In a mountain village in Tajikistan , a new preschool brings hope and promise
by Sonja Bahr
Photo : Hannah Denys
In the pocket-sized mountain town of Barushan — like everywhere in the world — young children love to play , explore , and let their imaginations soar . It ’ s all part of the process of brain development that , under the right circumstances , can benefit a child throughout their life . But to fully capture the enormous advantages that early childhood education provides , the children of Barushan must have a school .
Preschool # 2 , the only preschool in the village , was built in 1962 with inadequate materials and over the years , fell into disrepair . The walls and ceilings were sagging , mold was growing in the corners , coal-burning stoves used to heat the rooms belched smoke , and small children were forced to use the dilapidated wooden outhouses with no running water . Despite the awful conditions at the school , there was a waitlist to get in . When CAI staff visited Preschool # 2 in 2019 , it was clear that the building was unsafe and unhealthy , and that the community was in dire need of a new school .
That ’ s when CAI ’ s generous donors stepped in . Thanks to their generosity , construction crews broke ground on a new preschool in the spring of 2021 . Once completed , the two-story building will accommodate even more young preschoolers aged 3 to 5 — 125 children total — from the surrounding area . In addition to five classrooms , a kitchen , a nurse ’ s office , and art and music rooms , the new school will have central heating , indoor latrines , piped water supply , and electric power . The end result ? A safe , healthy , child-friendly school where these young children can thrive and parents will feel it is safe to leave their little ones .
Following a pause in construction during Tajikistan ’ s brutal winter months , crews resumed their work in spring of 2022 with the goal of completing the second floor before winter sets in . The final touches , including playground equipment , furniture , and more , will be added next summer . The doors will be opened for a new class of preschoolers in fall 2023 .
There is still time for you to get involved in this exciting project ! Your support today will ensure a brighter future for generations of children to come .
And for those wishing to make a more significant investment in the school , please consider joining the bricklayer ’ s society by making a gift of $ 1,000 or the builder ’ s society by making a gift of $ 5,000 . There is even an opportunity to sponsor a whole classroom .
To all of you who already supported Preschool # 2 , thank you for bringing hope and promise to the families of Barushan ! u
26 | JOURNEY OF HOPE CENTRAL ASIA INSTITUTE