AUCA Magazine 2012 Winter by AUCA

AUCA Magazine American University of Central Asia

February 2012

Afghan Connection

AUCA Summer Language School - http://www.auca.kg/en/sls

American University of Central Asia announces a new Summer Language School, providing 6-week intensive courses in beginning and intermediate Kyrgyz, Dari, Tajik, Uzbek, and Russian (all levels).

Each course provides 120 hours of language learning from native speakers, and living in Bishkek means that students can use their language outside the classroom. The courses are also strengthened by a cultural component and field trips that are just not possible while sitting in classrooms in the US or Europe.

Be a part of the new AUCA campus. Your name can be displayed on the AUCA Foundation Wall forever. The wall will sit inside the main forum of the new campus, and be a symbol of the students, faculty, staff and friends that made the new campus a reality. Visit www.auca.kg/en/brick to get yours today!

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CONTENTS FEATURES

Afghanistan: An Education

Catching Up With Mirza Amiri

Planting Gender Equality in Kandahar and Helmand

Afghanistan is a country of young leaders. Only two years after graduating with his Masters, Elham Gharji is already a president of a university.

In 2008 Amiri was still at Brandeis University working on his MBA. Now he is using that education to help his country.

How do you empower women living under the constant threat of Taliban resurgence? Suraya Sayed is trying, and her team has a plan.

Surviving Above the World

05 06

Editor's Note

07 08 12 14 15 16 18 19 20

East or West, home is best. For these Kyrgyz living in the Afghan panhandle, home is about the only place they can go.

Welcome from the President

UNIVERSITY UPDATE AUCA Develops Kyrgyz Language Textbook Bringing the Climate Change Debate Down to Earth Saakashvili: Young Countries Need Young Leaders DARK: Drama Activists Rocking Karakol AUCA in Osh Coca-Cola Sponsors MBA Students Football по-Гималайски Gutten Tag Studenten MLK's Impact on Central Asia

STUDENTS SPOTLIGHT

Diversity Week

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Photo by Emil Akhmatbekov

34 36 38

Zarina Omorova Alumni News & Notes Mary Schweitzer Scholarship

AUCA

EDITOR'S NOTE

Magazine

Publication team Editor-in-Chief: Altynai Usubalieva Copy Editors: Sven Stafford Madina Sarkulova Contributors: Murat Alachiev Natali Anarbaeva Salima Bekbolotova Aaron Choi Rodger Dillon Stepan Golovash Aliona Kim Atai Muratbekov Altynai Usubalieva Natalia Slastnikova Sven Stafford Pictures: AUCA Archives Aaron Choi Emil Akhmatbekov Ilias Nurmambetov Design and Layout: Emil Akhmatbekov AUCA Magazine is published by the American University of Central Asia You may send your correspondence and subscription inquiries to: AUCA Magazine American University of Central Asia 205 Abdymomunov St., Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic 720040 Tel./Fax: (996 312) 66-45-64 E-mail: magazine@mail.auca.kg www.auca.kg

Accept what other people have to offer. Drink their milkshakes. Take their love. Wally Lamb, Author My fellow alumni, do you still miss that home-like atmosphere of AUCA? I only realized this when I returned to my alma mater. During my first week as PR Director I was ashamed of the envy I felt towards current students, because it was so obvious that studying at AUCA is never just about studying, it is about having fun while studying. If I was granted an opportunity to study at AUCA all over again, I would do it without hesitation. I would love once again to experience that sensational feeling of learning to think for yourself, the most valuable thing I learned here. Some of the people I met at AUCA claim that the University is not what it used to be. Well, why should it be? For each of us, AUCA is a unique experience made up of our friends, fellow students, professors, classes and extracurricular activities. However, there is something about AUCA that remains the same: it values diversity. We celebrate diversity of opinions, diversity of thoughts, diversity of approaches and ideas. Acknowledging diversity is never an easy thing to do. It is much easier to stereotype and simplify. It is in our nature to fear the unknown, and that is why it is so hard to step out of our comfort zone and accept another person’s, community’s, culture’s, or country’s distinctiveness. And maybe that is the reason why AUCA graduates are sometimes misunderstood or perceived as alien in this country. Eighty one percent of our students are citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, and our distinctiveness lies in our minds and thoughts, our citizenship alone does not define us. In this edition of the AUCA Magazine, we emphasize the diversity of our community. It is this diversity that makes AUCA so colorful, enjoyable, sometimes challenging, and definitely surprising. Specifically, we are taking a closer look at the influence of Afghanistan on AUCA. We peak into the lives of our fellow alumni from Afghanistan, climb the Pamir Mountains to meet the Kyrgyz of Afghanistan, visit our traditional Diversity Week, and a lot more. We are always open to your ideas and ready to listen to your opinion on tools we use to keep you connected whether it is our website www. auca.kg, Facebook (www.facebook.com/myauca), Twitter (www.twitter. com/myauca) or Youtube (www.youtube/user/aucapubrel). Sincerely, Altynai Usubalieva PR Director

On the cover: AUCA Afghan Student

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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American University of Central Asia, founded in 1993, is dedicated to educating leaders for the democratic transformation of the region. It is the most dynamic and studentempowering education available, and is the only university in Central Asia with the authority to grant degrees accredited in the United States. AUCA equips its graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to solve problems and open doors in this rapidly changing and developing region and the world beyond..

PRESIDENT'S COLUMN

Dear AUCA Alumni,

As always, winter has been a very busy time at AUCA. Whereas in spring, summer, and fall, everyone is always running out of town, the winter lends itself to academic pursuits, particularly this year, which has been unusually cold for long stretches (not something that those of us who like to ski have been complaining about, by the way).

Perhaps the biggest events at AUCA in the past months have been the opening conferences of our Institute for Central Asian Studies and our Tian Shan Policy Center. The kick-off conference for CASI brought together scholars from around the world and helped to cement the position of AUCA as a leading hub for academic research on the broad region of Central Asia. For now the Institute’s activities are being funded by a grant from USAID, but a big challenge going forward will be to find a permanent source of funding to allow us to continue to grow as a center of knowledge creation, rather than purely as a site for knowledge transmission. The CASI opening was followed in January by the first big public conference of the Tian Shan Policy Center. Within the walls of AUCA we had members of parliament, representatives of a variety of NGOs, academics and students. The lively discussion focused on ways in which university-based policy centers could provide the kind of data that would allow lawmakers to understand the likely effects of legislation before it is passed rather than waiting to discover the unanticipated side affects after the fact. We believe that the Tian Shan Center is poised to become exactly this sort of institution, allowing AUCA faculty and students an unprecedented entrée into the country’s development and emphasizing our role as a leading policy making entity.

As always, though, students are at the center of what we do, and the whirlwind of activities around Diversity Week, which this year included students from other universities for the first time, once again demonstrated that AUCA differs from all other institutions of higher education in Central Asia not just because of its corruption-free liberal arts approach to education, but perhaps even more through its unprecedented support of the kinds of extra-curricular programming that brings students together, encourages them to confront their similarities and differences, and learn from one another.

We encourage all alums to stay in touch with the spirit of AUCA, attend events on campus, follow us on facebook and twitter, and keep an eye on the new generation of students, who are moving AUCA forward in so many ways.

Andrew B. Wachtel President

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

AUCA Professors Develop Kyrgyz Language Textbook By Altynai Usubalieva vocabulary such as tarjymal (biography) and jansakchy (bodyguard), and it also contains historical facts and cultural elements of the Kyrgyz language.

