In 2010 the project expanded the number of participating schools in Bishkek and regions. This time the Project have been implemented by the interested schoolteachers with the support of Taalim-Forum’s coordinators.

5 regional and 7 schools in Bishkek were invited to participate in the project. 18 schoolteachers trained in the workshop in August 2010 (http://www.taalimforum.kg/index.php/en/fields-of-work/place-based-education/281-workshop-for-schoolteachers-instructors-for-the-school-project-greetings-to-my-native-land) became trainers. In each participating school there were one trainer and one assistant to work with students. Among trainers there were teachers of geography, ecology, biology, Kyrgyz language and literature, and mathematics. Children participated in the project were from 6^th till 11^th grades.

The program of realization of the project included:

1. Educational trainings in schools #24, 29, 38, 48, 65, 68 in Bishkek
2. Organization of educational trips to villages during autumn holidays
3. Meeting schoolchildren from villages in Bishkek and organization of the photo-exhibition in Fine Art Museum.

Educational trainings with students traditionally included learning photo art, participatory video, and place-based writing. Trainings on participatory video were conducted by Taalim-Forum’s coordinators. Alexander Feodorov helped teachers in teaching photography to their students. In total about 100 students took part in the trainings. Not all of them were able to join the trips due to various reasons.

The partnership links were built between the following city and village schools:

The Round Table in Bishkek and the workshop for schoolteachers (http://www.taalimforum.kg/index.php/en/fields-of-work/place-based-education/281-workshop-for-schoolteachers-instructors-for-the-school-project-greetings-to-my-native-land) – potential trainers for the Project were organized in May and August. Teachers were trained and supported in developing programs and schedules of realization of their projects, recommendations on safety measures during the trips. Taalim-Forum also helped in fining finances to cover travel expenses.

Trainings for children included games and practical exercises. As usual, children were learning how to take pictures, videos, and write essays based on their feelings and experience. During the trainings a lot of attention was paid to eco-education, team-working. Children prepared small concert programs.

The following research topics were defined for each group:

1. Kyrgyz traditional music and its connection with rituals and customs (School #68 and Jany-Tilek village school)
2. Kyrgyz traditional food: recipes, ingredients and meaning (Schools #65, 68, school in Kaindy village)
3. Kyrgyz traditional games: learning through participation and observation (Schools # 24, 29, 48 and schools in Kyzyl-Bairak and Tarsuu villages)

The program of trips to the villages included three-day staying of schoolchildren from Bishkek in the families of their new friends. Hospitality and warm relations of village families stimulated quick adaptation of children from Bishkek to local environment and allowed building friendship. In the first day there were concerts in local schools organized. In the following days children were involved in common activities that included walking on nature, taking pictures and videos within their research topics, participation in different games, horse-riding, and writing essays.

Children’s best pictures, collective videos, and best essays were presented in the exhibition organized in the Fine Arts Museum in Bishkek on November 13^th. In total there were 60 pictures of children and Alexander Feodorov presented on the exhibition and three videos. On the opening ceremony there were children and teachers arrived from Tarsuu, Kyzyl-Bairak, Jany-Tilek villages, students and teachers from Bishkek schools.

One of the teachers - Jypar Duisheeva, wrote in her feedback wrote, “It is very important, that our children found new friends in Jany-Tilek, were able to learn about living in the village. The program allowed to children to develop their creative thinking, enriched their worldview, and helped to learn about their motherland, its culture, traditions and knowledge about Kyrgyz music culture”.

Photo: http://www.taalimforum.kg/index.php/en/galleries/photo/275-shkolnyj-proekt-zdravstvuj-rodnoj-kraj-2010-g-2