The American Cultural Rodeo is being conducted in the Sugd Province to the north of Dushanbe. Khudjand is the capital of the Oblast and is where we are currently located and working.
Mark Rose (center) signs agreement authorizing the American Cultural Rodeo campaign for 2007.
Congratualations!
Dr. Tavfik Qodiri (Center right speaking) and Mark Rose address TV cameras and reporters in Khudjand last November 2006.
The American Cultural Rodeo agreement with the Sugd Department of Education included our committment to renovate the Sugd Teacher Training Institute facilities at a cost of $250,000. This was televised nationally and covered by 5 newspapers from around the country.
Tajik teachers from surrounding regions came to Khudjand for one of our weekly American Cultural Rodeo committee meetings. Our meetings are preparing the teachers and leaders to conduct the ACR campaign in fall of 2007
Mrs. Sanoat is a real hard working lady who works for the Department of Education. She has helped us tremendously since we began our work in 2006
Gulchera Gamidova (standing) is our current ACR committee chairperson
Tajik teachers study ACR material as they get ready for the campaign. The ACR is a series of events that will test teachers and student's knowledge of English and American History. Today there is a great need to offer alternative historical interpretations about World and American History. History instruction today continues to be based on old Soviet models which are flawed having a political agenda.
Most Tajik children live in mountainous rural areas like this elementary school 4th grade class from Pishanbye
Education suffers today in Tajikistan with widespread poverty and corruption causing parents to keep their girls home after a basic education is acheived.
Tajik school teachers have hard lives. The rigors of a Muslim life coupled with everyday hardships leave little time for leisure.
Mark Rose talks to teachers about the ACR
American construction team helped out in May 2007 with renovations at the Sugd Teacher Training Institute and were led by Dr. Jerome Smith. Marty West and Bill Perry have become regulars with Russia Inland Mission.
School Directors and school teachers must attend the Sugd Teacher Training Institute every 5 years to receive "In Service" training and recertification. This group allowed us to pose for this photo in 2006
Ms. Mccray is the chief instructor for all 2000 Tajik English teachers in the Sugd Province
The computer classroom at the STTI facility is ancient and will get a facelift through our efforts
Sugd Tajik Teachers attend classes at the STTI last summer
This was our first ACR meeting last October 2007
Teachers at the Khudjand Gynazium of Languages
Tajik classroom
