IREX Tajikistan

IREX Tajikistan is pleased to present you with an update of our education program activities and news on current participants and program alumni from Tajikistan. If you have questions about any of the activities discussed in this report, please feel free to contact us.

June 25th: Muskie Pre-Departure Orientation, Dushanbe
June 26th: Muskie Visa Interviews, Dushanbe
June 27th: Muskie Networking Event, Dushanbe
July 4th: Youth Leadership Training followed by Screen on the Green, Dushanbe
July 5th: Movie Night in celebration of Independence Day, Khujand
July 9th: UGRAD Presentation, Grant Writing Seminar, Dushanb

Global UGRAD Program (UGRAD):
During the month of May all 10 UGRAD fellows studying in the US returned to Tajikistan. IREX program assistant, Bakhtiyor Isoev, met everyone of the students and made sure that each made it safely to a hotel and then later farther on to their homes. Bakhtiyor also found himself busy chasing down lost pieces of luggage and successfully ensured that all missing luggage made it back to their rightful owners. While the 2007 fellows were returning to Tajikistan, the 2008 fellows were beginning preparations for their own journey to the US. During May most finalists underwent medical examinations and began turning in necessary documents to the IREX office. Those students that did not have international passports, applied and received their passports in anticipation of their upcoming departure.

Edmund S. Muskie Fellowship (Muskie):
In May, IREX announced which fellows would participate in the pre-academic intensive English language courses at the University of Delaware. One student from Tajikistan will be participating in the courses and will depart for the US on July 4th. As with the UGRAD finalists, Muskie finalists spent the month of May preparing necessary documents and applying for international passports as needed. Muskie fellows currently in the US also continued returning to Tajikistan, as Zulfiya Pirova returned to Dushanbe after having received a master’s degree in Public Health from SUNY Albany.

Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA):
During the month of May TEA finalists also began preparing for their trip to the US. TEA finalist Bakhtibegim Balkhova began taking intensive English language classes at the University of Central Asia in Khorog. Nina Novikova from Chkalovsk, and Mastali Garibmamadov from Rushan received their international passports and the IREX office collected terms and conditions for the TEA program from all finalists. Finally, during the month of May TEA alumna, Nazira Valieva, received money from the IREX Tajikistan office to implement her TEA alumni small grant at the Aga Khan Lyceum in Khorog.

Movie Night/Networking Event, Khujand:
On May 5th, State Department alumni gathered together at the American Corner in Khujand to watch an English language movie together. IREX Program Assistant, Bakhtiyor Isoev, travelled from Dushanbe to attend the event and assure that the alumni community continued to grow in Khujand. In addition to alumni the group was also joined by current finalist who took the opportunity after the movie to learn more about the UGRAD program from both Bakhtiyor (UGRAD 2006) and the other alumni.

Round Table, Exchange Programs in Tajikistan, Khujand:

On May 7th, IREX organized a roundtable event attended by over 15 students and State Department program alumni from the Sogd region that were interested in educational opportunities in Tajikistan. The round table was led by IREX staff member and UGRAD alumnus, Bakhtiyor Isoev as well as UGRAD alumna Mukhbira Kazimova (UGRAD 06). Bakhtiyor gave presentations on the UGRAD and Muskie programs as well as discussing other exchange program opportunities and organizations active in the region. Isoev continued with sessions on how to correctly complete applications and write well organized essays. The event concluded with an opportunity to network and ice cream for UGRAD and FLEX alumni and finalists.

UGRAD Presentation, Chkalovsk:
IREX continued its activities in the Sogd region with a presentation in Chkalovsk on May 10th.
Bakhtiyor Isoev gave a presentation covering the details of the Global UGRAD program as well as his own experience as a UGRAD alum in the US. The presentation was attended by over 40 students studying in the 11th grade at School – Gymnasium #1 in Chkalovsk

Movie Night/Networking Event, Dushanbe:
On May 18th, IREX hosted a movie night for alumni in Dushanbe. IREX purchased snacks and drinks for the alumni who enjoyed an English language movie together as well as participating in an active discussion after the movie.