Topics at the third annual workshop included the increasing demand for Kyrgyz language for groups ranging from schoolchildren to mid-career professionals. While some progress has been made, there are still significant barriers to delivering high-quality, consistent language instruction, such as the lack of a welldeveloped textbook capable of taking students from elementary to advanced levels of learning. AUCA’s Kyrgyz Department took the first step towards solving this problem, introducing a brand new textbook for elementary Krygyz learners by Gulmira Dusheeva, a professor of Kyrgyz Language at AUCA, called Kylym Karytkan Til, which was introduced at the seminar, and will be published by the AUCA Press and available through the university. Participants at the workshop were impressed with the first edition of the textbook, and hoped that a wide distribution to schools and universities would follow. They were also keen to see the development of an intermediate and advanced textbook, which are currently being written. The book is very simple, logical, and comprehensive. The textbook also contains new Kyrgyz

As the author, Dusheeva noted, “Many of the textbooks in schools and universities right now do not meet the practical requirements of today's language learners, and this book is an attempt to update our curriculum for a 21st century audience. Maybe most importantly the textbook gets rid of much of the propaganda that existed in Soviet-era textbooks, many of which are still used throughout the country. The update also includes lessons that are presented in more effective and useful tables, layouts, and prompts, and is appropriate for all beginning Kyrgyz students. The workshop also included master-classes from AUCA professors. Samudinova Z.K. presented the poem “Motherland”, by Alykul Osmonov, which she presented through a song. Karypkulova E.A. followed with “The characters and symbols of the painting “A Daughter of Soviet Kirgizia” by Chuikov A.”

Dusheeva's textbook is so intuitive that even students with no exposure to Kyrgyz can begin to speak after 20 lessons. AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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The AUCA Kyrgyz Language Department ran “Innovative Kyrgyz Language Education: Implementation Approaches” in December, an annual get-together for Kyrgyz teachers from Bishkek to discuss Kyrgyz language pedagogy. University professors and school teachers took part in the workshop, whose main goal is the exchange of professional experience, improvement of pedagogy in schools and universities, and developing a center for the scientific study of the language.

Nazgul Segizbaeva, a professor of the Continuing Education Center at AUCA states, “The lessons in this book are very cohesive - the students are motivated by the logic of the textbook, because they can learn new vocabulary and are able to integrate that vocabulary throughout the chapters in the textbook. Even international students with no exposure to Kyrgyz begin to speak Kyrgyz after 20 lessons thanks to the interactive nature of the exercises. It is a success, no doubt!”

Rodger Dillon

Executive Director Tian Shan Policy Center

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Bringing the Climate Change Debate Down to Earth By Rodger Dillon

Daniyar Ibragimov, head of UNDP’s Environmental Unit first gave an overview of his organization’s work with the Kyrgyz Republic on issues of climate, land, and water management. He stated that the Kyrgyz Republic is exposed to negative aspects of the growing climate change problem. “If the necessary measures are not taken, it will negatively affect the economy and health of the country,” he said. He described a number of UN-financed projects in this area including the Climate Risk Management regional project, which has created special groups to analyze gaps in legislation, and which favors the adoption of a national strategy on climate change. Mr. Ibragimov pleaded for stronger cooperation between state agencies, scientists, civil society and other interested parties to achieve common goals, to avoid duplication of activities, and to raise awareness among the population about the issue of climate change. The first research presentation was on international conflict and cooperation in water resource management in Central Asia by Sarah Hummel, a research fellow at AUCA's Social

Research Center. Ms. Hummel provided an evaluation of past performance of CA countries in water management, with particular attention to the difference in perspectives and interests between downstream and upstream countries. Having investigated cooperative and noncooperative events since the collapse of Soviet Union, Ms. Hummel concluded that so far no lasting regime of water and environmental management has been achieved. According to her calculations, cooperation among CA countries is more likely when the scarcity of water is high. Next, Elena Rotoklya, Assistant Professor of the Natural Sciences Department at AUCA, presented “The Challenges of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Central Asia”. Ms. Rotoklya concluded that proper application of IWRM methodology by CA countries would result in consensus on sharing water between upstream and downstream countries, better water quality and economic efficiency. The third presentation was made by another SRC Research Fellow, Beatrice Mosello, on “Institutional Adaptive Capacity as a Way Towards Sustainable Water Governance” based on the case studies of Italy and the Kyrgyz Republic. Ms. Mosello focused on how water will be managed in these two countries in the context of the changing climate. She discussed to what extent these countries are institutionally ready for natural disasters and how to build adaptive capacity. She concluded with the phrase “It’s cheaper to brush your teeth twice a day than going to the dentist”, suggesting that it’s better to start fighting the problem before it reaches a critical level.

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On Wednesday, November 23, 2011, the Tian Shan Policy Center (TSPC) organized its first scientific practical conference at AUCA. The main objective of the conference was to discuss land and water management issues, especially as they are affected by the changing climate. New strategies for water and land management are needed to protect Kyrgyz communities and livelihoods. Over 30 representatives of different government and international agencies as well as universities attended the conference, organized by TSPC Executive Director Rodger Dillon and Deputy Director Michelle Leighton.

Finally, TSPC Deputy Director Michelle

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Leighton talked about the “Impact of Land Degradation on Community Livelihoods in a Climate-Changed World”, with additional comments from Tologon Mamatov, the Kyrgyz National Manager of “Sustainable Land Management, High PamirAlai Mountains” (i.e., the PALM Project). The presentation provided an overview of land degradation problems and hazards in the Kyrgyz Republic, and climate change estimates for Central Asia. Mr. Mamatov discussed issues related to the Pamir-Alai Mountains in the border area of the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, and pilot projects being undertaken to strengthen agricultural land and forest management in the PamirAlia region. After several questions and comments following the last presentation there was a coffeebreak followed by a roundtable

session moderated by AUCA Associate Professor of Sustainable Development, Martin J. Ossewaarde. The first question that was raised during the round table session was about key challenges for Kyrgyz government agencies and local communities in managing water and lands for the future. One suggested challenge was that the Kyrgyz administration cannot seem to get into a ‘proper policy cycle’ with measurable goals, monitoring and evaluation and follow-up. Certainly, the political instability and budgetary situation are partial causes for this. Moreover, current governments seem almost totally unresponsive to the significant economic consequences of climate change for the country. The next question addressed possible conflicts that exist among policies advanced by different agencies in the Kyrgyz Republic and international agencies. The participants of the round table concluded that governmental and international agencies indeed have different goals and agendas. The problem is that Central Asian states heavily depend on donors and do not yet have their own strategies on dealing with the impacts of climate change. More coordination between the agencies is desirable, as is reporting about project effectiveness. Also, the Kyrgyz Republic does not have all of the technical expertise it needs to remedy land, water, and energy problems in all spheres. For example, it lacks scientific capacity and laboratories to test water samples for contamination from pesticides; if it did, the country wouldn’t need to send samples abroad for costly analysis. Another response was that international organizations should better take into consideration the local

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

UNIVERSITYUPDATE

population’s interests, while building strategies on preventing the climate change impacts on water and land. Participants discussed how the Kyrgyz republic could better address land and water management issues to assist communities in context of Climate Change predictions—that is, how to help local agricultural communities better adapt to the changing environment. Forests are decreasing at a time that they should actually increase in order to sustain livestock and crop productivity, and to prevent hazards such as landslides and mudflows. Some said that those under threat from climate-related disasters should organize themselves to lobby for solutions, because climate disasters might also cause political problems. The issue of land degradation was discussed as another reason why increased extreme weather events might aggravate soil erosion, land slides and flooding. Several

participants suggested that the introduction of sustainable development thinking in schools and universities should be speeded up with special emphasis for fieldwork and case studies of real life situations. Participants were reminded that the Kyrgyz government is involved in UN efforts to boost Education for Sustainable Development in this decade from 2005 till 2014. While the government and UNESCO provide a fair deal of support for schools, universities are left to fend for themselves. Nevertheless, several universities have begun collaboration. AUCA is among the leaders in this field, as it is developing new curriculum in sustainability and is planning to build its new campus according to strict energy efficiency standards and using geothermal energy for space heating. NGOs such as MoveGreen will be implementing an educational program to involve youth in sustainable development.

