More than 400 students and schoolchildren from Uzbekistan took part in the project “Ambassadors of the Russian Language in the World”. Volunteers worked in schools and universities in Ferghana and Denau. The educational and awareness-raising expedition lasted for a week. TV BRICS and the “Eurasia Today” publication were the media partners of the programme.
A series of classes by Russian language ambassadors accompanied by a member of staff from the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute were held at the Denau University of Entrepreneurship and Pedagogy, as well as at the Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages.
“All week we have been telling students and schoolchildren about the richness of the Russian language and the diversity of Russian culture. It’s nice when at the end of the lesson you see the students’ lit up eyes and realise that it wasn’t all for nothing! It is great that now more than 400 children from Uzbekistan also know about the northern city of Syktyvkar, our harsh winters and the existence of the Komi language,” said volunteer Olga Solovey.
Another group of Russian language ambassadors worked in schools in Ferghana and at Ferghana State University. Traditionally, the project participants decided to instil interest in the Russian language and culture through games and masterclasses.
“We had an incredibly warm and cordial welcome in Uzbekistan! We were very welcome and were provided with all the facilities for the classes. Teachers noted that in the future the ambassadors will be able to come for a longer period of time,” shared Elizaveta Golovakha, a teacher at the Pushkin Institute.
Cultural exchange between countries and visits to places of interest are an integral part of the programme’s educational and outreach expeditions. The volunteers visited the Said Atalyk madrasah, the Zul-Kifl mausoleum in Surkhandarya province, and also saw the beautiful Sangardak mountain waterfall.
The educational expedition to Uzbekistan was the final in a series of events organised with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
The project “Ambassadors of the Russian Language in the World” was initiated by the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute in 2015. Its aim is to popularise the Russian language and culture abroad. To date, volunteers have travelled to 19 countries and taught classes to more than 48,000 people.
Photo: Ambassadors of the Russian Language in the World” in Uzbekistan