March 19, 2024

Tajikistan’s Preschool #2 Comes to Life

Supporters of Preschool #2 (P2) in Tajikistan will be able to celebrate soon! Four years ago, we broke ground on P2, and so many of our dedicated donors immediately joined us in the project as Brick Layers, funding the construction of this model school that will serve the Khorog community for many years to come.

P2 Before: A school in dire need of repairs

Building: Having gone decades without repair, the paint and plaster was cracked and crumbling along the exterior walls.

Interior pipe: Water damage and poor ventilation made the school truly unsafe for occupancy.

Furniture pieces: In addition to the poor state of the building, the furniture was old and inadequate for use among young children.

Due to the extremely remote and unstable nature of the areas in which we work, project timelines are dependent upon the availability of both supplies and labor, so we are grateful to everyone for their patience and steadfast belief in the project. We’re excited to share some photos of the school during its various stages of construction, culminating in how it looks today.

With many hands, a change begins

Thanks to many generous donors, construction begins on P2

The project employed workers from across Barushan to bring the school to life.

Although the pandemic created procurement delays, the work continued bit by bit.

Skilled workers were proud to contribute to an important building for their community.

Anticipation for the project built steadily as the community watched the building being erected.

Progress amplifies excitement in the community

Continued support from donors helped to move the project steadily forward.

As the building inched closer to completion, CAI helped to facilitate plans for the grand opening.

The vision for the final building was to be truly child-centered, with bright colors and open spaces.

CAI worked closely with the local government to ensure all safety measures were in place for a modern, safe building.

With proper insultation and ventilation, the building was made suitable for cold winters and warm summer months.

With only a few finishing touches left, the doors to Preschool #2 will soon open to 120 eager students. Stay tuned for additional photos and a video tour of the school.

A school to be proud of

The final result is a school that students, teachers, and families are immensely proud of. This building would never have been possible without YOUR support. Thank you for caring about the preschool students of Barushan, Tajikistan, and for sharing your resources with them. Stay tuned for a full video tour of the building!

6 responses to “Tajikistan’s Preschool #2 Comes to Life”

Sharon Smith Viles says:

March 21, 2024 at 12:29 pm

I am a long time supporter of CAI and love hearing about the ongoing projects and the people involved. I wish I were able to contribute more financially than is possible for me. I am elderly and have a fixed income, so my contributions rely on selling a piece of my art or other such windfalls. I believe strongly in the education of women and girls and the provision of resources to that end.
- Libby Daghlian says:
  
  March 21, 2024 at 1:32 pm
  
  Hi Sharon,
  Thank you so much for your generous support and kind words! And rest assured that we value all gifts, whether it is the gift of a donation or the gift of attention, it is all important in driving more opportunities to the communities we serve. Thank you!!
John Hines MD says:

March 21, 2024 at 3:18 pm

🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️
Patricia Ellsworth says:

March 24, 2024 at 8:33 pm

Wonderful work that involves local workers. Blessings on everyone involved.
Gil Shorr says:

March 25, 2024 at 3:49 pm

I have been supporting CAI almost since the beginning, or that’s how it seems. Some of the young female students then were planning to go on to be teachers. I wonder if any of them are going to be teaching at P2. I’m delighted that P2 is up and running. From my own experience, I understand very well the challenges presented by such projects in faraway places, but CAI always manages to pull it off in the end, that’s why I’m happy to continue my support – Go Girls!
- Libby Daghlian says:
  
  April 1, 2024 at 1:25 pm
  
  Thanks so much for your support and encouragement, Gil! We have certainly heard anecdotes of CAI students becoming CAI teachers at various locations and we are working to document more stories of that nature. It’s so rewarding to see students come full circle in that way.