Summary of Issues & Recommendations

• Improving collaboration among environmental agencies, NGOs, and universities would strengthen the impact of current projects and facilitate a more coordinated strategy among various sectors not working in tandem in the environment, development, and energy fields. • The failure of international agencies and the government to harmonize information on successful pilot projects, respond to them and build on their lessons through future programmatic development tends to weakens the prospect for Kyrgyz sustainability and makes inefficient use of resources. International donors and KR officials should better analyze pilot programs and harmonize lessons learned for incorporation into future programs. • Conflicts exist between national policies and the practical needs of local communities struggling to address land and water management issues. National policies, for example, should better support the efforts of pasture committees and collective land management to ensure fairer and more sustainable natural resource use. There should be a fuller assessment of such conflicts and remedies built into the law, and more monitoring at the field level to identify needed reforms that promote sustainable land management. The assessment of economic impacts at the local level is needed as well as mechanisms to hold officials accountable for fair implementation of natural resources allocation and management policies. •

The public media is underutilized by agencies, institutions,

and other groups seeking to improve outreach and awarenessraising on implementation of environment and development programs, and increased efforts to involve the media to spread ideas and inform the public is warranted. • Due to the changing politics and lack of priority focus on climate change issues, KR officials have not yet taken advantage of opportunities for significant funding from global climate fund sources that can be channeled to agricultural development and adaptation for local Kyrgyz communities—recognizing that neighboring Kazakhstan and Tajikistan obtained USD$100 million and $50 million respectively in such funding already. • Establishing more centralized planning and facilitation of climate related programs via an independent Climate Institute could be considered as a means to facilitate the concerted involvement of the science, academic, NGO, and the expert community to assist KR agencies in their planning around climate issues. Successful models can be found in other countries. • There is also a tremendous need for additional education and training in KR, to support the development of university programs to improve training on environment and sustainable development among future leaders in industry, and for environmental laboratories that can facilitate training at KR universities. Many students must go abroad to receive training and many do not return, leaving a gap in scientific and engineering expertise needed to help Kyrgyzstan develop and prosper. • Education and training programs should assist agricultural communities to receive training through extension programs, training centers, and pilot conservation programs. • Continued exploration of transboundary natural resource management is warranted as climate change impacts are likely to enhance tensions between neighboring countries in Central Asia on access to growing scarcities in land and water resources.

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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• There is a need for the government agencies in Kyrgyzstan to develop goals that incorporate key environmental benchmarks and indicators to monitor the impacts of environmental laws, policies and practices on a consistent basis. Establishing such a framework would provide the government with tools to better assess current problems, identify critical needs for the future, and undertake reforms targeted at improving environmental and agricultural sustainability.

Mikheil Saakashvili President of Georgia

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Saakashvili: Young Countries Need Young Leaders

On December 1st, 2011, the day Central Asia witnessed its first peaceful transfer of power since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called on students and young leaders in the Kyrgyz Republic to take action. "Only the Kyrgyz people can bring about change in the Kyrgyz Republic," the President said when asked how the Georgian anti-corruption program could be duplicated in Central Asia. President Saakashvili was on hand for the inauguration of Almazbek Atambayev as President of the Kyrgyz Republic. A supporter of young leaders across the region (he cited himself as the oldest government official in Georgia at 43), he agreed to address a group of 200 young leaders and students at the American University of Central Asia. Saakashvili said that he envied the students. "The opportunity for change is in the air here. There is an energy and a desire very similar to what we had in Georgia. If someone asks me where in the world I would want to be today, I would tell them that I want to be here in the Kyrgyz Republic." The president stated further that the similarities between the two countries run deeper than their shared Soviet past. They both have young populations unburdened by the Soviet mindset. They both have

limited natural resources, meaning that they have to depend on their human capital for development. And they both are striving to develop the institutions that will make the most of their human capital, though Georgia has certainly progressed further on this goal. "The reforms in Georgia set an example for countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Kazakhstan, Panama and even the Philippines. Who would have thought 10 years ago that these people would be coming to us for advice? I believe the link between all of us is an active youth population and an open democratic space. Young people support these reforms, and our experience has shown that the reform process is best in those countries where young people are active," Saakashviliv said. AUCA students were happy to have the chance to listen and learn from the Georgian leader. In addition to their concerns about the corruption of state services, the students were eager to invite the president back to the Kyrgyz Republic to help them with the monumental task ahead. Although Saakashvili said that reforms of that kind must be home grown, he did indicate that he would like to return to the country. "I have a big list of things I want to do here. When I have some free time, I will come back to the mountains and go fishing in Issyk-Kul. The rest you can do without me."

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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By Stepan Golovash

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

DARK: Drama Activists Rocking Karakol By Atai Muratbekov

“Everything that happens in Karakol, stays in Karakol.” That's mostly due to a lack of journalists, but AUCA Magazine managed a road trip this winter to follow AUCA students to this eastern Kyrgyz adventure town. On November 24, 2011, fifty AUCA students

I'm glad that we had the opportunity to go and perform in Karakol, and get the response that we did. and staff boarded buses to represent AUCA on a three-day trip to Karakol, with a goal of promoting AUCA’s way of life outside of Bishkek. The trip was funded by the AUCA Open Doors Grant for student travel.

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

Day 1 11:00 One big bus and one minibus departed AUCA with over 50 students and staff. A group of mostly freshmen and sophomores were traveling to perform the AUCA Initiation Concert, a compilation of some of the best acts from AUCA’s flagship drama performance. 19:00 The drive lasted more than seven hours. The energetic freshmen showed killed time by singing songs and playing games. After settling in at Hotel Issyk-Kul and getting a quick bite, the performance team had their first meeting to get organized for the next day. The meeting was held in the dining room of the hotel, which was reminiscent of the Oval Office, and made Dean of Students Nikolay Shulgin look like the next President of the United States. The seriousness of the Oval Office was not lost on the students, as they stayed up late into the night to practice their routines.

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

03:00 The healthier students managed to stay up talking and singing into the night. Day 2 08:00 Nikolay Grigorevich woke everyone up for breakfast. After eating they went to the theater to get ready for the day. Unfortunately, our trusty Physical Plant Department’s workers were not there to help setup the equipment, so our students transformed into roadies and did all the work themselves. 14:00 The performance started with a short speech by Nikolay Grigorevich. Songs, dances, sketches and energy flowed, leaving the audience feeling positive and exalted. After the show, all of the participants embraced each other, united by the thrill of completing their first show away from the friendly confines of AUCA. Despite not rehearsing on the Karakol stage, the show was performed perfectly. One of the participants, Vyacheslav Kim commented, “No wonder, we trained so hard for this day! Also performing the show for the second time was much easier.” 20:00 The day concluded with solo concerts by Nikolay Grigorevich, Alibek and Nikita on the guitar. Students gathered together in one room and sang songs in chorus. After this “room

concert” there was a celebration for Victoria Alyabeva’s birthday, who performed the song “At last”, by the late Etta James, at Initiation as well as in Karakol. We had our last group meeting in the Oval Office, where students had a chance to share their feelings, opinions and impressions of the trip, and to thank each other for the support. 22:00 There was a party. Day 3 08:00 Breakfast stopped the party. 09:20 The noisy group left Karakol for Bishkek. The seven-hour trip was divided into three phases (at least in the minibus): Sleeping Singing Sleeping 17:00 The realization that the trip was over set in. This sadness did not go away after unloading the equipment. Nikolay Grigorevich pronounced everyone “free,” but most of us did not want to be free. One of the students, photographer Ilias Nurmambetov, said, “It was a great trip. All of the participants are closer to each other now than we were before. I think it will be remembered for a long time among those who were there. Look for photos on Facebook. Thanks to all the organizers, sponsors and participants.” As everybody departed to their homes, it was clear that something of the trip remained in their hearts. Something that will never let them forget about these last three days. Something that will help us remember these days again and again. I’m not sure what this “something” is, but I hope that we left such a “something” in the hearts of the Karakol citizens, who watched us in the theater on November 25.

