Aga Khan Humanities Project

Student Activities

Undergraduate students studying the Aga Khan Humanities Project (AKHP) course in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are involved in a variety of outside activities. Such activities are a way to extend what students have learned in the classroom and apply AKHP principles to the development of their communities and societies.


"Viewing Diversity Through the Lens of Tolerance" conference participants, Hissar fortress, April 2004

Student Projects

From 2001 to 2003, AKHP organised small-grant funded projects for AKHP students.  Student projects are closely related to the ideas and problems of civil society development. Projects enable students to develop their organisational, leadership and professional skills. Projects in the 2002-3003 academic year included:

  • Kazakh National Pedagogical University (Almaty, Kazakhstan) – "In the flow of time", research work on rock paintings and creation of new material that could be used for the AKHP course
  • Institute of Eastern Languages and Cultures (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) – "Play my komuz", a collection of materials about the Kyrgyz national instrument,  the komuz, and the production of an accompanying film
  • Khujand State University (Khujand, Tajikistan) – "What are women singing about?", research into the musical traditions of women in the Sogd region of northern Tajikistan
  • Khorog State University (Khorog, Tajikistan) – "Poiamal, the dance of death", study of the traditional Pamiri (eastern Tajikistan) death dance resulting in a three-language film about the tradition
  • Kulob State University (Kulob, Tajikistan) – "Falak", a study of this Tajik national art form to be broadcast on local television
  • Osh State University (Osh, Kyrgyzstan) – "Young people in favour of conflict resolution", training in secondary schools on conflict resolution using a variety of interactive methods
  • Tajik State Institute of Languages (Dushanbe, Tajikistan) – "Literature", the publication of a book and newsletters following a Central Asian partner university-wide competition to find the best lyrics, epic and drama written by AKHP students
  • Tajik State Pedagogical University (Dushanbe, Tajikistan) – "Eastern magic", a study of Tajik national jewellery
  • Tajik Technical University (Dushanbe, Tajikistan) – "Your View", continuation of 2001-2002’s series of television shows made for and by students covering issues relevant to them and their societies
More than 35 AKHP students have also undergone cinematography training with professionals at Kinoservice Ltd, an NGO that started as Dom Kino, a part of AKHP.  Student film productions have received international recognition and awards. These works include:
  • interactive ethics films
  • short documentary
  • fiction films developed to serve as visual aid to AKHP curriculum

Student Internships 

AKHP assists students in finding internships that help them put the concepts of civil society they have been studying to practical use towards the development of their countries. Internships introduce organisations to these gifted students while simultaneously introducing the students to potential careers.

AKHP students have participated in the following internships:

  • 'Student Creative Initiative' brought together four students from Osh, Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Khorog and Dushanbe (Tajikistan) for a 40 day internship programme at AKHP and Kinoservice to produce a 20 minute student ethics film in December 2003

  • AKHP-Mountain Societies Development Support Programme, summer 2003. The AKHP student has since been employed by MSDSP in Garm, Tajikistan

  • In summer 2003, AKHP also took on a number of interns to work in its head office. The AKHP Resource Centre employs a number of AKHP students as volunteers throughout the academic year

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Student Conferences

Astudent from Khujand displaying his paintings, AKHP conference, April 2004

AKHP students also actively participate in and organise regional and international conferences and forums.  In the 2002-2004 academic years, AKHP student delegates attended the following conferences:

  • April 2004, 'Viewing Diversity Through the Lens of Tolerance', an AKHP-organised conference that brought students from Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan together to reflect on the role of different perceptions of diversity in peaceful coexistences. Students submitted papers in English or Russian and works of art and will present these during the conference

  • March 2004, 'Elites and Elitism: Myth or Reality', Osh, Kyrgyzstan (organized by CEP)

  • January 2004, Central Asian Model UN Conference, Dushanbe, Tajikistan (organised by AKHP alumni and other students)

  • December 2003, Fourth Annual Debate Forum, Issyk-kul Kyrgyzstan (organised by CEP)

  • July 2003, ‘From Theory to Practice’, the first AKHP partner university-wide student conference, bringing together students from nine partner universities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The conference was designed to help students apply the knowledge they gain from the AKHP course to their local communities and societies

  • July 2003, Summer debate school, Hodja Obi Garm, Tajikistan (organised by OSI)

  • April 2003, Annual Regional Debate Forum, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (organised by CEP)

  • March 2003, Recreating the World, Heritages and Perspectives, Almaty, Kazakhstan (organised by CEP)

  • March 2003, International Crisis Game, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (organised by the American University of Central Asia and CEP)

  • December 2002, 3D Debate Forum: Debate from Dubrovnik to Dushanbe, Istanbul, Turkey (organised by CEP)

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Alumni Activities

AKHP alumni have formed AKHP Alumni Clubs in some partner universities. Kulob (Tajikistan) AKHP alumni have also organized an English Language speaking club that enable their university colleagues and teachers to practice their English. In Osh (Kyrgyzstan), AKHP alumni are continuing to provide a series of conflict resolution training sessions for secondary school students. Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) AKHP alumni and students organised a series of lectures on different cultures conducted by a diverse group of international students studying at the Institute of Eastern Languages and Culture at Kyrgyz State Pedagogical University.

Many AKHP alumni are currently pursuing advanced study abroad, while others are employed at different international organizations. Since 2003, AKHP alumni movement is being coordinated by AKHP Communications Office, who provide training, consultation and space for students and alumni to share their ideas.

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Contact Information

Jyldyz Doolbekova, University Project Officer
Aga Khan Humanities Project
75 Tolstoy Street
Dushanbe 734000
Tajikistan

Email: doolbekova@akhp.org
Tel.: (992 372) 245297/245823
Fax: (992 372) 51 01 28

 

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