Journey of Hope 2023-2024 Journey of Hope 2023-2024 | Page 10

BUILDING a bright future

By Libby Daghlian
Imagine the start of a perfect school day . You might envision the faces of smiling children waving goodbye to their parents . There might be a bell ringing and open doors to a sturdy and welcoming brick building . Inside , the walls and floors would be smooth and clean , and the temperature would be just right . The classrooms would be bright and cheery , and the students would have space to sit comfortably and store their belongings . On this perfect school day , students and teachers alike would have a clean , private bathroom space to use and water that is safe for washing hands and refilling water bottles . In this kind of environment , teachers feel confident in welcoming their students , and children feel safe and ready to learn .
Unfortunately , in Tajikistan , many school buildings have gone decades without renovation or regular maintenance and they are not only uncomfortable but unsafe . The impact of these conditions extends to longterm educational outcomes . According to a 2019 Word Bank report , 1 inadequate water , sanitation , and hygiene facilities at schools were directly tied to student absenteeism and dropout rates , especially as adolescent girls deal with the additional task of managing menstruation .
For more than two decades , Central Asia Institute has built and renovated school buildings across the Gorno- Badakhshan region of Tajikistan , providing children with modern , safe educational facilities where they can learn and thrive .
In 2024 , Central Asia Institute will open the newly constructed Preschool # 2 , which was supported by generous and caring donors like you . Preschools are critical to early childhood development and can contribute to a child ’ s success , not only in primary school but later in life as well .
We spoke to some of the teachers and students who are part of the Preschool # 2 community to learn what the new school means to them .
Retired teacher Shogunbekov Amrikhudo recalls when the original Preschool # 2 building was erected . “ The construction of the old building started in 1960 and was opened in 1964 . I was a fourth-grade student at that time . After several years , the building slowly started to deteriorate .”
Shogunbekov is excited that the community will finally have a new school after 60 years . “ In the future , the kids will live and study in very good and modern conditions , learn languages , and become good specialists that could create a better world for the people of this country .”
8 | 2023-2024 JOURNEY OF HOPE CENTRAL ASIA INSTITUTE