Alumni Small Grant, Boarding School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Dushanbe:

On May 24th Nisso Rahmonova-Stanley (Muskie 2002) held the opening ceremony for her small grant at the Dushanbe Boarding School for Blind and Visually Impaired Children. While many schools in Tajikistan lack the necessary support to provide high quality education the difficulties of a boarding school for the visually impaired are much more acute. After meeting with the vice principle and some of the students from the school, Nisso decided to take advantage of the IREX administered alumni small grants program in order to help the school. Through a personal acquaintance Nisso has access to one of the widest selections of recorded Tajik fairy tales in the world. Using these recorded fairy tales and other material Nisso’s project was designed to revitalize a library that had fallen into complete disrepair. Brail books, children’s books for the blind and educational games were purchased in addition to the fairy tales, furniture and stereo equipment were added and the library itself was renovated. In addition to revitalizing the library Nisso helped the school refurbish their intercom system with the goal of allowing the children to hear the recorded fairy tales before falling asleep at night. In order to put all of this together though, Nisso had to overcome several significant obstacles. Due to financial restrictions of the grant Nisso had to raise $800 of the project money on her own. Nisso used electronic mailing lists, NGO contacts and the alumni community to spread the word about h

er donation drive. The quick response to Nisso’s request was accepted with pleasant surprise, and even more so by the fact that the vast majority of the donations were from Tajik citizens themselves, rather than from members of the international community as she had expected. The next major obstacle came when the transportation costs of the brail books from Russia proved much more expensive then Nisso had originally planned for. After finding the Ministry of Education unreceptive to their request of assistance Nisso turned toward the Tajik Embassy in Russia. The Tajik Embassy in Russia immediately took the situation in its own hands and assured that the books were received by Nisso free of charge. Having received the donated money and the brail books from Russia Nisso was able to successfully complete her project. The opening ceremony of the project was attended by government and embassy officials as well as NGO representatives and US Department of State program alumni. The project not only has had a significant impact on the children attending the school but it has opened new perspectives for other alumni in implementing small grants. More than anything, Nisso proved that while obstacles do arise, there are good people in Tajikistan who want nothing more than to make Tajikistan a better place to live for all of its citizens.

Reception/Muskie Networing Event, Dushanbe:
On May 30th Muskie alumni attended a reception at the Ambassador’s residence for Thomas Tait, the former tourism commissioner for the state of Nevada and current President and CEO of the Nevada Tourism Alliance. The alumni had the opportunity to meet Mr. Tait and discuss the potential for tourism in Tajikistan as well as sharing their own views on the problems in developing tourism in Tajikistan. Alumni like Noor Umarov (Muskie 1994), Almaz Saifutdinov (Muskie 2000), Rustam Mirzoshirinov (Muskie 2005), Zafar Hotamov (Muskie 2003) and Umed Sultanov (UGRAD 2004) took full advantage of the opportunity to engage the President and CEO of the Nevada Tourism Alliance. Following the event nearly 15 alumni met for an IREX organized dinner at Cafe Rokhat. The alumni were able to reflect on their meeting with Mr. Tait as well as enjoying the opportunity to relax and socialize with friends.

Muskie Lecture Series, Dushanbe:
On May 31st, Muskie alumna Malika Baimatova (Muskie 2006) gave a lecture on Globalization and Development: Has Tajikistan Faced Globalization at the IREX office in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Approximately 15 students and alumni attended the lecture including Muskie, UGRAD and FLEX alumni. Malika proved to be an apt lecturer and quickly involved the audience in discussions on globalization and the extent to which its presence was felt in Tajikistan. The lecture not only allowed a Muskie alumni to share their knowledge with other people in Tajikistan but it also brought together students and alumni to discuss issues facing their country today.

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UPDATES AND NEWS

Nargiza Jumanova (UGRAD 2001):
Since having finished her UGRAD year in the US, Nargiza has again returned to the US and currently works for the Casplan-University of Buffalo Research Center in Washington DC. Nargiza stated: “My goals are to continue my studies in the field of social sciences with a concentration on developing countries especially on Tajikistan. Although I plan to live in America, I want to be as close as possible to Tajikistan by being involved in international development projects.”

All programs are programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State, and Administered by IREX.

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