IN THIS ISSUE:

Global Connections and Exchange is a program of the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Digital Youth Dialogue is funded by the United States Embassy in Kyrgyzstan.

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS AND EXCHANGE DIGITAL YOUTH DIALOGUE

November 2011 Newsletter

Student Volunteers Enrich Online Kyrgyz Language Content English Language Teachers Learn How to Use Text Messaging for Better Communication Kyrgyzstan’s Educational Portal Connects Students with Role Models in Virtual Discussions Alumni Raise Awareness about Tech Age Girls Project at JashtarCamp 2011 in Osh Tech Age Girl Alumna Wins Soros Grant, Implements New Project in Southern Kyrgyzstan GCE Student Develops Public Service Announcement

@GCEKyrgyzstan http://bit.ly/gcekg-fb

GCE & DYD - KYRGYZSTAN

On November 3, six volunteers helped 15 contrib-

utors upload articles to the Kyrgyz language Wik-

ipedia, a free, user-generated encyclopedia, dur-

ing an event held in Bishkek titled “Kyrgyz Wik-

ipedia Day.” The volunteers – students and edu-

cators – arrived with significant amounts of con-

tent to contribute to the site, but lacked the

knowledge to upload the articles themselves.

Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia whose

content is entirely user-generated and governed

by a user-elected board. While the Kyrgyz lan-

guage version of the site is dwarfed by others,

contribution has begun to take off in 2011: arti-

cle counts have more than doubled since Decem-

ber 2010 to 3,900, and the active community has

seen a 1,800% growth in that same time. GCE

and DYD are helping fuel this movement. With

the help of the trainers, event attendees up-

loaded a total of 136 new pieces to the site by

the end of one day — an increase of 3% to the

entire body of Kyrgyz language articles on Wik-

ipedia.

Student Volunteers Enrich Online Kyrgyz Language Content

Ainur Kutmanova, specialist at the State Commis-

sion for the Kyrgyz Language, an organizing part-

ner in hosting Kyrgyz Wikipedia Day, explained

the importance of making sites like Wikipedia

robust for users in Kyrgyzstan: “Youth do not go

to libraries often, but they do conduct research

on the internet; I think it is vital for developing

the Kyrgyz language that we [continue] to add

articles. I am glad that students are volunteering

to add Kyrgyz language content to Wikipedia.”

Artyk Osmonaliev, an 8th-grade student volun-

teer, uploaded five articles during the event:

“Today I learned how to upload articles to the

Kyrgyz Wikipedia; it was fun to learn and do

something helpful.”

Kyrgyz Wikipedia Day was organized by the Glob-

al Connections & Exchange and the Digital Youth

Dialogue programs, with the assistance of the

State Commission for the Kyrgyz Language under

the President of the Kyrgyz Republic.

On November 12, twelve teachers from the Eng-

lish Language Educators’ professional association

“FORUM” learned how to post blog updates, navi-

gate the internet, and use internet-based tools to

send SMS messages at an Information and Com-

munications Technology (ICT) training in Bishkek.

Many of the teachers were very new to the inter-

net, and while some had experimented with

some of these tools, they lacked skills to use

them efficiently and to their professional bene-

fit. Now, with the new knowledge they have

gained, they are taking strides to more effective-

ly use modern technology in their teaching and

for better communication.

Volunteers helped contributors upload 136 new arti-

cles to the Kyrgyz-language Wikipedia

English Language Teachers Learn How to Use Text Messaging for Better Communication

GCE & DYD - KYRGYZSTAN

All teachers have cell phones and almost all are

internet users, but they were not aware of how

these tools could help streamline some time con-

suming aspects of their work, such as connecting

with colleagues or communicating with their stu-

dents by inviting them to upcoming English lan-

guage events. During the training, the teachers

learned how to create and update professional

blogs, as well as learning how to operate Front-

lineSMS, a software tool that allows a user to

send text messages to multiple recipients (such

as students or colleagues). Now, the teachers

plan to use what they have learned to launch

blogs, create and conduct events, and use Front-

lineSMS for better communication between their

students and peers.

“Now that we can organize FORUM’s work with

FrontlineSMS, we will be sending SMS messages to

coordinate activities, send reminders and receive

confirmations by text messaging. This technology

will definitely help us.” said Gulnara Akunova,

FORUM director, on the benefit she foresees from

members’ new knowledge.

The learning doesn’t end here – the teachers in

attendance have already made plans to improve

the web presence of their association. Recogniz-

ing that FORUM currently lacks a Facebook page,

they will be returning for a follow-up session on

December 10 to learn the essentials of adminis-

tering a quality Facebook page.

This fall, on Kyrgyzstan’s Educational Portal, stu-

dents are connecting with role models from dif-

ferent professional backgrounds to get advice,

and learn from their experience, without having

to travel any further than to their schools’ com-

puter labs.

On October 8, thirty stu-

dents took part in a virtual

discussion with Tilek

Mamutov, an Ireland-based

Google employee working

as an Internal Applications

Developer and Quality Evalu-

ator, originally from Bishkek. Students had a

chance to ask questions about programming,

technology, and his career with Google, after re-

viewing a podcast created by Mamutov on his ex-

perience working in his position at the company.

