"My Voice Matters!" Forum Theater and Puppet Theater Contest
REGULATIONS
on holding the forum theater and puppet theater contest
"My Voice Matters!"
💡 Contest Motto:
"Every child has the right to be heard!"
1. General Provisions
The forum theater and puppet theater contest "My Voice Matters!" is held within the framework of the "Children's Voices" project and is dedicated to World Children's Day, celebrated annually on November 20 to mark the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The contest aims to raise children's awareness of their rights, develop creative abilities, promote a culture of non-violence, mutual respect, equality, and encourage active child participation in the life of schools, kindergartens, and local communities.
2. Goal of the Contest
Creating conditions for children's creative self-expression through theater arts, as well as promoting the protection of children's rights, building a safe environment, and fostering children's active participation in educational organizations and community life.
3. Objectives of the Contest
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Raising children's awareness of children's rights;
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Developing communication, cooperation, and teamwork skills;
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Fostering a respectful attitude toward others;
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Preventing violence, bullying, and discrimination;
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Developing children's creative and leadership skills;
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Drawing public attention to child protection issues.
4. Contest Participants
4.1. Forum Theater Contest
Students of general education schools located in Kok-Chu CDP, Bolot Mambetov CDP, Bel-Aldy CDP, and Zhapalak CDP take part in the contest.
Participating Schools:
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Secondary General School No. 34 named after Ch. Tuleberdiev;
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Secondary General School No. 35 named after Atabaev;
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Secondary General School No. 30 named after A. Aliev;
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Secondary General School No. 45 named after M. Myrzaev (Osh city);
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Secondary General School No. 48;
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Secondary General School No. 68;
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Nizhne-Chuy Secondary School named after Iskhak Razzakov;
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Nizhne-Chuy Secondary School named after Absamat Masaliev;
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Secondary School named after Aaly Tokombaev;
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Secondary School named after B. Mambetov;
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Secondary School named after A. Kolbaev;
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Secondary School named after Zhusup Turusbekov;
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Secondary School named after K. Tilekov;
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Secondary School named after Zhuma Zhamgyrchiev;
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Secondary School named after M. Dogdurov (Ton district);
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Secondary School named after Tailakov (Ton district);
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Secondary General School No. 18 named after Kubatbek Chokoev;
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Secondary General School No. 22 named after Mukash Zhamgyrkanov;
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Secondary General School No. 30 named after Kulmanbet Toktoraliev;
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Secondary General School No. 29 named after Muktar Nurgaziev;
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Secondary General School No. 34 named after Salaev;
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Secondary General School No. 32 named after Beknazar;
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Secondary General School No. 33 named after Artykbaev;
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Secondary General School No. 21 named after Y. Alymbekov;
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Secondary General School No. 19 named after Toktonaaly Ashyraliev;
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Secondary School named after Abdymanap Mamyrov;
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Secondary School No. 20 named after T. Zhundubaev.
4.2. Puppet Theater Contest
Children enrolled in preschool educational organizations take part in the contest.
Participating Preschool Organizations:
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Kindergarten "Zhetkinchek";
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Kindergarten named after "Nariste";
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Kindergarten No. 10;
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Kindergarten named after Zhusup Turusbekov;
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Three-hour Kindergarten named after Zh. Zhamgyrchiev;
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Kindergarten No. 7;
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Kindergarten No. 12 named after Zhunushov Zholdoshbek;
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Three-hour Kindergarten "Bolot Mambetov";
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Kindergarten No. 5;
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Short-stay Kindergarten at the school named after Mukash Zhamgyrkanov;
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Kindergarten "Ak-Shoola";
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Kindergarten "Nur";
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Preschool Educational Organization No. 7 "Zhyldyz";
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Kindergarten No. 15 "Satymbu apa";
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Kindergarten No. 21 "Balastan";
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Preschool Educational Organization No. 4 "Chabalekey";
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Kindergarten No. 17 "Baktykan apa";
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Kindergarten No. 14 "Dilde ayym";
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Kindergarten No. 84 "Yntymak";
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Kindergarten No. 60 "Archa-Beshik".
5. Topics of Performances
Forum Theaters:
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Children's rights;
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Right to be heard;
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Prevention of violence and bullying;
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Safe school environment;
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Friendship, respect, and mutual aid;
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Children's participation in decision-making;
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Equality and tolerance;
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Protection of children's rights.
Puppet Theaters:
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Happy childhood;
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Friendship and kindness;
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Care and respect;
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Child safety;
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Mutual help and support;
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Child's right to love, care, and protection.
