From the Peace Corps Uzbekistan Welcome Book:

PEACE CORPS UZBEKISTAN
HISTORY AND PROGRAMS

History of the Peace Corps in Uzbekistan

     The year 2002 marks the Peace Corps' 10th year in Uzbekistan. On November 4, 1992, the government of Uzbekistan and the Peace Corps signed a mutual agreement of understanding whereby the Peace Corps would offer the people of Uzbekistan technical assistance in areas where the need was great. In accordance with this decree, the first group of Volunteers arrived in Tashkent in December 1992, ready to assist the country in meeting the governmentally determined needs of English education and small business development. In the years since then, additional assistance has been requested by the Uzbekistan government, and the Peace Corps has responded accordingly by adding a health project in 1998, and a primary education project in 1999.

History and Future of Peace Corps Programming in Uzbekistan

     Since 1992, 12 groups of Peace Corps Volunteers, a total of 460 Americans, have served in all regions of Uzbekistan. Together, Volunteers and the local Uzbeks determine what projects are most needed in their communities. Volunteers work with Uzbek counterparts, doctors, teachers, and students, offering technical know-how and hands-on assistance to enhance the projects. This team approach allows for the transfer of ideas and methods, ensuring that successful and sustainable projects evolve and last long after the Volunteers leave Uzbekistan.

     As more and more Uzbek people become acquainted with the Peace Corps and its mission, increased numbers of local citizens have taken an interest in the activities initiated by Volunteers. As a result, projects such as English immersion and Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) summer camps, school Internet resource centers, health poster contests, and debate team competitions have been highly successful.

    Peace Corps English language Volunteers function as a strong English education resource in Uzbekistan's public school system. Over 200 Volunteers have taught in the country's universities, academic lycees, secondary schools, gymnasiums, primary schools, and teacher training institutes throughout the 11 regions of the country.

     Students taught by English language Volunteers are able to increase their knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary while improving their pronunciation and comprehension skills. To make lessons more interesting, American culture is often integrated into the lessons, allowing for better understanding between American and Uzbekistan citizens. In addition to teaching, English language Volunteers often get involved in community projects with students and counterparts that benefit the community as a whole. Some of the Volunteers' projects have included opening English resource centers; hosting English immersion summer camps; coaching baseball teams; offering workshops to English teachers; holding weekly English clubs; conducting aerobics, dance, or sports clubs; assisting women in development programs; and working at women's shelters and orphanages.

    Since the business education and development project's inception in 1992, more than 150 business Volunteers have come to Uzbekistan. They have offered the nation's people business skills and knowledge through classroom lessons and community projects. Business Volunteers teach 10 hours a week at universities, colleges, and business schools throughout the country. Teaching in schools has allowed Volunteers to demonstrate Western methods of business that have become prevalent throughout Uzbekistan due to foreign investments.

    The implementation of community-development projects is another aspect of business Volunteer's work. Through the implementation of community projects, Volunteers are able to increase an entire community's knowledge and awareness of modern business practices. Some of the projects Volunteers are actively involved in include building business resource and e-mail and Internet centers, teaching enterpreneurial and grant writing workshops, working with non-government organizations in such projects as humanitarian aid distribution and women's assistance, and establishing micro lending projects and artisan organizations.

    In 1998, Peace Corps/Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Health designed a health project to help implement the Ministry's rural health initiative. In March 1999, the first group of health Volunteers arrived in Uzbekistan. The Peace Corps' health project offers three types of specialists to assist Uzbekistan with health care reform: health managers, health educators, and English teachers.

    Health managers work at rural health clinics with physicians and Uzbek financial managers to develop new management and accounting systems. They aslo help collect and analyze health data and set up computer networks. Health educators work at rural health clinics with nurses and doctors to assess community health problems. During home visits, Volunteers educate families on such topics as breast-feeding, hepatitis, family planning, and anemia. Health educators also develop and disseminate educational materials. English teachers work at medical institutes, teaching medical students and doctors basic English grammar, conversation, and writing skills. This training increases medical providers' access to the latest health materials in English.

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