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On winter holidays, we have run a New Year celebration party for all Readers clubs members. It was very successful as RC members prepared amazing creative performances, which included song and dance performances, games and charades to add to the holidays’ spirit. It is also very gratifying to see that our project is progressing to further stages where more and more people read and act as ambassadors to promote reading.
 
In May we have celebrated one year anniversary of the project which was organised and run by the Centre of Intellectual Projects. We have gathered all Readers’ Clubs from Tashkent as well as readers from Andijan to reflect and discuss the year that has passed and our goals for the future. This was also an opportunity for young people interested in becoming facilitators of new groups which will in turn help our network of Readers’ Clubs to grow.
In September 2006 the British Council held the launch event of Reader Development Project. The aim of the workshop was to promote reading among young people in Tajikistan and show them the benefits of Readers club activities. As a result four Readers Clubs were established in educational institutions in Dushanbe.
On 28 October, 2005 we have organised the “Creativity through Reading” event for the Readers clubs members from University of World Languages, University of World Economy and Diplomacy, National library, Youth Centre and Teachers Association. All reader’s clubs performed a play based on a part they chose from “Disconnected “ by Sherry Ashworth. This has proved to be a very successful and interesting experience, bringing young people together, revealing their talents and demonstrating creative way of promoting reading.
In October representatives of five Readers’ clubs of Tashkent participated in an online chat together with members of reading groups in Kazakhstan and British author Matt Whyman. We were discussing The Wild, second book by Matt which focuses on the young people of Aral Sea region, their struggle to survive and hopes for a better future. The chat was brilliant and all participants have enjoyed it while Matt described it as “emotional”. If you are interested, you can read it on www.encompassculture.com/chat.
On June 17 the Readers’ club celebrated one-year anniversary with a picnic in one of the local parks, when we looked back at the year we spent together as readers. We had some fun activities which showed how well we know each other and how reading brought the members together. We looked at some of the achievements of this year and had a competition to test what members remembered from the books we’ve read. Winners received memorable prizes and all participants received their certificates of attendants.
In May BC staff and a member from the Readers' club Olga Kuznetsova went to Kazakhstan to participate in a creative writing seminar held by the British Council Almaty. This workshop was run by a famous UK author Tim Bowler, whose interesting and unusual novels won him several prizes, among which is Carnegie medal. This opportunity was an excellent chance to discuss different creative ideas that we can use in future at our Readers' club session as well a very inspiring experience. Thinking up a story from painting, creating characters and storylines and a discussion around writing were some of the most memorable and enjoyable activities at the seminar.
In March British Council Tashkent ran a number of events to mark the World Book Day. Firstly, at our Information and Learning Centre we organized the Reading Marathon and Best Book Review competition. All winners were invited to the celebration of the Day and were awarded with prizes. Also, in co-operation with Intellectual Youth Centre, a local NGO for young gifted students we organized the celebration of the World Book Day. One month in advance students chosen by the Youth Centre were given stories to read and were divided into groups to discuss and reflect on them. In addition, the Centre ran the Best drawing/handicraft/essay competitions which were all themed around the World Book Day. On the day itself students took part in the book discussions and chose the Best collage about a book.
Recently members of the Readers' Club at our Learning Centre participated in an online chat with UK author Sherry Ashworth. Members of the Readers' Club have recently read a book by Sherry Ashworth called Disconnected and were very thrilled at this opportunity to chat with the author. The chat went brilliantly and you can read it on www.encompassculture.com/chat amongst Recent chats.
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