Hundreds of Photos!

Check out our U.S. project teams photos from Istanbul and Dushanbe at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25807896@N07/

Zoo Project Updates April 28, 2008

This week was very busy. There was a lot of hard work. We completed the improvements of the wild pig habitat and the room for a new Volunteer and Information Resource Center. In addition, I have negotiated with Zoo Director to create a legal volunteer organization with volunteer regulations, rules, rights and obligations.

Today we have moved the wild pigs to their improved habitat. The pigs are so happy
now! I think the pigs still can’t believe to have real dirt and a big water pool.

The room for Volunteer and Information Resource Center is almost completed. Tomorrow we will just paint the floor, clean the carpets and furniture, fix up the lock and have a phone cable for a very nice VIRC office.

It was negotiated with the Dushanbe Zoo to create a "legal" volunteer organization with volunteer waivers, staff regulations, rules, rights and obligations. That would be great to use the same legal form of organization in Dushanbe Zoo as it is at Black Pine Animal Park.

We will start the process using samples from Black Pine. We will translate the core documents, we will need to hire a professional lawyer to complete the registration or legalization portions.

I think, once we complete the repairs of the office and install computers for the
Volunteer and Information Resource Center, it will provide more opportunities to arrange meetings with volunteers and to work on more detailed planning. At least there will be safer sockets to plug in the computer equipment!

The status for the lion’s habitat: We need a special construction worker to weld the upper levels of fence and rolls. We made a request to the mayor's office to help us with this. We hope to get it going next week.

Most of our volunteers are school students. We may have a lack of volunteers because of oncoming school exams. Students are very busy with getting ready for their school examinations.

Regards,
Victor (Ibragimov)

No Time to Blog!

During our visit in Dushanbe from April 3-14, unfortunately, we had very limited opportunity to update the blog (sorry!)

Since returning though, I'm happy to post a few photos and to say the project continues! Teens are volunteering at the Dushanbe Zoo under the guidance of Victor Ibragimov, Youth Opportunities, and volunteers from Zumrod NGO, an ecological society dedicated to the zoo project. So far the Tajik team has continued to support an upgraded bear habitat, has been constructing a new lion habitat (pictured), and will be upgrading a wild hog habitat soon.

During the U.S. team's visit one of the zoo's bears was moved into a newly propped habitat where more of "nature" was brought in for the bear to enjoy, including live fish in a holding pond! Ground was excavated for the new playground equipment and local engineers determined the best layout for visitor enjoyment. A new lion habitat that will house the zoo's male and female African lions, was also started in a section of the zoo that will provide natural shade and a grassy substrate.

We will continue to post photos as progress continues.

Students Enthusiastic to Volunteer

Volunteering Not a "Mandatory" Activity
The freedom Tajikistan gained with the fall of the USSR in 1991 is still not fully appreciated by many here in Dushanbe. Since our arrival last week we have learned it is important to help young people understand that volunteering to help improve the zoo, their zoo, is not a mandatory activity. While many welcome becoming involved, others do not understand why they must be in order for things to improve. This applies to many things in Tajik life.

For many the term "volunteer" has been applied to picking cotton, an activity mandated here. Schools shut down and all students are expected to help harvest. Slowly, however, we are making progress and redefining "volunteer". We aim to help students understand the Dushanbe Zoo is "their" zoo. If they choose to help improve conditions they will be creating a wonderful place for families to gather. learn, and enjoy. Many years ago, before the end of Soviet rule, the Dushanbe Zoo was called the second best zoo in the USSR. A seven-year civil war, however, took a horrible toll with elephants and many other animals shot and killed. A lot of damage was done to buildings and surroundings. The Tajiks now need to learn that to regain a reputation for high quality will take a lot of work. As one teacher at School #21 put it, "if not you, who? If not now, when?" So far students have been enthusiastic and the new playground and animal habitat improvements are underway. We hope the trend continues!

The U.S. team has enjoyed a variety of cultural experiences during this visit, not the least of which as been being welcomed into Tajik homes. We are all grateful for the warm hospitality of our hosts.

As soon as possible we will post photographs. The language barrier has made it virtually impossible to venture out "alone" to find an internet cafe or spend quality time updating the blog. We regret this and hope soon we can focus on it.

In the meantime, we have met with the Deputy Mayor of Dushanbe, officials at the U.S. Embassy, and today will meet the Minister of Education. With only a few days left there is much work ahead. With these new contacts we hope to keep communications flowing and the work underway for a very long time to come.

U.S. Team Arrives in Dushanbe

We're here!!
Despite a few travel hiccups, the U.S. project team arrived in Dushanbe at about 3:40 a.m. today, tired but in good spirits.

Travel time from Indianapolis to Dushanbe was about 30 hours, including a wonderful side-trip into Istanbul for the day. Baggage did not, unfortunately, arrive with us so we did some shopping in the open market and hope they will be here Monday.

Tomorrow we will make our first visit to the Dushanbe Zoo. Everyone is excited to meet their counterparts and begin our work. Tonight, catch-up sleep!

New Zoo Website Launched

Check out the new Dushanbe Zoo website - a work in progress!
Dushanbe Zoo

Pilov Dinner to Help Raise Funding for Project

Dushanbe Zoo Benefit Dinner
A benefit dinner, featuring a traditional Tajikistan Pilov meal, will be held on April 26th, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church’s cafeteria (Fort Wayne, Indiana). Tickets are $6.00 each.

A team of students from Holy Cross Lutheran School began a project to improve the zoo in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, two years ago when an email pen pal of theirs had a serious accident at the zoo. Out of a desire to help her, the project to improve safety and provide a better family experience at the zoo developed. Black Pine Animal Park joined with the students to receive a grant from the American Association of Museums in Washington, D.C., and have already designed a playground for the zoo and have the equipment on the way to Tajikistan. Monies from the dinner will go towards training their zoo volunteers, improving signage for safety around the animals, and providing exchange visits between the two countries.

Tickets may be purchased before April 23rd at Holy Cross Lutheran Church Offices at 3308 N. Anthony Blvd. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, or call 483-3173.

For more information please visit www.dushanbezoo.org.