The new app for parents: "Thrive by Five/Beshke Cheyin Ulgur"

Every parent can help their child reach his or her full potential!

This is the key message of the Early Childhood Development App for parents, "Beshke Cheyin Ulgur", based on research in neuroscience. It is the latest early development project of the Roza Otunbaeva Initiative and is timed to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the organization.

The application was developed by the Minderoo Foundation (Australia) and adapted by the Roza Otunbaeva Initiative. The content of the app was developed by scientists at the Centre for Brain and Mind at the University of Sydney, Australia. The app aims to raise parents' awareness of the importance of the first five years of a child's life and helps parents give the best possible start for a successful future baby!

"Beshke Cheyin Ulgur" is a Kyrgyz version of the international global program, "Thrive by Five", which unites more than 30 countries in the world. Indonesia, Namibia and Afghanistan have only recently joined the program.

The "Beshke Cheyin Ulgur" application, developed for parents who have children aged 0-5, is now available in Kyrgyz and Russian. The app contains lots of tips and activities for parents and grandparents to do with their little ones.

During the translation and adaptation of the content, Minderoo Foundation staff held a series of meetings with parents and educators as part of their visit to the Kyrgyz Republic. During these meetings they discussed with parents the problems in raising children, priority qualities they would like to see in their children, and how parents understand traditional parenting and which ones they use.

Executive Director of the Roza Otunbaeva Initiative Foundation, Dokdurkiul Kendirbaeva, noted the relevance and importance of early development in our country.  "Children who are neglected by the state and do not have access to early education and development - this is a vulnerable category, which cannot withstand the challenges of our time. In the future, they will have to deal with a lot of acute issues: climate change and soil degradation, environmental protection, food security, and preservation of political and economic stability. Therefore, our future depends on how quickly and how well we can solve the issues of affordable and quality early development of every child," said Dokdurkiul Kendirbaeva.

Nicola Forrest, co-founder and co-chairman of the Minderoo Foundation, says that the program aims to make scientific and practical knowledge about the importance of the first five years of a child's life available to parents and grandparents around the world. "Neuroscience research shows the first five years of a child's life are vital for cognitive, social, and emotional development," said Ms. Forrest. "Talking, reading, playing and singing with babies and toddlers, is so important in shaping their thinking and emotional patterns throughout life. This, in turn, affects learning, relationships and resilience. Our future prosperity and success depend on positive childhood experiences to help every child grow up to be kind, creative and resilient"

The app can be downloaded from Google Play and App Store and is available in both online and offline formats. There is also a WhatsApp version of the app running on +61865580497

The presentation of the app will take place at Bishkek Park shopping Centre on 19 November at 13:00. There will be workshops and competitions for children, and prizes await the most active ones.

More information: According to UNICEF, Kyrgyzstan "has 2.1 million children, or 36.5% of the population. But "their parents do not know how to play with their children. They often lack the knowledge and skills to communicate with their children and to improve their intellectual, cognitive, social, emotional and physical development".

About the Minderoo Foundation

Founded by Andrew and Nicola Forrest in 2001, the Minderoo Foundation is a modern charity committed to breaking down barriers, innovating and promoting positive and sustainable change. The Minderoo Foundation is based in Australia and works on key initiatives ranging from ocean exploration and the eradication of slavery, to collaborating in the fight against cancer and creating community projects.