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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Aihan Nurjan, one of the participants in the show, said, “Well, to begin with, I was at AUCA at 09:00 as agreed, then Bema came to me and said, ‘Julia got sick, so you're going to dance instead,’ and gave me the outfit. During our trip to Karakol, I caught a cold. After dinner, my temperature rose, I had a headache, and my cheeks were burning. I had every reason to lie in bed and never come out! But when everyone began to rehearse in the evening, I pulled myself up, pinned a smile on my face, and learned the dance. It was hard at the beginning, but I learned it in time for the show the next day. I'm glad that I had the opportunity to go to Karakol and get the response that we did.”

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

AUCA IN OSH By Natalia Slastnikova

Sulaiman Too Osh City AUCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Continuing Education Center (CEC) launched its first satellite campus in Osh on November 8th, 2011. In cooperation with Kirov School #4, CEC is attempting to bring its popular, high-quality English language courses to the Kyrgyz Republicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s southern heart. Under the steady management of Natalya Slastnikova, CEC Director, and Nellya Pitaeva, VicePrincipal of Kirov School, two groups of students began taking elementary English courses at the Osh campus. The students range from grades 5-7, and new groups of pre-intermediate students are currently being recruited. CEC is also planning to open computer courses, and will continuously look for ways in which it can serve the Osh community. CEC is proud to be partnering with Kirov School #4, and has made a significant investment in

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

technology for the school. CEC will provide computers, projectors, books, lights and portable generators so that classes can run at night. The school will have access to the technology during school hours, and students and teachers of Kirov School #4 will receive discounts to CEC classes. Mrs. Pitaeva said, "We are honored that AUCA chose our school to start a CEC branch in Osh, and look forward to collaborating with them in the future." The opening of the Osh Campus has been a goal of CEC and AUCA for over a year, reflecting the University's desire, under President Wachtel, to expand its presence in the Kyrgyz community. The Osh Campus will allow AUCA to reach students that it normally would not meet in Bishkek, including providing a base from which to recruit students for the New Generation Academy opening in Fall 2012.

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

AUCA Coca-Cola Day By Altynai Usubalieva

Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers and AUCA are beginning a new partnership. To celebrate the occasion, Coca-Cola General Manager Ezel Agaoglu addressed AUCA students, faculty and staff, and signed an official partnership agreement with AUCA President Andrew Wachtel. The agreement sets a new standard for university-corporation partnerships in the region, marking the first time a company based in Bishkek will invest in its employees by sending them to AUCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MBA program starting in spring 2012. The signing ceremony took place at AUCA on November 12, 2011. Coca-Cola provided refreshments, while AUCA students provided the entertainment. The partnership is not only for the MBA program, but also a commitment by both institutions to look for opportunities for cooperation in all aspects of their operations. Coca-Cola will also be providing internships and opportunities to visit its factory to AUCA students. AUCA and Coca-Cola will also work on developing innovative contests and projects to engage students and faculty.

At a lunch with AUCA students, Mr. Agaoglu encouraged them to go out and get experience, even if it is at a small unknown company. He said size does not matter, and that experience can come from the most unexpected of places if students make themselves open to it. He also encouraged students to consider finance as a route to success, since this is the part of companies where the most important decisions are made. Mr. Agaoglu himself climbed the CocaCola company ladder by starting in Turkmenistan as the Director of Finance, before coming to the Kyrgyz Republic, where he has been the General Manager for six years. Coca-Cola has previously been a sponsor of AUCA's Career Fair, and was also a sponsor of this year's AUCA Freshmen Initiation. AUCA anticipates that this agreement is only the beginning of what will become a beneficial partnership for both institutions, and looks forward to all forms of collaboration with Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers.

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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From left: Nurzat Aidaralieva, Ezel Agaoglu, Andrew Wachtel, Aijana Djumalieva, Sven

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Football по-Гималайски By Lyubov Nochkina

Who said that football can only be played when it’s warm? The first winter soccer tournament among AUCA students, alumni, faculty and staff took place on December 10, 2011. In spite of the cold weather, all participants were eager to play. Eight teams took part in the competition. There were six teams of AUCA students (BCP, Barbara Streisand, AUCA Stars, ECO-2, Juventus, and Alga), one Alumni team, and one team comprised of university faculty and staff. The first match was held between the Alumni and the Faculty, with the Alumni soundly defeating the Faculty team with a score of 7-1. Meanwhile, on the other field, the destiny of two more teams was being determined. Barbara Streisand ended up being no match for BCP, and after a 5-0 beating had the Streisand team asking, “Papa can you hear me?” The final four was completed with the ECO-2 defeat of AUCA Stars 2-0, and a Juventus victory over Alga, also 2-0. Juventus, the champion of the fall tournament, was the beneficiary of an own goal in an otherwise competitive match. In the first semi-final the Alumni again dominated their opponents, BCP. The 4-0 final did not fully describe the domination, as the Alumni played as if they had trained in snow for weeks, while BCP looked cold and stiff. ECO-2 needed penalty shots to dispose of the defending champions in the other semifinal. There were no goals through regular time and extra time, as both teams simply refused to score. ECO-2 had the best chances, with two shots going off the crossbar. Those shots eventually found their home in the shootout, which ECO-2 won 3-1. In the final, ECO-2’s economic use of goals and luck hit a wall. Going into the second half tied at 1, the Alumni team pulled away with two more goals, one on a penalty kick by Alumni captain Talaibek Saidov. This netted the Alumni team the 6000 KGS prize from Coca-Cola, who co-sponsored the event with UniCredit and Dordoi. Saidov and Asien Kojakhmetov shared the title of MVP. 18

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

Above: UniCredit Bank and PR Promo Group Representatives Below: Coca-Cola Bishkek GM Ezel Agaoglu

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Gutten Tag Studenten By Sven Stafford

Starting in Berlin students, accompanied by the Department Chair Liubov Jdanova, met colleagues at the European College of Liberal Arts, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, the Institute for European Politics and the European Youth Parliament. The students were particularly impressed with the Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). Established in 1962, SWP has eight research divisions focusing on foreign policy issues, EU integration, and other regional areas. Students were

impressed by the combination of theoretical knowledge and practical application, as well as the opportunity to work with the researchers through internships and student thesis advising. The students visited the European Commission in Brussels, where they listened to presentations on how the EU functions, education programs, and justice for growth initiatives. Students were also given access to the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, where they listened to the ECB describe its effort to establish a single European market right at the time the market was falling apart. There were no reports suggesting that AUCA students were responsible for the bailout of Greece, announced during the trip, but it cannot be ruled out. AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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Fifteen AUCA students from the European Studies Department traveled to Germany in October, sponsored by DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service. The twelve-day trip included visits to Berlin, Bonn, Aachen, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Brussels.