In more than 50 comments, the students asked

Mamutov about technology, his upbringing and

education, and his view on setting goals.

The discussion was very popular, and left many

students as impressed as they were inspired.

Nargiza Asanalieva, a 7th grader at Naryn’s

School No. 7, shared, “I am so proud of Mamutov.

He is professional and is helping his home country

by inspiring us, by giving advice.” The experience

English language educators from the association

FORUM learn how to use blogs and FrontlineSMS to

better connect with colleagues and students

Kyrgyzstan’s Educational Portal Connects Students with Role Models in Virtual Discussions

GCE & DYD - KYRGYZSTAN

was equally rewarding for Mamutov: “[The Edu-

cational Portal] is great; I am happy to be able to

talk to students back home and help them how-

ever I can. With technology, distance means

nothing.”

On October 8, the GCE

and DYD programs addi-

tionally held a virtual

discussion for Kyrgyz-

stan’s students, titled

“How to Be a Leader,”

with Mirbek Tok-

togaraev, Project Coordinator at the Bishkek

Business Club, and an organizer of Barcamp,

JashtarCamp, and TEDxBishkek. Although Tok-

togaraev is only 24, he is a pioneering thinker at

the crossroads of IT and education in his country.

40 students took part in this discussion, generat-

ing more than 50 questions on Toktogaraev’s

plans for the future and his advice for them as an

upcoming generation of young leaders.

Toktogarev expressed his gratitude for being able

to speak to the youth, sharing that he too bene-

fited from the exchange. “The students made me

think of my own future,” he reflected.

The Educational Portal

hosted discussions with

Mirsuljan Namazaliev, Ex-

ecutive Director of the

Central Asia Free Market

Institute throughout Octo-

ber as well. This discussion

received more than 70 responses. The topic of

the discussion was “Why there is a need to be

socially active?” Namazaliev, only 24 and one of

the youngest leaders in Kyrgyzstan, shared his

story of success with the 60 students who partici-

pated.

Bringing students to Kyrgyzstan’s greatest think-

ers and doers is far easier today than in the past,

thanks to the internet provided at GCE and DYD

schools. Students like Akmaral Muratbek kyzy, a

student at School No. 7 in Naryn, agrees: “The

discussion [with Mirbek Toktogarev] was very use-

ful for students outside of the capital, because

we don’t have an opportunity to talk to people

like him here. Usually, we see them on TV, but

talking directly in this forum and asking questions

was truly amazing and inspiring.”

On November 20, 2011, forty leaders from differ-

ent spheres in Kyrgyzstan came to Osh to share

success stores, ideas, knowledge and their expe-

rience with over three hundred attendees at

JashtarCamp 2011, an informal youth conference

in its third year in Kyrgyzstan. JashtarCamp bills

itself as a youth action conference, helping in-

spire and give key knowledge to youth in Kyrgyz-

stan to successfully become agents of change in

their communities. Among those invited were

four Tech Age Girls: Zhara Asizova, Zina Kabylbek

kyzy, Nazik Asranbekova, and Zulaiho Makambaeva.

The alumni presented on the importance of the

Tech Age Girls project, and explained the TAG

process to the attendees, who listened passion-

ately to their descriptions of the community pro-

jects they each implemented during their partici-

pation, and the follow up work they are imple-

menting in Kyrgyzstan’s south.

“It was very useful and interesting to learn about

the results and achievements of Tech Age Girls,

to have an opportunity to meet with the partici-

pants and winners of the TAG US exchange pro-

Alumni Raise Awareness about Tech Age Girls Project at JashtarCamp 2011 in Osh

GCE & DYD - KYRGYZSTAN

gram, and meet girls who implement their own

community projects in their home towns,” shared

Lazat Takyrbasheva, Web Editor at Internews

Network Kyrgyzstan.

The TAGs also

shared the

stage with

GCE staff

m e m b e r

Tynchtyk Zha-

nadylov, who

shared tools

for youth who

wish to learn

key computing

skills, but

might not

have access to a GCE participating school.

Demonstrating video trainings created for GCE

and available online, Zhanadylov’s message to

youth was that even if they do not have the op-

portunity to participate in IT trainings, there are

tools for them to take charge of their own re-

mote learning. Zhanadylov also introduced GCE’s

Educational Portal, where youth can participate

in discussions, find online educational resources,

and share interesting ideas with each other.

In October 2010, Zhanara Asizova, a TAG Alumna

from Kant, applied for a grant from the Soros

Foundation in Kyrgyzstan’s Youth Action Fund

and received more than $1600 to launch “TAGs

Advance Volunteer Activity in Osh.”

As part of their project, Asizova and teammates

Zina Kabylbek kyzy, Nazik Asranbekova, and Zu-

laiho Makambaeva flew to Osh city for five days

to conduct IT and leadership trainings for youth.

