The November 2011 newsletter highlights initiatives by the Global Connections and Exchange and Digital Youth Dialogue programs in Kyrgyzstan, focusing on enhancing Kyrgyz language content on Wikipedia through student volunteer efforts, training English teachers in using digital communication tools, and connecting students with professionals via an educational portal. Notable events include Kyrgyz Wikipedia Day, English teachers learning to use blogs and text messaging for better communication, and virtual discussions that engaged students with role models. Alumni from the Tech Age Girls project have also raised awareness through various community outreach efforts and leadership training.

1. GLOBAL CONNECTIONS AND EXCHANGE
DIGITAL YOUTH DIALOGUE
November 2011 Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE:
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
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.

2. GCE & DYD - KYRGYZSTAN
Ainur Kutmanova, specialist at the State Commis-
Student Volunteers Enrich Online
sion for the Kyrgyz Language, an organizing part-
Kyrgyz Language Content ner in hosting Kyrgyz Wikipedia Day, explained
the importance of making sites like Wikipedia
On November 3, six volunteers helped 15 contrib- robust for users in Kyrgyzstan: “Youth do not go
utors upload articles to the Kyrgyz language Wik- to libraries often, but they do conduct research
ipedia, a free, user-generated encyclopedia, dur- on the internet; I think it is vital for developing
ing an event held in Bishkek titled “Kyrgyz Wik- the Kyrgyz language that we [continue] to add
ipedia Day.” The volunteers – students and edu- articles. I am glad that students are volunteering
cators – arrived with significant amounts of con- to add Kyrgyz language content to Wikipedia.”
tent to contribute to the site, but lacked the
knowledge to upload the articles themselves. 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.
English Language Teachers Learn
Volunteers helped contributors upload 136 new arti-
How to Use Text Messaging for Better
cles to the Kyrgyz-language Wikipedia Communication
Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia whose On November 12, twelve teachers from the Eng-
content is entirely user-generated and governed lish Language Educators’ professional association
by a user-elected board. While the Kyrgyz lan- “FORUM” learned how to post blog updates, navi-
guage version of the site is dwarfed by others, gate the internet, and use internet-based tools to
contribution has begun to take off in 2011: arti- send SMS messages at an Information and Com-
cle counts have more than doubled since Decem- munications Technology (ICT) training in Bishkek.
ber 2010 to 3,900, and the active community has Many of the teachers were very new to the inter-
seen a 1,800% growth in that same time. GCE net, and while some had experimented with
and DYD are helping fuel this movement. With some of these tools, they lacked skills to use
the help of the trainers, event attendees up- them efficiently and to their professional bene-
loaded a total of 136 new pieces to the site by fit. Now, with the new knowledge they have
the end of one day — an increase of 3% to the gained, they are taking strides to more effective-
entire body of Kyrgyz language articles on Wik- ly use modern technology in their teaching and
ipedia. for better communication.

3. GCE & DYD - KYRGYZSTAN
All teachers have cell phones and almost all are The learning doesn’t end here – the teachers in
internet users, but they were not aware of how attendance have already made plans to improve
these tools could help streamline some time con- the web presence of their association. Recogniz-
suming aspects of their work, such as connecting ing that FORUM currently lacks a Facebook page,
with colleagues or communicating with their stu- they will be returning for a follow-up session on
dents by inviting them to upcoming English lan- December 10 to learn the essentials of adminis-
guage events. During the training, the teachers tering a quality Facebook page.
learned how to create and update professional
blogs, as well as learning how to operate Front- Kyrgyzstan’s Educational Portal
lineSMS, a software tool that allows a user to Connects Students with Role Models
send text messages to multiple recipients (such
in Virtual Discussions
as students or colleagues). Now, the teachers
plan to use what they have learned to launch
blogs, create and conduct events, and use Front- This fall, on Kyrgyzstan’s Educational Portal, stu-
lineSMS for better communication between their dents are connecting with role models from dif-
students and peers. 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-
English language educators from the association perience working in his position at the company.
FORUM learn how to use blogs and FrontlineSMS to
better connect with colleagues and students
In more than 50 comments, the students asked
Mamutov about technology, his upbringing and
education, and his view on setting goals.
“Now that we can organize FORUM’s work with
FrontlineSMS, we will be sending SMS messages to The discussion was very popular, and left many
coordinate activities, send reminders and receive students as impressed as they were inspired.
confirmations by text messaging. This technology Nargiza Asanalieva, a 7th grader at Naryn’s
will definitely help us.” said Gulnara Akunova, School No. 7, shared, “I am so proud of Mamutov.
FORUM director, on the benefit she foresees from He is professional and is helping his home country
members’ new knowledge. by inspiring us, by giving advice.” The experience