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. in the Kyrgyz Republic By Altynai Usubalieva

As US Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Pamela Spratlen addressed AUCA students, faculty, and members of civil society in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, one could not help comparing the Ambassador and her accomplishments not to the great Dr. King, but to another catalyst of the civil rights movement, Rosa Parks. On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, 42-year-old seamstress Rosa Parks boarded a bus after work and sat down in a seating area designated for blacks. After the vacant seats in the white section filled up, Mrs. Parks was ordered to move from her seat by the bus driver. She refused to obey the order arguing that she was tired. Outraged by refusal, the bus driver hailed for police assistance. Rosa Parks was arrested, fingerprinted and fined fourteen dollars for disobeying the bus driver’s orders. On December 5, 1955, less than a week later, the historical Montgomery Bus Boycott officially started, led by Martin Luther King Jr. Although Ambassador Spratlen would most certainly refuse all comparisons to the mother of the freedom movement in the United States, it is undeniable that she carries the same passion for civil rights and justice wherever she serves. Earlier in her career, as Consul General in Vladivostok, Russia, Ambassador Spratlen won praise for expanding civil society linkages between the Russian Far East, countries of East Asia and the U.S. West Coast. In the Kyrgyz Republic, Ambassador Spratlen has continued to champion justice and civil engagement. In one of her first interviews upon arriving last year, the Ambassador, talking about the Kilyunen Report on the June 2010 events, said, “I think that the most important thing moving forward is to take those recommendations that the members of parliament and the government believe can be used and are constructive to help with the process of finding justice and of seeking greater peace and reconciliation for the Kyrgyz Republic.” Many in the Kyrgyz Republic see peace and reconciliation as words that only exist in the mouths of politicians, but Ambassador Spratlen recognizes that with the right leaders and some good timing, words can be turned into actions. The Ambassador reminded students, “I am an African-American woman and U.S. Ambassador, working for the country’s first AfricanAmerican President. During my 22 years in the State Department I have served two African-American Secretaries of State, and two female Secretaries of State. All of this would have been unthinkable 50 years ago.” Ambassador Spratlen encouraged all AUCA students to take that message to heart. As future leaders of the country, they should always be reminded that, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice 20

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

everywhere.” She also reminded them that although there are many more opportunities now for AfricanAmericans than ever before, that the movement for civil rights in the United States is still strong, and still necessary. Quoting President Obama, “Our work is not done.” For the people of the Kyrgyz Republic, and students of AUCA, the work is only just beginning. Perhaps that is why the comparison to Rosa Parks is so apt. As Rosa was present at the spark of a movement, so has Ambassador Spratlen been present at the first peaceful transfer of power in Central Asia. When asked why she refused to give up her seat on the bus, Rosa Parks replied, “I was not tired physically. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” No doubt that Dr. King took strength from those words as he built his U.S. movement, and no doubt that as it continues today in the U.S., people from around the world, especially the Kyrgyz Republic, can still take strength from them. As Ambassador Spratlen told the audience at the end of her speech, “This movement is relevant for all people who seek justice, for all who are oppressed.” Between 1876, when Reconstruction ended, and 1964, when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, Alabama Jim Crow laws enforced segregation of public facilities and provided 'separate but equal' services and accommodations for black and other customers, clients, patrons, students and patients of color, leading to their inferior social status. Alabama policies required black bus riders to surrender their seats to provide seating for white riders as determined by bus drivers. If white riders were standing because the white section of the bus was filled, the driver ordered black riders to move from their blackdesignated seat

STUDENTS SPOTLIGHT

A Journey Across Cultures in 5 Days

Instead of students busily running to classes, they are dancing in the hallways. The rhythms of national music reverberate through the building, and if the beat does not get you out of your seat, surely the aroma and spices of the international food court will. AUCA hosts students of more than 16 different nationalities. No matter what nationality they are, all students are united and enjoying their diversity together. If you imagine a university where students only sit and read books or write essays, you are definitely not thinking of AUCA. Here, there is a lot more than just typical university life. Diversity Week 2012 is a perfect example of what AUCA spirit is all about. Every year we celebrate the range of cultures and traditions during Diversity Week. This year, the event took place from the 23rd - 27th of January and it was better than ever, with 13 participating delegations. This wonderful week went beyond the borders of nationality and brought all students and faculty together. “The one thing that is good about diversity week is that it is not a competition on whose culture is better. It is all about understanding each other, and celebrating unity even though we are different from one another,” said

Khujesta Sadri, a junior from Afghanistan. Newly added to the program this year was the flash mob that each delegation performed, making this Diversity Week even more dynamic and colorful. The week culminated in the final concert. There was harmony between not only different nations, but also between traditional and modern folklore; each performance was a blend of both the old and the new in each culture. It was more than just a concert where the audience passively watches. It was a celebration of the AUCA spirit. “It showed me AUCA’s unique spirit, and I was shocked because I expected something good, but not that good,” said Yura Kim (Eco 110). Diversity Week 2012 was an interaction and exchange of ideas and it strengthened our harmonious community built on understanding, acceptance, and mutual respect. AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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By Aaron Choi

AFGHANCONNECTION

AFGHAN

CONNECTION

AFGHANCONNECTION

Afghanistan: an Education

GIHE has positioned itself to play a role in the building of Afghanistan. YOUNG LEADERSHIP GIHE is at once a reminder of what was and a promise for what could be in Afghanistan. That promise is also reflected in GIHE's young president, Elham Gharji (AUCA ICP '08), who has taken on the challenge of leading GIHE through its teething period. After teaching and consulting at GIHE during the first half of 2011, Gharji was offered the job after the first president, Zahir Fahimi, left to complete his Ph.D. As one of his first major decisions as president, Gharji communicated to faculty and students that GIHE was going to be an institute of academic excellence not only in name. "In spring 2011 we had about 400 students enrolled," Gharji said, "and about 70 of them, almost 20%, were not meeting the academic standards we were trying to hold them to. I told them that they had to leave, that GIHE was not going to be like other private

universities in Afghanistan." This assumption, made by many private university students in Afghanistan, is that since they are now paying for their education, they should be able to study or not study, to come and go as they please, and to receive a diploma regardless of their effort. Another issue is that many private universities in Afghanistan are for-profit. GIHE is a non-profit, and Gharji says that this made a big difference when explaining to students why GIHE rules on academic performance and conduct were stricter. POLITICS AND EDUCATION Although Gharji has not been afraid to make big decisions, he has an accomplished board of trustees backing him up, including a former Finance Minister, the current Security Affairs Adviser, and a former Minister of Higher Education. Together with other esteemed academics, including the founder Dr. Sima Samar, a former Minister of Women's Affairs and current head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, GIHE is trying to build its reputation and become a sustainable institution. It is not unusual for an Afghan university to have politicians influence the university, and, in fact, GIHE's board of trustees has more politicians than most. Many Afghan politicians have opened or are aligned to their own universities, and political activism and education have a long history together in Afghanistan. Students participated in protests against the monarchy in the 60s, and in the 70s and 80s they were an ideological battleground for Marxists and Islamists. On whether Gharji feels any extra pressure trying to lead a university surrounded by so many influential and experienced political leaders, he says no. "It is great to have so many experienced academics and politicians on our board. They want to develop good managers and leaders for the country, and, more importantly, they recognize that this cannot happen if they are meddling in AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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The Gawharshad Institute of Higher Education (GIHE) opened its doors in August 2010, but its name and mission evoke a time and place in Central Asian history that would seem unbelievable were it not for the remains scattered across the old Silk Road. Gawharshad, meaning "shining jewel", was the wife of Shah Rukh, the emperor of the Timurid Dynasty of Herat. Gawharshad, both during the reign of her husband and after his death, was one of the most powerful women in 15th century Central Asia, and at one point ruled a kingdom stretching from the Tigris to China. Her promotion of the arts, architecture, philosophy and poetry made Herat a crucible of Persian language and culture. Appropriately, what is left of Gawharshad's memory is a minaret that stood next to her tomb, and was part of a madrassah that she had erected.

AFGHAN CONNECTION

the day-to-day life of the university." This separation of politics and academia takes a lot of pressure off of Gharji and his young faculty. "Any form of activism that might turn violent is discouraged at GIHE. There is no space for political campaigns, and we study politics as dispassionately as possible. We work hard to preserve our academic independence, and the board supports this decision." WOMEN AT GIHE GIHE not only teaches a different, independent curriculum, but also attracts a different kind of student, one that is normally overlooked by other universities in Afghanistan. Women. As a percentage of the student body, women already make up a greater percentage (40%) at GIHE than at any other private university in the country.

number of female instructors, and Gharji thinks that this trend will continue. "I think that women are becoming more visible in Afghan higher education. The current generation of women has only had access to some education for about 10 years now, so it will take some time, but even now you can see that there is a future for women here." BEGINNING CONCLUSIONS GIHE has positioned itself to play a role in the building of Afghanistan. It currently offers degrees in political science, law, and economics and management, with the idea that its graduates will be the planners and managers of the new state. It also plans to open a full range of graduate programs, and to become a leading research university in Afghanistan. The need for these graduates is great. "I don't know of any Afghan graduate of AUCA, or of

It is great to have so many experienced academics and politicians on our board. In an effort to enroll even more women, the female tuition fee is set lower. Men pay about $600 per year, while women pay about $450. Many female students in Afghanistan are still denied primary and secondary education, so it is harder to find women qualified for rigorous university study. Because of this GIHE has to give some admission preference to female applicants, as well as pay special attention to them in their first years of study. To help boost their performance, GIHE hosts the Women Empowerment Center, which provides capacity building and leadership programs for women. "Our gender strategy allows for greater space for female participation and organization in the university's academic life," says Gharji. The support for womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eduaction also comes from GIHE's partner and founding cosponsor, the Norwegian Embassy, whose initial grant of $359,716 has helped the university to operate. The Women's Empowerment Center is also sponsored by the Australian Indigo Foundation, as well as the Canadian Federation of University Women. Higher education may be one of the areas where Afghan women can most easily break through in Afghanistan. GIHE already has a

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

any other graduate from a Western institution, who is unemployed. It is possible that some of these well-paying international organization jobs will disappear over time, and the market will demand something different, but a quality university degree in Afghanistan is still rare," Gharji says. Whether those graduates can lead Afghanistan to recapture the prestige it enjoyed in the time of Gawharshad is unknown. Sometimes a prosperous future for the country seems further away than the distant past in which Gawharshad lived. Hope, however, survives in the young. For GIHE and its young president, inexperience may be the best advantage in trying to complete what will be a long and tedious journey. Gawharshad lived at the end of Central Asia's greatest period of relevance. Let us hope that her spirit inspires Elham Gharji and GIHE to achieve what cannot be done.

Mirza Amiri

Catching up with...

The last time AUCA Magazine interviewed Amiri in 2008, he was still working on his MBA at Brandeis University. 4 years on, Amiri is fulfilling his promise to make Afghanistan a better place. After graduating he immediately returned to Afghanistan to take up a position as a National Policy Advisor to the Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan. Now he is the Director and CEO of Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan (EPAA), a division of the Afghan government. Since completing his MBA and returning to Afghanistan, he has worked for his country and I am proud of it. He was very much involved in the preparation of documents for the Kabul International Conference on Afghanistan, held in June 2010, which outlined the economic development of Afghanistan over the next 5 years. He also was involved in preparation of documents for the London International Conference on Afghanistan, held in January 2010. He is very happy that he contributed to these very important documents that planned the economic and social development strategies in the country. Now he is happy to work as a senior government official for promoting exports of Afghanistan, the effect of which will be to directly grow Afghanistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GDP.

Jahantab After graduating from AUCA I went to work at the Afghan Civil Society Forum Organization, where I worked as a Project Manger for a Community Policing Project. The project goal was to establish a police force in Northern Balkh and Samangan Provinces, and also to bring community and government institutions together through the establishment of Neighborhood Watch Committees in each district. Right now I am working as an Enterprise Specialist at Hand in Hand Afghanistan Organization, where I am in charge of a Knowledge Resource Center. The organization is implementing a Sustainable Livelihood Project, which aims at gender equality and severe poverty reduction in Balkh Province. My focus is on gender equality, meaning encouraging women to know their economic, social, and political rights, as well as to start their own small enterprises.

Ali Amiri Currently a graduate student at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, pursuing his second graduate degree in Public Administration. Before this he ran his family businesses distributing telecommunication products, producing fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), and operating a petroleum business. During his time at AUCA, Ali helped recruit Afghan women for AUCA's HESP supported scholarships. This gave him his first exposure to the influence of local politics and international organizations on the selection process for such a valuable commodity. It also played a role in his decision to pursue a Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in public administration, as he plans to return to Afghanistan and take up a position in the government

AFGHAN CONNECTION

Planting Gender Equality in Kandahar and Helmand

The Kandahar and Helmand provinces in Afghanistan are the most contested areas by the Taliban, the heart of Afghan poppy production, and as a result, two of the most unstable places on earth to live. Aid workers must travel with military escorts to do the most basic work. For Suraya Sayed (AUCA ICP '11) the risk is even greater, as she tries to educate and empower women in these provinces, where, since 1994, they have lived under some of the most repressive regimes in the world. Suraya is currently a program officer with International Relief Development (IRD), and works as a gender program officer for the 26

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

Southern Regional Agriculture Development (SRAD) program. The goals of the $65-million program include increasing long-term agricultural jobs and incomes in Kandahar and Helmand provinces and increasing the confidence of Afghans in their government. This is a mighty task for IRD and this USAID-sponsored project. Many farmers in Afghanistan are already indebted to the Taliban. The Taliban, in return, demands that farmers grow poppy, which can be used as currency for trade in weapons and other supplies needed to fight the current war. Many farmers know the harm that poppy does, not only in supporting the Taliban, but

AFGHAN CONNECTION

As an Afghan woman, she realizes the challenges that other Afghan women face throughout the country. However, those crops require more complex farming methods, and more importantly, stability. Fruit trees, such as apricots, can take up to two years to bear fruit, a luxury of time that does not exist for indebted farmers. Because poppy can be harvested twice per year, and does not require as much investment in irrigation or fertilizers as other crops, it is often the only choice for those living with such uncertainty. The SRAD program aims to end this indentured servitude through several means. It will increase incomes for at least 25,000 farm families, create 7,000 long-term agricultural jobs, and increase confidence in the government's ability to deliver basic services and protection. The project will give farmers the confidence they need to start growing fruits and nuts, vegetables, legumes, forage,

cereals, and even to raise livestock. It will also provide access to markets for the produce through assistance with transportation and infrastructure, packaging and processing, and pricing information. For Suraya, being involved in this project is both a personal and professional experience. As an Afghan woman, she realizes the challenges that other Afghan women face throughout the country. "Afghan women simply do not enjoy the same rights that other women around the world take for granted. The gender project that I am working on empowers women, and that is empowering my community," Suraya said. Perhaps the most important goal of the project is for it to be understood by the local community as government owned and implemented. This is where people like Suraya are so invaluable to the rebuilding process in the country. She lends credibility to the project simply by being an Afghan woman. Moreover, she is an educated woman who has made the commitment to return to her country and work in one of the most regressive areas for women's rights. "The main achievement in my life will be to act professionally, to help my community, and to serve honestly. If I can be honest with myself and others, then I have no doubt that I will achieve my other goals," said Suraya. One of the concerns about programs such as SRAD is that they are short-term, and that the Taliban will simply outlast the alliesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; willingness to fund such projects. Although the project has some means by which it aims to secure the sustainability of its effort, it is unrealistic to assume that funding at such levels can be sustained by a cash-strapped government after the aid money dries up. Indeed, the hope that exists lies in the human resources such as Suraya Sayed, who will continue to fight for the rights that have been hard-fought over the past ten years. "I want to fulfill the dream that my dad has for me," reflected Suraya. "He told me that I was a leader, and that I had the power to motivate people. I want to do this not only in my community, as my dad did, but also throughout the country."

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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also as the end-product it becomes, heroin. Many would prefer to grow other crops, and indeed Afghanistan has the potential to be the breadbasket of Central Asia, and at one time produced one-third of the world's raisins.

