DUSHANBE, December 7, Asia-Plus — An inspiration generated by pen pals in Tajikistan and Indiana is being realized through the collaboration of the Dushanbe Zoo and the Black Pine Animal Park of Fort Wayne, Indiana, press release issued by the US Embassy in Dushanbe said.
After an accident in 2006 at the Dushanbe Zoo where a student”s arm was mauled by a bear, student pen-pals from Fort Wayne and Dushanbe brainstormed ways to improve zoo safety, educate the public, and improve the exhibits. The students sought competent mentors and sponsoring organizations to help them realize their goals of preventing future accidents and making the zoo a fun and safe experience for visitors.
The zoo partners received a $75,000 grant from the American Association of Museums (AAM) through a State Department program with the Museums and Community Collaborations Abroad (MCCA). In conferring this award, AAM recognized Dushanbe Zoo as a leader in developing programming that engages community members beyond the Dushanbe Zoo walls. The award will allow the zoo to develop a volunteer organization, repair fences, add signs, put in a garden, picnic area, playground, and become a safer and more pleasant place for visitors.
“I was very surprised and excited to be involved with the Youth Opportunities NGO in the development and support of this project for the past 10 months” said Nazarali Sattorov, Director of Dushanbe Zoo. “This project promotes mutual understanding and partnerships between cultural groups in Tajikistan and the United States taking place through international exchanges. It encourages citizen engagement with a particular focus on youth and those that influence them with a view toward enhancing cultural understanding.”
“The connections of youth between Indiana and Dushanbe have been growing for years,” said Victor Ibragimov, Director of the Youth Opportunities NGO. “We hope that the cultural involvement between the zoos of the two countries will increase tourism and visitors for many years.”
“Community is at the center of this new program,” notes AAM President Ford W. Bell, DVM. “With a focus on reaching beyond museums’ traditional audiences to directly involve members of the community, MCCA leverages AAM”s experience in helping museums connect with their audiences in new and vital ways. Exposing U.S. communities to cultures they might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn about and sharing information about American culture with people abroad will be among the significant outcomes of these grants.”
The Dushanbe Zoo is located near the center of town and is one of the cultural highlights of Dushanbe. The park has about 700 animals and for the past 10 months expanded from 98 to 120 different types on display for families and children to enjoy.
The MCCA program is administered by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and funded by the Department of State”s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
The American Association of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. With more than 15,000 individual, 3,000 institutional, and 300 corporate members, AAM is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements of the human experience, past, present and future.
