Journey of Hope 2016 | Page 36

COULD YOU PASS KINDERGARTEN IN TAJIKISTAN? You might think learning your ABCs and 123s is easy, but it’s not so simple when you live in Tajikistan. In the GornoBadakhshan Autonomous Oblast, where CAI-Tajikistan is based, there are several languages you’ll encounter on a regular basis. Tajik, a Persian dialect, is the most common language, but you’ll also hear Kyrgyz, Russian, Shugni, Uzbek, Yazghulami, and Wakhi. 34 | JOURNEY OF HOPE It can be difficult to learn all of these languages, so the students at Kindergarten #5 in Khorog, Tajikistan, gave us a few words to practice. Be sure to visit our website to see the videos of the children teaching us how to say different parts of the body and singing some of their lessons. Check out CentralAsiaInstitute.org/fall-campaign. CENTRAL ASIA INSTITUTE