6. Requirements for Performance Submissions
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Performance duration must not exceed 15 minutes;
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The performance must correspond to the contest topics;
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Use of musical accompaniment, costumes, scenery, and props is allowed;
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Participation must be collective (team-based);
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Performance content must be age-appropriate for participants;
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The theatrical performance must promote children's rights, a culture of respect, and non-violent behavior;
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Deadline: November 25, 2026.
Mandatory Condition for Participation: Each team must provide a high-quality video recording of their performance (horizontal orientation, clear video image, and clear audio).
📞 To submit an application, please contact: +996 550 039 394
Submitted video materials may be used by the organizers for demonstration at the "Menin ünum – menin kelechegim" festival, as well as in information, presentation, and reporting materials for the "Children's Voices" project.
7. Evaluation Criteria
Contest entries are evaluated according to the following criteria:
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Criterion |
Maximum Score |
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Relevance to the contest theme |
20 |
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Expression of idea and content |
20 |
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Acting skills |
20 |
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Creative approach and originality |
20 |
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Teamwork and stage presence |
20 |
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Total |
100 |
8. Procedure for Summing Up Results
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Evaluation of contest performances is carried out by a jury appointed by the organizers.
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Based on the results, the following will be determined:
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best theatrical performances;
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best acting ensembles;
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best individual acting performances;
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winners and runner-ups in specific nominations.
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Organizers reserve the right to establish additional nominations.
9. Awarding
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Contest winners and runner-ups will be awarded:
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diplomas;
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commemorative gifts;
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valuable prizes.
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As part of the "Menin ünum – menin kelechegim" festival, the organizers will select the best performances for live presentation on stage.
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Top creative groups and individual participants will be recognized with special prizes and diplomas.
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Participants' creative works may be presented at the festival and used in project information materials.
10. Final Provisions
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By submitting contest materials, participants and their legal representatives confirm their consent to photo and video recording, as well as the use of submitted materials by the organizers within the "Children's Voices" project for information, educational, and reporting purposes, respecting children's rights and with mandatory attribution of authorship.
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The contest organizers reserve the right to make changes and additions to these Regulations, notifying participants in a timely manner.
Dear children, parents, teachers, and everyone dedicated to caring for the younger generation,
Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic sincerely congratulates you on International Children’s Day!
This day reminds us of what matters most: every child deserves a happy childhood, love, care, safety, and the opportunity to reach their full potential. Children are our future, a source of inspiration, and our hope for a better world.
For 35 years, Good Neighbors International has been working for the well-being of children around the world. Today, the organization positively impacts the lives of millions of people in more than 40 countries, with a strong focus on child rights protection, well-being, and inclusive community development.
In Kyrgyzstan, Good Neighbors has been operating since 2014. Throughout these years, together with our partners, local communities, schools, and families, we have been creating conditions that enable children to grow up healthy, receive quality education, develop their talents, and feel safe and protected.
On this special day, we wish every child bright smiles, joyful discoveries, loyal friends, and confidence in the future. May your dreams come true, and may you always be surrounded by people who support, inspire, and help you take the first step toward great achievements.
Happy International Children’s Day!
A series of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) was successfully conducted as part of the comprehensive needs assessment in the Community Development Projects (CDPs) of Kok-Chu, Bolot Mambetova, Bel-Aldy, and Zhapalak located in Chui, Issyk-Kul, Osh, and Jalal-Abad regions of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The discussions brought together representatives of various community groups, including teachers, healthcare workers, parents, youth, farmers, entrepreneurs, representatives of local self-government bodies, and vulnerable population groups. The focus groups served as a platform for open discussion of current community challenges, identification of priority needs, and exploration of possible solutions.
The discussions covered issues related to education, healthcare, access to clean water and sanitation, rights protection, social support, employment, and income generation. Special attention was given to the challenges faced by vulnerable groups, access to basic services, improvement of living conditions, and strengthening the capacity of local communities.
The Focus Group Discussions enabled the collection of valuable qualitative information and ensured active community participation in the needs assessment process. The findings will be used for further planning and for developing practical programs and initiatives that are responsive to the real needs of the communities.
Environmental debates (Eco-Debate) among high school students were successfully held at Secondary School No. 48 (Kerme-Too) and Secondary School No. 45 named after M. Myrzaev in Osh city.
Although for many students this was their first experience participating in debates, from the very beginning they demonstrated great interest, active participation, and sincere engagement in discussing current environmental issues. During the event, participants learned how to express their opinions with arguments, listen to opposing views, work as a team, and collaboratively find solutions.
The eco-debates became an important platform for developing public speaking, critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork skills.
We hope that such initiatives will inspire young people to continue their personal development and participate in future debate tournaments, helping to build an active civic position.