Two groups of volunteers worked in Kazakhstan at once. Ambassadors of the Russian language held classes for students and schoolchildren of Kyzylorda, Shymkent and Turkestan. Eurasia Today and TV BRICS are the information partners of the programme.

Volunteers held a master class, during which schoolchildren learnt about traditional painting and were able to try themselves in this craft.

“Kyzylorda is an amazing new Kazakh region for our programme. More than 90% of the Kazakh-speaking population lives here, and yet there is a Sunday school at the Church of the Mother of God of Kazan, the Slavs Centre, there are Russian classes in schools, there is a department of Russian language and literature at the Kyzylorda State University named after Korkyt Ata. Students, teachers and children have a huge interest in Russian representatives and Russian culture. Even those who study in Kazakh-language classes speak Russian very well,” said programme methodologist Tatyana Kudoyarova.

Classes were also organised for students of Kyzylorda State University named after Korkyt Ata. Mainura Buribayeva, vice-rector for scientific work and international relations of the university, noted the significance of the scientific and educational expedition for intercultural exchange, and proposed a number of initiatives to develop co-operation between the Kazakhstani university and the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute

In Shymkent, the volunteers were welcomed at the local city library named after Pushkin. Pushkin. The children were taught how to play spoons, told about Russian folk crafts, and were shown how to make an amulet “Horse-fire”. Schoolchildren from Turkestan learnt the technique of making such a toy.

As part of the programme, the Russian language ambassadors visited the Museum of Baikonur Cosmodrome History, where they learned interesting facts about the training of cosmonauts and achievements of the aerospace industry.

Photo: Press Centre of the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute