Making Connections

JULY 2008

Vitalik and Ilyos in London

Two of Youth Lifes break dancers arrived in England June the 27th 2008. The goal of this trip to the Uk is: to swap the expriences youth leaders have received through working in YOUTH LIFE and also to get to know other organisations how they work and also encourage them to visit central asia.

Vitalik teaching British Youth how to Break Dance

The exchange began in different schools meetings are held in the mornings: first of all, break dancing and then the guys introduce themselves and share with the British youth how they work in Central Asia and why we do the work we do?

Ilyos doing a freeze in London

Other areas talked about are the georgraphy of central asia and people, traditions and customs.

There has also been opportunity for the youth leaders from Tajikistan to try bmx and rollerbalding lessons in the UK. which has been very exciting...

The guys have also built 2 break dance teams in England, in the county of Essex but in different towns. The guys are looking forward to seeing how the teams will develop in the future and to help them.

10 YEARS OLD!!!

June
10 Years of Miracles

Anya, Bahtieor, Daniel and Artu old and present Youth Life Leaders

10 Years Presentation
2008 is the 10 year that Youth Life’s programmes have been working; therefore this year’s presentation was extra special. A 10 year birthday was held and all youth who have worked with Youth Life previously and present were invited to this celebration. Around 850 youth and adults took part in this event. The event was made up of a presentation in a concert hall where many clubs took part, a small market was held by different clubs showing ideas they are developing for business, after the presentation a picnic was prepared in the park for closer fellowship.










Repairing the Multimedia Studio
Finally one of Youth Life’s dreams is coming true. Youth Life is in the process of building a small studio where they will be able to develop the already existing multimedia work. The first stages of preparing the studio are already happening and hopefully by the end of July the studio will be totally functioning. Plans are under way to start businesses and to make TV clips that can reach 32000 youth across the region.

Networking!!!

May

Youth Festival in Bishkek
Youth Life were invited and took part in a regional Youth Conference based in Bishkek the Capital of Kyrgyzstan. A team of 8 people came form Tajikistan by taxi (takes 22 hours) driving through the mountains. The youth that came were responsible to lead other teams and provide training in break dance, hip hop and using your creativity. 350 youth took part in this event over 4 days.

Vitalik, Elzara, Katja and Mansur in Bishkek 2008

Exams were passed
Finally this year Katja, Ivan and Victor passed their Degree in International Economics, this process took 6 years but finally they have graduated. This is a great achievement and example for the other youth to show them not to quit once you start to do something so you can appreciate the fruit of your hard work!!!!

Vitea amazed that he passed his degree finally!!!

Training Training Training

April


Tabashar Spring Camp

Tabashar Spring Camp
As usual Youth Life held its spring camp but this year they changed the place from the mountains of Shakriston to a pretty town called Tabashar. 70 Youth took part in this camp. The camp greatly encouraged all who attended after the severe long cold winter. Many young people were able to make new friends and encourage each other. Training for future youth leaders was given during this camp.






Presentation to Local Community where the new office is located

Youth Life relocated its offices a year ago, this year a presentation of the work was given to the local community where they are now based. The purpose of this is to work together with the local community, to find out what needs they have and to share the needs we have to see how we can help each other. Many local people turned out for this presentation and a great time of fellowship was had by all.

FINALLY SPRING!!!

March

Festival in Osh

Youth Life was able to send a team of 9 people for the first Youth Festival in Osh in the South of Kyrgyzstan. 300 Youth attended this event from around the region. Our youth took part in many parts of the festival and made many new friends and were encouraged and able to encourage others.

Some of the break dance team from Khjuand with a break dance team from Osh

Guest who encourage you....

February



Forum

This is an educational outreach that stretches young peoples knowledge in a
competitive way. This year the focus was on different nationalities and cultures.
Teams are formed and they have to present the country they represent in many
different ways. Around 250 youth attended this event.

Charles and Joyce Arrived

Youth Life had the privilege of guests visiting from the UK. The time that Charles and Joyce visited Youth Life encouraged the team during and after the severe winter. Charles and Joyce’s years of experience in Business and other related areas really built the team up and encouraged them in the areas they are already developing in.

Extreme Winters!!!!!

January 2008

Trying to keep warm when it is cold everywhere

This past winter was the most extreme in the region for 30 years with temperatures below -25, no central heating, little and sometimes for days no electric, frozen water pipes and sewage for weeks. The winter took its toll on many areas of the society however one way or another the work we do kept going and sometimes kept us going too.

One of the clubs having fun even though it is soooo cold!