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

AFGHAN CONNECTION

Surviving Above the World

The history of the Kyrgyz Republic is rich and diverse. The nomadic nature of the people means that although there are clear political boundaries today, those boundaries do not encompass the people that make up the Kyrgyz nation. One example of such a place is Northeast Afghanistan, where Kyrgyz people have been living for centuries. Kyrgyz nomads appeared on the territory of modern Afghanistan at the end of 16th century. They inhabited the Wakhan Corridor in the Pamir Mountains, a barren land with marginal ecological recourses. Such high-altitude territories, however, were good places for livestock breeding and security. Because of its geographic isolation, this Kyrgyz community was almost unaffected by Sovietization, and today remains a good example of the traditional, nomadic Kyrgyz lifestyle. As Louis Meunier, who made the first 21st century ride across war-torn Afghanistan, states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I first met the Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir in the summer of 2007, while I was guiding a group of tourists for a trek across the Wakhan corridor. The encounter with these nomads in a remote corner of northern Afghanistan marked the climax of the journey.â&#x20AC;? According to Meunier's article about the trip through Afghanistan, there were about 1,200 Kyrgyz living in the corridor. They live in yurts, and can move up to four times each year, depending on the pastures, the sun and the wind. Their camps are set up at altitudes between 4,000 and 4,500 meters at the very end of the Wakhan corridor, a narrow strip of land wedged

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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Kyrgyz nation in Afghanistan have lived in the Pamir for a long time, surviving in the rough conditions that we could not handle even for an hour. These people are strong and brave; they care about their rare culture and fear its extinction. They are used to their lifestyle in high mountains, and do everything possible to survive there and to raise their descendants in order to keep the history of their homeland.

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

between Pakistan and Tajikistan. There is little to no agriculture, with the people surviving entirely on their livestock. They barter with traveling merchants, and their neighbors, the Wakhis. The most basic staples have to be brought in from the outside world, including sugar, salt, medication, and opium. “Just a few kilometers away are three developed worlds: China, Tajikistan and Pakistan. But the Kyrgyz are not allowed to cross. The borders have closed with history, imprisoning the nomads on the roof of the world,” Meunier writes in his article. The Afghan panhandle was a result of the great game between Russia and Great Britain as they struggled for influence in the region. In today's world it means that the nomadic populations that reside within this artificial border are trapped in an invisible net. The Kyrgyz have managed to survive the entrapment, as well as much harsher conditions. Cold weather, the absence of electricity, and

limited trade all contribute to the hardship that the people endure, alienated from civilization. In 1999 the Kyrgyz Republic offered asylum and land to relocate the whole community. They refused the offer, preferring to stay and maintain on the inhospitable patch of mountain they called home. In doing so

they preserved their culture and traditions, and remained blissfully lost to the world. Meunier made a documentary, called “Prisoners of the Himalayas,” about the lifestyle of Afghan Kyrgyz in the Wakhan Corridor. He and his team worked in rough conditions in order to show the viewers

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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AFGHAN CONNECTION

the unique lifestyle and culture of the nomads. “By passing on messages and leaving testimonies, the film is a means to build bridges between cultures. It can also be used as a communication tool to alert, rally support, or raise concern and interest as a prelude to action when need be. “Prisoners of the Himalayas” is intended to tell the life and fate of the Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir,” he writes. According to the official website of the documentary, “The film is raising awareness about a people going extinct through a captivating true story. It sheds light on a community unknown to the media, and puts into question the reasons for their extinction.” This movie will be available in spring 2012 in HD. When asked why the Kyrgyz cling to their piece of mountain, they reply, "Watan," because it is our "Homeland." For the Kyrgyz people the idea of a homeland has always stretched beyond its borders, and it always will. 32

Photos were made by Zygmunt Korytkowski, a travelling photographer and a winner of “Lens on Development” International Photographic Competition, in a “The Influence of the National Environment on Human Life” category. According to his official website, “His fascination for forgotten places combined with a strong desire to understand indigenous societies has developed into an interest in photography.” American University of Central Asia is grateful for giving an opportunity to publish these wonderful photos. To know more about the photographer, visit his official website: http://www.zygmontek.com/

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

For more information about the movie, you can visit its official website http://www.theroofoftheworld.com/.

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On the roof of the world, a woman is worth a hundred sheep, but the salary of a shepherd is only one sheep per month. Women are scarce because most of them die at a young age during child birth. Abdul Wali is too poor to buy a woman for his son Nematullah. He has decided to sell his eldest daughter, Wulluq Bu, to raise enough money for the wedding. We followed the story of Nematullah and Wulluq Bu for a year, discovering the Kyrgyz community and the challenges they face. The Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir have experienced famine, exile, war and persecution. The only place where they have found security and peace is the hidden depths of Central Asia. Despite the hardships and extremely inhospitable terrain, these people have managed to survive and maintain their traditional way of life against all odds. Prisoners of the Himalayas is their story. The movie is produced by Taimani Films.

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Zarina Omorova '05 She is a combination of a tomboy and the girl next door, editorin-chief of “Stylish.kg” online magazine, a dedicated wife, and currently Business Development Manager for Pinnacle Group, she never fears challenges and always strives for perfection. Meet Mrs. Zarina Omorova, graduate of IBL, class of 2005. called Pinnacle Group in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. I am still on the Board of Trustees for Pinnacle.

You are a lawyer and, as far as I remember, you were always one of the top three students. What made you change your professional field? I would not say that I have completely changed my career. I still practice law, but my main work is related to business development and administration. After graduating from AUCA I started working in one of the law firms in Bishkek, and after a few months, I became bored and decided to try business development. Quickly realizing that I loved it, I was inspired to change my path. Though, I would like to note that a legal background does help in decision-making and foreseeing potential outcomes. You also took a detour to Dushanbe? Well it was slightly more complicated than that. As I mentioned, after AUCA I worked for a law firm. I then enrolled in a Master’s program on Law and Economics in Bern, Switzerland. I did quite a lot of traveling during that year. After returning, I worked for about two years for the state. Finally, I was offered a position of Business Development Manager for a construction company

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

What has your current occupation taught you? Be persistent and there are no goals that you cannot reach. Do you have people under supervision? Some say that once you learn how to manage three people it does not matter anymore if there are three or three thousand? Do you agree with that? I agree with that completely. I think it’s a matter of efficient coordination and proper task delegation – you have to set precise objectives and then monitor the progress. Is there anything that you would never do regardless of the reward you are offered for doing it? Something lowdown. Please complete the phrase “AUCA is…” Your first step to new opportunities. What did AUCA provide you that you were able to apply in practice? To be honest, AUCA gave me a lot. After graduation, I was better equipped than the competition. AUCA developed the independence and self-reliance necessary to succeed. I was able to easily find information I needed for work, and I understood a lot of things that many others did not. English is an obvious example, but an important one. Less obvious are the introductory courses in psychology, economics, and others that do not make you an expert, but at least expose

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

What is the most amazing thing that has happened to you? The most amazing thing that happened to me was my professional experience with the government. I served as the Executive Director of the State Foundation on Intellectual Property for the Kyrgyz Patent Office. I remember as an AUCA student I promised myself never to work for the government, but I later reconsidered and appreciated the value of the experience. I had a unique opportunity to introduce new policies to the patent office that resulted in some significant changes. You are very modest. You have not even mentioned your most successful project, Stylish. kg. Tell us about how it all started? It was an idea that occurred to me when I was studying in Sweden. There are so many fashionable people there that I got inspired and started thinking about a fashion blog or website. So, one day, when I was in Almaty on a business trip we went to the Nirvana Bar. There were some photographers there taking pictures of us, and afterwards they came up to our group and handed out their business cards, saying that we could see our pictures on a website. So I thought, “We don’t have this in Bishkek, why not try developing it?” My friend and I created a website for 3000 som, and that was the beginning of it. Our first photo-reporting was done when Timati came to town. I took the pictures myself. Although my original partner dropped out, I continued the site, and now we have a professional production team. I act as the editor-in-chief right now and am responsible for site policy. Besides your work, Stylish.kg, and being an active person, I am sure you have hobbies. What are they? I love learning new languages. I have learned Spanish, I am studying French, and I plan to take Arabic lessons. I regret that I did not study languages at AUCA. Right now time limitations make it difficult. I would advise current students to extract everything they can from AUCA.