The girls held training sessions in three high

schools throughout the city, teaching students

how to use email, Facebook, Twitter, and blogs

to connect and communicate with each other. In

addition to these communications skills, the 90

participants discussed leadership, teambuilding,

and conflict mitigation with the TAGs, finally reg-

istering themselves on Kyrgyzstan’s Educational

Portal to remain in contact with their trainers.

Their five days in Osh even found them at an or-

phanage, organizing local youth to take part

while delivering a similar message of hope that

with perseverance, anything may be achieved.

Zina Kabylbek kyzy commented on her time in

Kyrgyzstan’s south, “I cannot even express how

this project changed my life, before the TAG I

didn’t even know how to use computers, now

TAG opened me so many opportunities, I became

confident.… I learned to set up goals and accom-

plish them. Now, I am sharing my skills and

knowledge with students like me, they can devel-

op as me, they just need somebody to show

which way and show the opportunities that they

have.”

The TAGs Conducted Leadership and IT training in

Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s largest southern city TAG Wins Soros Grant, Launches Project in Southern Kyrgyzstan

TAGs explain the project to

JashtarCamp attendees

GCE & DYD - KYRGYZSTAN

The TAGs plan to keep in touch with their new

trainees, answering questions and offering guid-

ance over Kyrgyzstan’s Educational Network, as

they seek new ways to impact communities in

their country—in their own backyards or far from

home.

After learning about the event via the GCE-

provided internet at his school, 11th grader

Zholoman Zhailoobek uulu was accepted to the

“Creating Public Service Advertisements” semi-

nar from September 10-15 in Bishkek. Seeking

guidance from GCE Teachers and TAG alumni, he

developed a strong application and was the sole

representative from Naryn to this event.

At the seminar, the 15 participants analyzed case

studies in using media to raise awareness, and

learned how to create their own PSAs, developing

skills to compose video concepts, scripts, and

storyboards, as well as the key tools in video re-

cording and editing.

There were 15 participants in total from all over

Kyrgyzstan, who applied through application.

Zhailoobek uulu was the only participant from

Naryn, thanks to the trainings of GCE MITE

Omurbekova, he knew how to write an essay and

sent his application. At the seminar participants

learned how to create social videos, worked on

scenarios in groups, and created short videos. On

the last day of the seminar Zhailobek uulu with

his group presented their work to the audience.

Workshop participants came up with their

own scripts, defended the concept, worked on

storyboard and after that, shot a video.

Zhailobek uulu’s video was rated in the top three

best videos by the guest trainers and was privi-

leged to be broadcast on public television. The

trainer of the seminar Georgiy Molodcov, Crea-

tive Director of “Social Advertisement Laborato-

ry”, and his fel-

low trainers also

r e c ommended

that Zhailoobek

uulu’s video take

part in upcoming

international fes-

tivals. “The vid-

eo that was cre-

ated by Zhailoo-

bek uulu was

very simple and

easy to perceive for the audience. I am sure he

will achieve his goals with his passion to work,”

said Molodcov.

The skills Zhailoobek uulu developed during the

IT trainings given by GCE teachers and TAG alum-

ni helped him to effectively use IT tools to make

video and be better prepared for the event.

“I am really glad that I had a chance to partici-

pate in this seminar, thanks to the skills that I

gained during GCE’s IT trainings,” he said. “I

have learned about public service announce-

ments, how they can affect people, and how you

can show deep meaning through your creativity.

This seminar was truly valuable for my future ac-

tivities.”

Zhailobek uulu’s video can be seen at

www.youtu.be/DyntBc-hRug.

GCE Student Develops Public Service Announcement

In September, Zholoman Zhailoo-

bek uulu attended a seminar on

PSAs in Bishkek

GCE & DYD - KYRGYZSTAN

Sarah Stott, Cuthbertson High School, Waxhaw, NC / Aizada Apazova, Karakol & Ratbu Satarova, Jalal-Abad: History Boxes (1 project)

Nicolle Boujaber-Diederichs, Cypress

Creek High School, Orlando, FL / Aigul Dzhumagulova, Bazar Korgon; Roza Moldobekova, Aral,Talas; Shahribonum Igamberdieva, Kyzyl Kiya; Aliya Ganzina, Jalal-Abad & Kahramon Shakirov, Uch Korgon: Global Grocery Baskets (5 projects)

ONLINE PROJECTS UPDATE: Fall 2011

Jacqueline Stack/Don Mason, H. Cheney Tech High School, Manchester, CT / Sho-hista Hadjimatova, Kyzyl Kiya; Nazgul Ka-bylbaeva, Karakol: A Day in the Life Pho-tojournals (2 projects)

John Garner, Greencastle High School,

Greencastle, IN / Ulan Chalpakov, Bish-kek: Introduction to Remote Sensing (1 project)

Nicholas Kirschman, Webster Groves High School, Webster Groves, MO / Nurgul Pakyrova, Batken; Zhyldyzkan Aiylchieva, Gulcha; Ravshan Abakulov, Osh; & Anara Omurbekova, Naryn: Cross Cultural Psychol-ogy (2 projects)