This project was made possible through a donation by the Upper Mohawk Valley Chapter of the United Nations Association-USA, Hamilton College, students participating in the 12-6-97 Upper Mohawk Valley Model UN Conference, with matching funds from the Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation-New York).
NGO: Naurzum, Children's Environmental Education Department
Date of Grant: March 18, 1998
Date of Report: April 15, 1998
The Children's Pen-Pal Club was started at the Naurzum Ecological Society in 1996. The main goal of the club is the exchange of letters with children associated with ecological activites in America and other countries regarding the exchange of experiences on implementing ecological activities such as: the planting of trees and shrubs, March for Parks, Earth Day activities and developing propaganda for "Clean Planet" movements. At the Dokuchaevka School there are 3 different age groups of students exchanging letters with students in the USA: California and New York (3rd and 4th graders), Texas (6th-8th graders) and Georgia (7th-10th graders).
Currently, all three groups have continued to correspond with each other and are exchanging pictures and photos of their activities. Among the children of the Dokuchaevka region an ecologically themed pictures competition recently took place. The children have also actively taken part in many activities of the Ecological Society Naurzum- "Operation Green Noise", "March for Parks", numerous ecological clean-ups and the protection of community parks. Through the participation in the above activities the children were able to share their experiences with their new friends in America.
Through corresponding with children from the state of California, the children of the Pen-Pal Club have learned about their counterparts independently raising funds by creating new, useful things out of old materials and selling them in order to support the manatee in local zoos. Using the experience of the students from California, the students of Naurzum have begun collecting medicinal plants and giving them to local hospitals.
The Pen-Pal Club members are very thankful to the ISAR Foundation and to the students of the Model United Nations Club who have supported the efforts of the club through the Virtual Foundation.
Such materials as markers, high quality paper, pens, photo film, envelopes and other materials were acquired via the grant funds. These materials were extremely useful in the formation of the Pen-Pal Club and getting it off the ground. The children plan to stay active in the Pen-Pal Club and continue involvement in the Ecological Society "Naurzum".
The grant of $147 (U.S. Dollars) was used according to the estimates of the project.
Office Supplies $25
Envelopes and Paper $12
Albums $15 (to bind together all correspondence and photos)
Postal Costs $31 (An account was opened at the Post Office in the name of the club)
Photo materials $64 (After camera film was purchased, the sum of $42 was left and will be used to develop the film)
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Total $147
Kulyash Kasymova, Leader of the Pen-Pal Club
Tatyana Bragina, Chairman of the NGO Naurzum
Many thanks to our donors!