Ok, a couple of personal questions, if you don’t mind. How does your husband react to you being always busy? Did he follow you to Dushanbe? He always was, and is, supportive of me. He is not the type of husband to insist on his wife sitting at home. He was by my side in Dushanbe, which was not that hard since he was in logistics for the same company. Murat is always there with advice, and I always find time to cook for him. Who is the leader in your family? Who is the planner and who is impulsive? Murat is the one who plans and thinks through everything. Me, I am the fire, I need to do everything straight away. But we always make decisions together. I think that’s the perfect balance. Do you have phobias? I did, but not anymore. Everything comes with the experience. What phobias did you have and how did you overcome them? I had a fear of public speeches, but by doing numerous presentations, participating in debates, and singing in a band during my studies at AUCA, I was able to put my fear behind me. Are you happy with the person you are today? I truly am. My husband is by my side, I love my job, as I can see its results, and I travel a lot. What’s not to like? Where do you see yourself in five or ten years? In five years I see myself managing a government organization in Kyrgyzstan (laughing). In ten…I haven’t thought about it yet. What’s your life credo and what is the biggest dream in your life? My credo is “God suggests what’s best!” At a global level, I dream that one day the Kyrgyz Republic will become one of the economic miracles of the 21st century, and the most influential economy in the region. For myself, I would like to visit Latin America at least once.

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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you to the material and prepare you to deal with that information. This general knowledge allowed me to keep up with people of different professions and establish relations, which is a big part of developing business relations.

ALUMNI NOTES

Class Notes

2003

Tolgonai Berdikeyeva, ICP, graduated from London School of Economics and Political Science with a MSc in Development Studies, returned to the Kyrgyz Republic in 2008, and worked for the Institute for Public Policy as a Programme Coordinator. In 2009 she joined the United Nations Population Fund in the Kyrgyz Republic and is currently working there as a National Programme Analyst on Population and Development.

2006 Artyom Zozulinsky, ECO, works at the US Embassy in Bishkek as a Business & Commercial Specialist. He is married to Bermet Zozulinskaya, also a graduate of AUCA, whom he loves dearly even after 10 years of being together. He loves traveling and expanding his horizons and thinks that it's worth living and working for.

ALUMNI NOTES

2007 Sahyt Tachev, SFW, found a job as an IT Engineer in an international communications company (Hermes Datacommunications Int. Ltd, www. hermes.uk.com). Since then, he has been promoted twice and is working as a Project Engineer. His company works with the major of Oil & Gas companies in Turkmenistan, providing satellite communications and IT solutions. He got married last summer to the girl he loves after two years of dating and battling it out with his parents. In general, he is living an awesome life, with an awesome wife and awesome friends, mostly AUCA graduates.

2008 Kelima Yakupova, SOC, spent her first year at AUCA, one of the best years of her life. It prepared her for the rigorous academic program at Wellesley College in the United States. Next, she pursued a fellowship with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC. She is currently completing her graduate studies in International Economics and Finance at Brandeis International Business School. Last year was also marked by her marriage to Vladimir Kim.

2011

Kanykei Umarova, ECO, works as a coordinator at an orphanage after a couple years pursuing a career in economics. Volunteers with the UN and other organizations. Has a son named Erkhan, and everything she does now she does for him.

Emil Suiunaliev, ICP, is currently a Communications Specialist at the “Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Switzerland” in the Kyrgyz Republic. He also worked at the International Inquiry Commission covering the June events of 2010. In addition, he has worked as Economic Planning Assistant at the Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG) in Huntsville, AL, during his GlobalUGRAD year. He is married, and has been happily living with his lovely wife Saule for a year and a half. At the end of February he will become the daddy of a little girl!

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

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2010

Asel Shamenkova, PSY, decided that she wants to spend the rest of her life trying to investigate the deep motives, behavior and thinking of criminals. She began to dedicate a great amount of time to studying the literature on this topic, which confirmed that she wanted to pursue forensic psychology. Now, she studies Forensic Mental Health at King's College London in United Kingdom. This was the best choice in her life, and she is immensely grateful to her parents for giving her the opportunity to follow her passions. King's offers an excellent learning experience and a lot of opportunities for students and graduates. This semester she has an internship in Scotland Yard and another in a Mental Health Hospital, which is very exciting.

Gifts and Grants 2011-2012

Mary Schweitzer Scholarship By Atai Muratbekov

On November 2, 2011, the Mary Schweitzer Scholarship was awarded to Diana Takutdinova and Tatiana Resniankaia of the Anthropology Department. $1,750 was raised by alumni of the Anthropology Department in support of the award, dedicated to former AUCA Anthropology Professor Mary Schweitzer. The Mary Schweitzer Scholarship was established in 2009 by alumni of the Anthropology department to support students dedicated to excellence in the study of Anthropology at AUCA, and to honor Professor Mary Schweitzer, who taught at AUCA from 2002 to 2005. Alyona Rasquinha, an alumna from 2005, says, "During my second and fourth years I was touched by the way Dr. Schweitzer treated every student with dignity, care and respect. She always made sure that each student was given a chance and a voice. She treated us equally and gave us confidence in our knowledge. She believed in us. She encouraged us to dig deeper into our experiences, taught us to reflect, evaluate and move forward. Dr. Schweitzer’s commitment and dedication to her students affected me greatly. In 2005 I was working on my thesis with Dr. Schweitzer, but the political upheaval in the Kyrgyz Republic forced her to leave the country. Nevertheless, her commitment to me and my work were not interrupted as she was always available via Internet with helpful advice, revisions, constructive critique and proofreading. I am inspired to be a part of the Mary Schweitzer Scholarship because it is an extension of the kindness I personally received. It is my small contribution in encouraging bright students, and my way of saying, 'There is hope' and 'I believe in you.'” The outstanding 2005 class of Anthropology alumni had the foresight and commitment to encourage the

next generation of anthropology majors at AUCA by establishing this scholarship. This class has not forgotten the financial struggles and sometimes daunting intellectual challenges they themselves experienced as undergraduates. Through the scholarship, they offer a generous hand and moral support to anthropology majors who excel in their studies and show promise for the future. The approaches and insights of cultural anthropology are needed today by people in the world who live with both the tensions and the advantages of cultural and ethnic differences, and who wish to move us forward in mutual understanding and peace. It is important that these approaches and insights continue to be developed by future anthropologists. Alumna Gulmira Aldekeeva says, "I first met Mary Schweitzer during my sophomore year when she taught Introduction to Anthropology. I was influenced by her professionalism and competence combined with her careful and respectful attitude to her students. We often had gatherings and trips to interesting places outside of university. Our group was made up of ten girls, and today most of us are continuing our careers in the fields related to anthropology, be it MA studies, PhD or working in international organizations. I can surely say that it was because of Mary Schweitzer’s influence that all of us continued with anthropology. Mary Schweitzer is an important person in my life, whose example I want to pass on to the new generation of anthropologists through this scholarship. Diana and Tania deserve this scholarship because they are intelligent young women who impressed me with their diligence and active participation in extracurricular activities."

AUCA Magazine*February 2012

Friends of AUCA George Soros Dede Bartlett John O'Keefe Temirlan Moldogaziev Mary Schweitzer Martha Merrill Ellen Hurwitz Helen Smith Sharon Bailey Gulnara Dreier Madeleine Reeves Hersh Chadha Henry Myerberg Tatiana Gfoeller Rodger McGrail Eugene Huskey Kai Schlenther Larry Held Salkyn Ibraimova Tom De Liefde Achim Merlo Emil Akmatbekov Aaron Choi Nikolay Shulgin Board of Trustees Ishenbai Abdurazakov Jonathan Becker Almas Chukin Scott Horton Stanislav Karpovich William Newton-Smith Matt Nimetz Andrea Soros Alumni Alan Niyazi Elnura Djenish Aziz Soltobaev Erina Kadyralieva Togonai Berdikeyeva Sanjar Tursaliev Kumar Bekbolotov Nazgul Cholponbaeva Azamat Akeleev Feliz Tsoy Melis Turgunbaev Amina Hirani Mamatkhalil Razaev Maksat Korooluev Corporate Partners Mina Group Kumtor Operating Company Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers

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