The «Ecology and Health» IV Festival of Education has Started in Bishkek!

The IV Festival of Education, with a focus on “Ecology and Health,” took place today at the I. Akhunbayev Kyrgyz National Medical Academy (KNMA) as part of the eco-project “Think Globally, Act Locally: Improving Ecological Awareness among Children and Teens.”

 

Organizers of the event included the IPF “Roza Otunbayeva’s Initiative;” acting alongside the Bishkek Town Hall, as well as the I.K. Akhunbayev KNMA, the Christensen Fund, and other governmental and social groups.

 

As was pointed out by former President Roza Otunbayeva at the Opening Ceremonies, this event is important for the people of Kyrgyzstan. The main goal of the event was to raise citizen’s awareness of ecological conservation, as well as create a sense of responsibility for the environment, among both the younger generations and the adults of Bishkek. This goal was to be accomplished through the transition of public opinion from the point of view of bystanders to that of active participants in events that allow for the creation of a healthy natural environment that is conducive to healthy lifestyles.

 

“We want to teach our children how to take care of their health from an early age, so that future generations can be healthy and safe,” said R. Otunbaeva.

 

The First Lady of Kyrgyzstan, Rayisa Atambaeva, was present at the festivities, and thanked R. Otunbayeva on the behalf of her husband, President Almazbek Atambaev, for undertaking this vital project. Mrs. Atambaeva remarked upon the importance of this festival, saying, “This event is about teaching us all to think deeply about the ecological problems facing our world, and calls upon us to treat our environment with respect, just the same as we would treat our very own bodies. Future governments and nations are dependent on the development of our children. The Fund is helping to instill our children with creative skills and the knowledge of how to eat right, while making these new habits part of their everyday lives. This is a tremendously important task.”

 

The Vice-Mayor of Bishkek, Ayrul Riskulova, also found time to speak at the festival, highlighting the Town Hall’s support of these vital events over the last four years. In her opinion, the issues raised at the festival impact not only Bishkek, but the whole nation of Kyrgyzstan. Mrs. Riskulova closed her address with the following words: “Our children wait for this festival every year. Today, students came to the festival from all over Bishkek, and, tomorrow, more than 5,000 will take part in this festival, which allows them to show off their skills and artistic successes.”

 

Guests and hosts of the Festival were able to participant in a variety of workshops. University students from I.K. Akhunbayev KNMA spent the two days of the festival taking children on tours of their campus, acquainting guests with the school and its student body. Guests of the festival were also able to participate in everything from exhibitions and workshops for university teachers to competitions and skits, not to mention Q&A with students and teachers from numerous departments.