4. GCE & DYD - KYRGYZSTAN
was equally rewarding for Mamutov: “[The Edu- Bringing students to Kyrgyzstan’s greatest think-
cational Portal] is great; I am happy to be able to ers and doers is far easier today than in the past,
talk to students back home and help them how- thanks to the internet provided at GCE and DYD
ever I can. With technology, distance means schools. Students like Akmaral Muratbek kyzy, a
nothing.” student at School No. 7 in Naryn, agrees: “The
discussion [with Mirbek Toktogarev] was very use-
On October 8, the GCE ful for students outside of the capital, because
and DYD programs addi- we don’t have an opportunity to talk to people
tionally held a virtual like him here. Usually, we see them on TV, but
discussion for Kyrgyz- talking directly in this forum and asking questions
stan’s students, titled was truly amazing and inspiring.”
“How to Be a Leader,”
with Mirbek Tok- Alumni Raise Awareness about Tech
togaraev, Project Coordinator at the Bishkek Age Girls Project at JashtarCamp
Business Club, and an organizer of Barcamp, 2011 in Osh
JashtarCamp, and TEDxBishkek. Although Tok-
togaraev is only 24, he is a pioneering thinker at
the crossroads of IT and education in his country. On November 20, 2011, forty leaders from differ-
40 students took part in this discussion, generat- ent spheres in Kyrgyzstan came to Osh to share
ing more than 50 questions on Toktogaraev’s success stores, ideas, knowledge and their expe-
plans for the future and his advice for them as an rience with over three hundred attendees at
upcoming generation of young leaders. JashtarCamp 2011, an informal youth conference
in its third year in Kyrgyzstan. JashtarCamp bills
Toktogarev expressed his gratitude for being able itself as a youth action conference, helping in-
to speak to the youth, sharing that he too bene- spire and give key knowledge to youth in Kyrgyz-
fited from the exchange. “The students made me stan to successfully become agents of change in
think of my own future,” he reflected. their communities. Among those invited were
four Tech Age Girls: Zhara Asizova, Zina Kabylbek
The Educational Portal kyzy, Nazik Asranbekova, and Zulaiho Makambaeva.
hosted discussions with
Mirsuljan Namazaliev, Ex- The alumni presented on the importance of the
ecutive Director of the Tech Age Girls project, and explained the TAG
Central Asia Free Market process to the attendees, who listened passion-
Institute throughout Octo- ately to their descriptions of the community pro-
ber as well. This discussion jects they each implemented during their partici-
received more than 70 responses. The topic of pation, and the follow up work they are imple-
the discussion was “Why there is a need to be menting in Kyrgyzstan’s south.
socially active?” Namazaliev, only 24 and one of
the youngest leaders in Kyrgyzstan, shared his “It was very useful and interesting to learn about
story of success with the 60 students who partici- the results and achievements of Tech Age Girls,
pated. to have an opportunity to meet with the partici-
pants and winners of the TAG US exchange pro-

5. GCE & DYD - KYRGYZSTAN
gram, and meet girls who implement their own to conduct IT and leadership trainings for youth.
community projects in their home towns,” shared The girls held training sessions in three high
Lazat Takyrbasheva, Web Editor at Internews schools throughout the city, teaching students
Network Kyrgyzstan. how to use email, Facebook, Twitter, and blogs
to connect and communicate with each other. In
The TAGs also addition to these communications skills, the 90
shared the participants discussed leadership, teambuilding,
stage with and conflict mitigation with the TAGs, finally reg-
GCE staff istering themselves on Kyrgyzstan’s Educational
m e m b e r Portal to remain in contact with their trainers.
Tynchtyk Zha- Their five days in Osh even found them at an or-
nadylov, who phanage, organizing local youth to take part
shared tools while delivering a similar message of hope that
for youth who with perseverance, anything may be achieved.
wish to learn
TAGs explain the project to key computing
JashtarCamp attendees 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.
The TAGs Conducted Leadership and IT training in
Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s largest southern city
TAG Wins Soros Grant, Launches
Project in Southern Kyrgyzstan
Zina Kabylbek kyzy commented on her time in
Kyrgyzstan’s south, “I cannot even express how
In October 2010, Zhanara Asizova, a TAG Alumna this project changed my life, before the TAG I
from Kant, applied for a grant from the Soros didn’t even know how to use computers, now
Foundation in Kyrgyzstan’s Youth Action Fund TAG opened me so many opportunities, I became
and received more than $1600 to launch “TAGs confident.… I learned to set up goals and accom-
Advance Volunteer Activity in Osh.” plish them. Now, I am sharing my skills and
knowledge with students like me, they can devel-
As part of their project, Asizova and teammates op as me, they just need somebody to show
Zina Kabylbek kyzy, Nazik Asranbekova, and Zu- which way and show the opportunities that they
laiho Makambaeva flew to Osh city for five days have.”

