STEAM through Play: Children’s Day Celebrated in Bel-Aldy and Uch-Terek
As part of the International Children's Day celebrations, Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic organized festive events for children in the Bel-Aldy and Uch-Terek Community Development Projects (CDPs) located in Toktogul District, Jalal-Abad Region. The events were held on June 3 in Bel-Aldy village and on June 4 in Uch-Terek village.
The events were implemented in close cooperation with the Abdy-Suerkulov and Uch-Terek local self-government bodies, as well as representatives of the local communities.
The concept of the events was developed based on the results of community needs assessments and focus group discussions. During the consultations, community members highlighted the limited opportunities for developing STEAM skills among children in schools and preschool institutions. In response to these identified needs, Good Neighbors organized educational activities using learning kits and creative games.
Throughout the events, children participated in various educational and creative games designed to strengthen logical thinking, creativity, communication skills, and teamwork.
By organizing activities across multiple communities, the initiative was able to reach a larger number of children and families living in remote areas, ensuring equal access to educational and recreational opportunities.
In school age, children face serious internal and external changes. Against this background, conflicts often arise, and bullying can go into the shadows — adults either identify it too late or do not notice it at all.
Director of secondary school No. 30 named after A. Aliev (Osh) Sulaimanova Nuskaiym Amanbaevna shares why traditional preventive measures are no longer enough. To truly protect teenagers, educators need new methodologies, instructions, and, most importantly, the right approach to communication.
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A four-day intensive training-of-trainers on implementing the Methodological Guidelines for Creating a Safe Educational Environment for teachers and social educators concluded in Bishkek.
The initiative was conducted by the branch of the International NGO Good Neighbors in the Kyrgyz Republic in cooperation with the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The trainers who led the course emphasized the critical importance of fostering a protected atmosphere in educational institutions:
“Without safety, neither quality education nor healthy child development is possible. It is essential not only to notice physical threats in time, but also to detect violence and bullying. Children must feel protected both physically and psychologically — in schools as well as in kindergartens!”
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Altynbek Erkimbekov, Head of the Department of Upbringing and Extracurricular Education at the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic, summarized the outcomes of the four-day Training of Trainers on the "Safe Educational Environment" Methodological Guide.
In his interview, Altynbek Erkimbekov emphasized that creating a protected school atmosphere requires the combined efforts of the government, international organizations, and the pedagogical community.
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