Strengthen our own infrastructure
After this winter we could see that we needed to make our infrastructure stronger so if we need to we can have our own electric and heating systems not relying on the central infrastructure. Tear Fund helped Youth Life to purchase a good generator and to repair the heating system that exploded due to the extreme low temperatures, so if such a winter should happen again Youth Life will be better prepared.

DECEMBER 2007!!!

CELEBRATIONS!!

CARNIVAL!!! Yes in December in Central Asia. Youth Life as one of its 7 Concerts decided to put on a Carnival where youth from different youth clubs dressed up and took part in the Carnival in one of the towns where Youth Life is working.

Ian from England was able to visit Youth Life the beginning of December to encourage the team and check how things are going; Ian spent a week with the team and shared his experience and knowledge with the leadership and youth leaders. It was a good up building time.

The Annual New Years Disco!!!

New Years Eve! Is the big celebration in Central Asian countries! Youth Life gives the opportunity for those young people who do not want to be home due to difficult circumstances to come together as a community and make the evening fun and memorable for everyone.

Farzona

I really liked the carnival, there were many people there from different clubs and we all participated in the programme. The games were especially interesting and fun. I will never forget this day it was lots of fun. Everyone was dressed up in different costumes and many looked really beautiful, it was an unforgettable time like a fairy-tale, with songs and riddles. I thank all the organizers of this event for putting it on.

FULFILLING YOUR POTENTIAL

NOVEMBER 2007

Which One is Wearing the Mask?

FRIENDSHIP!!!
Leaders training up up in the mountains!!!
School of Leaders was the focus of this winter camp. Camps are always a highlight of the work as you spend day and night together, cook, clean and do everything and it is a great time for team building and sharing. As a result of this camp many of the youth leaders were so touched and encouraged. At this youth camp there were 65 youth leaders. All activities were focused on encouraging and challenging the youth leaders to serve and help others as well as giving new strength.

Testimony: Ignat who is a Youth Volunteer

When we were at the winter leaders camp I shared with friends there that I was concerned about finding money to pay for my University fees. My friends encouraged me and told me we would find away. I arrived back home after the camp; I went to the University and saw all the other students gathered outside they were talking about who had paid and who needed to pay by the end of the week. I went home and expected something to happen. After some days, we found the money and were able to pay for this year’s fee!

FRIENDS AND ENCOURAGEMENT

OCTOBER 2007

Youth Volunteer Training 2007

Peter and Meg came to Tajikistan to see how Youth Life’s work is doing and to have some input in to the way the organization is working. Both Peter and Meg are professionally trained and experienced people. They were able to really encourage all the youth leaders and help advise how to strengthen the organization in many areas. Focuses during their trip were tools for management, question and answer time, resolving staff conflicts etc… We hope they will come again for longer next time.

FULFILLMENT OF WHAT WAS BELIEVED FOR

SEPTEMBER 2007

New Building
The team worked day and night to get the new premises in order and functioning, it was so great to have space to hold different activities and to have new things in place that are of a decent standard.


Testimony Nargiza who is youth volunteer...

I have been going to the club now for a year; I go because I like to spend time with others there. We spend our time there playing different games that teach us useful things, there are different themes and you make lots of new friends. Through out the year we prepare for different concerts and outreaches. Our teachers and youth leaders teach us to be good, not to swear and to respect each other and older people. We have also been able to give gifts to others and help those in our community.

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

AUGUST 2007

Ilyos doing a freeze in Portsmouth!

Break Dance
Youth Life for the first time was able to send a Break Dance team to the United Kingdom for a cultural exchange with youth in England. The team had a one-month tour to 6 different towns and cities. During the tour the team won a competition at an international youth camp and the prize they won was to make their own break dance clip to a professional level in England. The judges of the competition complemented the group on how well they had represented their home country. As a result of this tour another tour is planned for the summer of 2008 in Europe and many young people are now interested to visit Tajikistan and Central Asia for cultural exchange.

The Team that was in England!!!

Hot Hot Hot!!!

July

Summer Workshops

First week of the Summer Workshops 150 youth were expected but 320 turned up. The building was full of people everywhere. The themes of this workshop were: Obedience, friendship, how to serve each other and how to listen and many more. Week 2 there were 260 youth that came for the workshops and week 3 for the sports competition 150 youth. During the whole time of the workshops this summer: 798 Youth took part

There were different workshops going on the whole week: Acting, cooking, break dance, business, music, dance, table tennis, national dance, crafts and many more.

The time was a great time of learning to know each other and develop each others talents and learning to use them in positive ways to bless others.

Each week everyone went to the local beach to swim which cooled everyone down, the current temperature in Tajikistan is 36+C.

One of the workshops was Break Dance

The only place that the break dance could take place was on the roof of the new building, the 3rd floor. Each week there were at least 40+ students learning to break dance. Together with the break dance training social training was also given and discussions held.