6. GCE & DYD - KYRGYZSTAN
The TAGs plan to keep in touch with their new Zhailobek uulu’s video was rated in the top three
trainees, answering questions and offering guid- best videos by the guest trainers and was privi-
ance over Kyrgyzstan’s Educational Network, as leged to be broadcast on public television. The
they seek new ways to impact communities in trainer of the seminar Georgiy Molodcov, Crea-
their country—in their own backyards or far from tive Director of “Social Advertisement Laborato-
home. ry”, and his fel-
low trainers also
GCE Student Develops Public Service recommended
Announcement that Zhailoobek
uulu’s video take
part in upcoming
After learning about the event via the GCE- international fes-
provided internet at his school, 11th grader tivals. “The vid-
Zholoman Zhailoobek uulu was accepted to the In September, Zholoman Zhailoo- eo that was cre-
“Creating Public Service Advertisements” semi- bek uulu attended a seminar on ated by Zhailoo-
nar from September 10-15 in Bishkek. Seeking PSAs in Bishkek bek uulu was
guidance from GCE Teachers and TAG alumni, he very simple and
developed a strong application and was the sole easy to perceive for the audience. I am sure he
representative from Naryn to this event. will achieve his goals with his passion to work,”
said Molodcov.
At the seminar, the 15 participants analyzed case
studies in using media to raise awareness, and The skills Zhailoobek uulu developed during the
learned how to create their own PSAs, developing IT trainings given by GCE teachers and TAG alum-
skills to compose video concepts, scripts, and ni helped him to effectively use IT tools to make
storyboards, as well as the key tools in video re- video and be better prepared for the event.
cording and editing.
“I am really glad that I had a chance to partici-
There were 15 participants in total from all over pate in this seminar, thanks to the skills that I
Kyrgyzstan, who applied through application. gained during GCE’s IT trainings,” he said. “I
Zhailoobek uulu was the only participant from have learned about public service announce-
Naryn, thanks to the trainings of GCE MITE ments, how they can affect people, and how you
Omurbekova, he knew how to write an essay and can show deep meaning through your creativity.
sent his application. At the seminar participants This seminar was truly valuable for my future ac-
learned how to create social videos, worked on tivities.”
scenarios in groups, and created short videos. On
the last day of the seminar Zhailobek uulu with Zhailobek uulu’s video can be seen at
his group presented their work to the audience. www.youtu.be/DyntBc-hRug.
Workshop participants came up with their
own scripts, defended the concept, worked on
storyboard and after that, shot a video.

7. GCE & DYD - KYRGYZSTAN
ONLINE PROJECTS UPDATE: Fall 2011
 Sarah Stott, Cuthbertson High School,  Jacqueline Stack/Don Mason, H. Cheney
Waxhaw, NC / Aizada Apazova, Karakol & Tech High School, Manchester, CT / Sho-
Ratbu Satarova, Jalal-Abad: History Boxes hista Hadjimatova, Kyzyl Kiya; Nazgul Ka-
(1 project) bylbaeva, Karakol: A Day in the Life Pho-
tojournals (2 projects)
 Nicolle Boujaber-Diederichs, Cypress
Creek High School, Orlando, FL / Aigul  John Garner, Greencastle High School,
Dzhumagulova, Bazar Korgon; Roza Greencastle, IN / Ulan Chalpakov, Bish-
Moldobekova, Aral,Talas; Shahribonum kek: Introduction to Remote Sensing (1
Igamberdieva, Kyzyl Kiya; Aliya Ganzina, project)
Jalal-Abad & Kahramon Shakirov, Uch
Korgon: Global Grocery Baskets
(5 projects)
 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)