Over 5,000 children and their parents participated in Caravan of Children's Games

Bishkek, 27 June 2018 – Over 5,000 children, parents and caregivers in each oblast in the Kyrgyz Republic took part in Caravan of Children's Games,  which was organized by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF),  the State Agency for Youth, Physical Culture and Sports under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ministry of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic in cooperation with the Secretariat of the III World Nomad Games. The journey of Caravan has started in Kant and continued to Cholpon-Ata, Karakol, Kochkor, Naryn, Talas, Bakay-Ata, Suzak, Bazar-Korgon, Osh, Aravan, Batken, Isfana, and Bishkek.

«My name is Islom. It is my birthday today, that's why together with my parents we came to the Caravan of Children's Games. My favorite games were tug of war and competition in hitting the pumpkin”, said  Islom (15) from Naryn village.

«I came from the village of Agartuu with 13 grandchildren to play our ethno games in Caravan, so children can spend time usefully. Unfortunately, our children do not have a lot of entertainment. We are very gratetful that you organized such a great event for our kids», - said Dildekan ezhe, who came to Osh from the village of Agartuu.

During the Caravan of Children's Games participants played national kyrgyz games. The list of the games with rules is available here  (in Russian). These are 25 games that parents can take as a guide on how to spend time with their children to support their development. In traditional nomad games, there is everything for successful child development. The accessibility and expressiveness of ethno games provoke  child's physical, emotional and congnitive development.

«I was so happy to see how parents joined their children and shared their experience in playing ”alchiki” in Suzak, Bakay-Ata, and Bazar-Korgon. Fathers and even grandparents played “lianga” and bowl with water, inspiring children with their own example. With teenagers I played the thread, which is very popular in Kyrgyzstan and Japan. Our «Caravan» is an appeal to adults: play and spend more time with children, especially at their early age for their better development!" said Yukie Mokuo, UNICEF Representative in Kyrgyzstan.

“There are over 2 million children in Kyrgyzstan. It is important that young generation knows their culture and history. Game is a unique tool for the rebirth of nomad culture. Ethno games have a huge humanitarian and pedagogical potential and value, which should be shared with children”, said Ayjan Abdesova, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the III World Nomad Games.