AUB Charity Foundation: Ask a Child of its Dreams…

Following The Alpine Path of Dreams Photo Exhibition was opened on November 18 and will continue until December 16, 2009 by CAMP Alatoo Public Foundation jointly with UNICEF-Kyrgyzstan and AUB Charity Foundation. The main idea behind this event is to sketch current life and perspectives in mountainous regions of Central Asia as perceived by children.

The event is organized as multiple exhibitions held simultaneously in various public venues, such as UNDP Bishkek Office, American University in Central Asia, Kyrgyz-Slavic University, Seitek National Center for Children, Youth, Kyrgyz Graphics Art Museum named after G. Aityiev, VEFA Department Store and Koldo Art Gallery.

In 2009 a group of photographers-researchers visited remote mountainous localities of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to learn about life of children in highlands. Over 600 children from 35 alpine villages and townships, including orphans and students of boarding schools, have been surveyed during visits. Central Asian highlands revealed the research team a whole diversity and complexity of life in mountains where oftentimes material poverty neighbors spiritual riches and pride for motherland makes routine difficulties of mountainous areas so special to local folks.

Researchers produced an outstanding set of 10 000 pictures and collected dreams of children expressed through paintings and compositions reflecting an attitude to motherland, nature, culture, traditions, education, family, labor, health, sport and relationships among ethnicities.

After returning to Bishkek researches decided to share the unique material with society and organized the photo exhibition to give everyone a personal journey to alpine lands of Central Asian. The pictures, paintings and compositions open a path to the future that had been sketched, described and predicted by children from remote mountainous areas. And that future seems to be bright and warm, where people live in deep harmony with nature and guard family and spiritual values, as well as seek tolerance to other ethnicities.

“When a person comes to this world it brings a dream along. Life without a dream becomes murky and pointless, because it is achievement of the dream that makes the person happy”, Lisa Usonolieva, the thirteen year-old teen form Naryn Province of Kyrgyzstan, said.

“God gave everyone a heart that lets people feel and dream. I wish every good dream would come true and people would keep dreaming”, Khamidoza Avloyer, resident of Elok village, Tajikistan, added.

At the opening ceremony on November 18 in Koldo Art Gallery dreams were shared not only by kids, but also by partners of this unique project. Tim Shaefer, Head of UNICEF Office in Kyrgyzstan, noted that he had two dreams, namely help people and travel a lot. Both dreams became a reality and now Tim works for the international organization which task is to make childhood happy and healthy.

Ulan Sarbanov, CEO of AUB Charity, said that his dream was to play basketball professionally and the dream was fulfilled, although in part only. “I believe that children should have bright and optimistic dreams and we need to put all efforts to make it happen”, said Mr. Sarbanov.

Pictures and other pieces reflecting dreams of alpine children from three countries can be found at: www.photo.kg and www.photoasia.ru

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Победители «M&TVA - 2009»

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