprised to find the emotions and compassion of the Tajik students in their drawings,
which included: a painting of a devestated beach, a crying child, kids hand
in hand around the globe, images of loss and
loneliness, and many others. There was one drawing of people trying to stop a huge wave
with their hands. The students are trying to tell the kids of South Asia, that they understand
their sorrow and want to help.
They are trying....
All these drawings were sent to the kids of
Sri Lanka and will be given to a displaced person’s shelter. Hopefully these colorful
images of compassion and unity will raise spirits and remind the victims that kids in
Tajikistan are thinking about them. Some of the drawings
also can be seen here: http://www.connect-tajikistan.org/en/Tsunami/Tsunami.html. Please,
visit this page.
We have also asked our ILC’s to create at
their schools “walls of remembrance” where they could display materials they find about
tsunami: news, letters, photos and words of grief. This way they can teach the entire school
about the tragedy. The first school to respond was School #1 in Sarband.
 | |
Broken house
- Drawing by Kadirova
Nasiba,
9th grade, Gymnasia
'Khurshed', Tursun-zade,
Tajikistan
|
A Poem by Shuhrat Shodmonov, 11th grade, School #101, Tursun-zade
To All Victims of Horrible Tsunami
Oh My God!
Whats happening to the world
I haven’t seen anything like this at all!
For what sins are hundreds of kids crying
Seeing how their relatives are dying?
Tsunami came and broke my house
Mother, sister, father – are not survives
Poor boy – doesn’t know what to do?
Numbers of victims are sharply rising, what can he do?
The water is proliferate, but never ending,
Every human this day is damning!
Oh My God!
Horrible tsunami tore apart kids from their mothers,
Caused hundreds of people dead
People just wanted to live like others,
But met this day of the end.
Nowadays people are suffering like no others
Tears are streaming with no end,
But remember, Tajikistani kids like others
Are praying for you and will be with you till the end!
 | Garth Willis, Tajikistan
School Connectivity
Project
Director in a
circle of
psychologists
|
Tajikistani Students are Solving their own Problems During December Activity
In December we asked our schools to come up
with some educational ideas. Please read about
the activity that the Tajik schools created by
themselves.
ILC’s designed an activity, called «Problems in Teenagers’ lives». The purposes of this lesson
were for the students’ to analyze deeds made
by teenagers’ and their possible solutions.
Almost all ILC’s participated in this activity.
Teenager’s problems are always a vital topic
for all mankind. For this reason, many scientists have devoted their work to these problems.
The science which most extensively is engaged in
studying the problems of modern youth is psychology. Psychology allows people to learn
information about their own problems. People have been able
to shine some light on their psycological problems with the help of newspapers, TV, radio,
printed editions; now we have a chance to use the Internet.
During these seminars students had a chance
to discuss their problems. All together they
looked for the right solution – learning to analyze their own deeds from
different points of view. Students analyzed various problems: relations between
adults and teenagers, alcoholism and narcotism among teenagers, teenagers isolation
in their own small worlds, a transition period in teenagers life, unrequited love
and many other problems. As a result each center has created presentations on those
themes which they
consider the most pertinent to their lives. See them here:
http://www.connect-tajikistan.org/en/sc_teenagers.html
Also the forum offered a professional psychological consultation from psychologists of
The National Association of Small and Average Business of Tajikistan for the students
to discuss problems
in their own lives.Click here http://tojikiston.com/connect/forum/viewforum.php?f=10 to
see the forum attendance.
This forum was lead in Russian and Tajik
languages and was very successful. Together
with the psychologists team we decided to
continue our cooperation, and offer a continuation of these consultations in a chat room.
Now, every day students can talk about their problems with
professionals. The chat room, called «The Jungle Book», is where you can talk about personal
issues with Maugli, Balu, Bagira, Sherkhan and other heroes from the fairy tale. Students
liked this idea very much. Most importantly, we hope that students will receive answers to
all their questions and their teenage years will be a little easier.
 | English teachers
at the seminar in Isfara
taught by On-Site Educator
Ibrahim Rustamov
|
Useful English Club Website
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence ends” (Henry Adams)
Since April, when Isfara ILC - situated
in Nothern Sugd Region of Tajikistan was opened, teachers have been coming to the ILC and trying
to use the Internet resources, as well as encouraging their students to get to know about the
world from the Internet.
Ibrahim Rustamov, On-Site Educator of Isfara ILC wanted to find a way for English
language teachers of the region to better understand the potential of the internet for English teaching and to use websites with english language online. As he was one of
the creators of the Schools Online English Club website, he decided to organize a
seminar for the English language teachers where he could show them all useful links and sources.
On December 20th, a group of teachers
and their supervisor Akmalkhon Saidov from Isfara Department of Education were invited by
Ibrahim to the ILC in order to learn the basics of the Internet and its resources for English
Teachers. 15 English teachers from different schools of Isfara, participated in the training.
They learned about the Internet,
as well as were introduced to the newly launched English Club website.
They were very impressed by the interactivity of this website, where at the same time that you are
learning something you can write to Amber Ward, who is a native English speaker, and ask her your
questions.
As a result, the English teachers expressed their wish to attend the ILC on a regular basis and
expressed their gratitude to the
RI-SOL team for carrying out such an
indispensable project in Tajikistan.
 | Connectivity students
drawing their gender
issues plan. Lycee #1, Rudaky
|
Seminar on Gender Issues in Rudaky ILC
On December 23rd 2004 in the ILC of Lycee #1
in Rudaky there was a seminar called «Gender and position of the woman in a family».
Connectivity students from Rudaky and students from School #3 in Nurek took part in this seminar.
Nurek ILC is located in Khatlon Region, more than an hours drive over a small mountain pass from
Rudaky town, but the connectivity students had their aim to overcome this distance to talk with
their partners about these important topic.
Students got acquainted with each other, and then were divided into small teams. Each team
received the task to write an essay on
‘How I would live if I were born a girl (a boy)’.
Afterwards representatives from each team
gave presentations of their work, which was followed by questions from the other students.
The presenters did their best to defend their
viewpoints.
Then representatives from each team gave presentations of their work. During each student’s speech,
other students were asking many questions. The presenter did their best
to give full answers and defend their own thoughts.
The gender issues subject was choosen because of its relevance in Tajikistan, where girls in a villages
often have to leave their school before finishing because their parents would expect them to be
married. This problem is not the only gender issue in Tajikistan. During this seminar students
had a chance to learn more about this problem. Most importantly girls and boys were standing next
to each other talking about gender issues.
- Archive:
December, 2004 - February, 2005
- Archive:
September, 2004 -
November, 2004
- Archive: June, 2004 - August, 2004
- Archive: March, 2004 - May, 2004
- Archive: December, 2003 - February, 2004
- Archive: August - November, 2003
The Tajikistan School Connectivity Project for Central Asia
is a project of Relief International - Schools Online's
Global Citizenship & Youth Philanthropy Program and has been
made possible with major funding from the United States State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Global Catalyst
Foundation. |