Ramzidin, aged 13, he attends one of ‘Youth Life’s’ youth clubs in another city. Ramzidin started to learn break dance but he was finding it hard to pickup. The break dance trainer encouraged him and each day there was a teaching about character for example: How to listen, why we need to obey etc and this helped him to learn and develop in his break dance. As a result of his good attitude he was allowed to attend the workshops the following week. Now he wants to develop this area of his life more and more. He wants to join ‘Youth Life’s’ main break dance team training each week.

Holidays!!!!

JUNE

Presentation

750 Youth and parents attended this outreach. The theme was ‘What are your talents’. 22 clubs took part, the youth clubs presented: Songs, rap, slide show, film clip, break dance, Tajik dance, and contemporary dance, cow boys, dancing with candles, fashion show, Indian drama and various poems.

The clubs presenting their talents to the local community

This year what was different to previous years was that there were many more parents, directors of schools attending the presentation which helps the community to see how talented their children really are.

This year a mobile café was set up which many people enjoyed. A presentation of all businesses was also set up before the concert and different youth were able to sell things from their businesses to help support their clubs.



Dance team presented a hat dance

Battle
June 16th a break dance competition was held in Khujand in Tajikistan. 450 Youth attended this outreach. Teams came from other towns to compete, 5 people came from Dushanbe the Capital of Tajikistan.

The results of the Battle were:
First place Dushanbe ‘Crazy Guys’
Second place Khujand ‘City Power’
Third place Khujand ‘New Life’

‘Crazy Guys’ from Dushanbe during the Battle shared with Youth Life break dance team that such concerts and activities are not being developed in the Capital and they wish that they could have such a work in Dushanbe, so that these spheres could grow more.

Training
Volunteer Training of Youth workers and a scout camp were held at the end of June
Results of this training were how well the Youth Volunteers took part, they were much more active and the atmosphere during the training was positive and open.










Youth volunteer training 68 youth

New Beginnings

May 2007

Tear Fund Visited

The beginning of the month of May Tear Fund representatives visited ‘Youth Life’ in Tajikistan. For 3 days Youth Life presented their work to Tear Fund. It was a great time of sharing and listening to each other. This time also confirmed how important this work is in Central Asia and that we must develop even more useful programmes for youth in the region.

Preparation for Break Dance Battle and Presentation of Youth Life’s work in Tajikistan

The month of May is very much a winding down month for all youth clubs. This year several of the youth outreaches were planned for June. The end of May was used to prepare for these outreaches.

Active and Busy Month

April 2007

Jam
This is an outreach to other Break Dancers in the local area. Break dancers come together not to compete but to share what moves they know and to see what others are learning. This is a friendly time to talk and dance and encourage each other in break dance. Youth Life hired a sports hall for this event in the city centre. 130 youth took part and 80 break dancers came to this outreach. In June the Battle will be held by Youth Life in Tajikistan, the Jam was also used to see how many teams are willing to take part and to help with the bigger event which is the Battle!

Samaritan Purse Presents and Concerts
The past 3 months Youth Life has been distributing to schools, kindergartens, hostels etc presents from Samaritans Purse. Each youth leader has organized mini presentations or concerts in the schools and kindergartens where ever they work and have clubs and during the presentation presents were presented to more than 3000 children and youth. All of which were extremely happy to receive such delightful gifts that they are able to keep. The great thing about these presents is how they open many new hearts to Youth Life’s work and that friendships and help can be shared with really needy young people. This is a long term work.

Spring Youth Leaders Camp in ‘Shakriston’
This year Youth Life’s youth leaders camp was moved from March to April as repairing on the new building was in full swing and every ones help was needed. The end of April 75 youth leaders headed to the beautiful mountains of Tajikistan called ‘Shakriston’ to spend 5 days together camping. The theme was all focused on ‘Who am I’, ‘What kind of personality do I have?’. Some of the highlights of this camp were: practically teaching the youth how good and bad decisions can affect our lives in different ways. Spring had already come so the mountains were green and this was a pleasant change to freezing snow and cold temperatures.

The last night all the youth leaders took part in a presentation where each one of them presented something in a creative way to bless the others, this was a great fun time that blessed everyone!!

Moving to the New Building phase 1
Finally the beginning of April it was time to move all Youth Life’s things to the new premises. Everything was not yet ready but the first floor was ready for the office furniture. 5 Trucks were rented to transport all the things that Youth Life has collected over the past 9 years. This was a great moment as so much effort and strength from the young people's hearts has gone into this project and to see it coming together strengthened the purpose and vision of the team. Currently the first building is being finished and the foundations and skate park will be started within the next few weeks.