KHOROG, July 4, 2008, Asia-Plus — Summer camps in Gorno Badakhshan have opened their doors to local schoolchildren this week.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Said Shoghazanfarov, the head of the GBAO regional education workers’ trade unions, said that 13 out-of-town and 70 school’s camps to accommodate totaling some 5,000 children and teenagers had been organized in the region.
According to him, local authorities have allocated some 130,000 somonis for organization of summer camps and further 32,000 somonis have been provided by education workers’ trade unions.
Besides, five out-of-town camps have been organized by Ismaili Tarikat and Religious Education Committee (ITRECT).
The ITRECT youth program coordinator in Gorno Badakhshan Mamadsaid Mamadsaidov said that the camps will accommodate more than 1,500 10th and 11th grade school students. “The education program of our camps includes three themes: human being and society; pluralism; and intellectual activity,” said the youth program coordinator. “Along with entertainment events, holidaymakers will also learn how to develop business-plans and how to act in case of possible natural disasters.”
According to Mamadsaidov, their camps have been organized under support of the London-based Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS).
The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) is a contemporary undertaking by His Highness the Aga Khan to study Islam in general and Ismailism in particular. The Institute draws on the worldwide knowledge and experience of institutions and scholars to create awareness through programs, publications, and partnerships in the field of Islamic studies. Established by His Highness the Aga Khan in 19977, the IIS
promotes scholarship and learning of Muslim cultures and societies both historical and contemporary.
