The second regional seminar was held in Karakol on January 7-10, 2017. The main aim of the seminar was a joint analysis of field materials collected by researchers, as well as discussion of the field work difficulties.
One of the seminar objectives was to work on the concept of project products – a manual, calendar and social clips. The seminar was attended by all researchers of Issyk-Kul group. During the seminar, participants shared difficulties they have encountered during the field work such as the search for knowledgeable respondents, lack of experience in conducting deep interviews, inability to manage time during the interview. Specialized training was carried out to overcome these difficulties. During the seminar three practice sessions were conducted, participants were able to interview three experts of traditional knowledge. Sessions were called “Rites and rituals related with water.”
During the joint work organizers and participants of the seminar were able to form the primary concept of a manual, calendar and social clips. In a basis of the future project products will lay on the materials that are participants collected during the field work.
An interim analysis of the materials in Issyk-Kul regions correspond to the main focus of the project – the traditional knowledge about water.
The following results were achieved during the seminar:
- Created a rough concept of manual
- pre-determined themes for calendar and social video
- Pre-defined place for piloting and testing of manual
- Determined the place of project products : Ecology Center at the Issyk-Kul university and high school in Yrdyk village
The third regional seminar held in Kyzyl Kiya on January 23-26, 2017. It was also aimed at the joint analysis of field materials collected by researchers, as well as discussion of the field work difficulties. This seminar was attended by active researchers from Batken region.
Working with this regional group in Batken, we faced the few challenges. The regional team coordinator who was selected based on a strong application and two recommendations, was invited to the first seminar in Bishkek. However, this person failed to fulfill her obligations both with regards collecting information and coordinating the regional group. Training and consultation with each member of the group was carried out by us individually online or over the phone.
The overall quality of Batken group’s work, unfortunately, did not meet the expectations we set at the set0up seminar. It was noted during a joint analysis of quantity and quality of collected materials. An exception is the work of Zaynidinov Bahriddin who showed good motivation and on the basis of on-line learning collects interesting materials in a remote village Beshkent populated by Kyrgyz and Uzbek population.
Due to the low quality of the work we had to refuse to cooperate with two members of research group. Candidates from the primary list were invited. Each of them attend intensive training on the model of the first installation seminar.
Analysis of the materials of Batken researchers showed that there is more data on problems of water pollution and water scarcity in the Batken region, in particular, clean drinking water. The research group members managed to gather less information on traditional knowledge related to water.
The following results were achieved during the seminar:
- Compiled weekly group and individual work schedule of participants;
- Agreed topics for the manual;
- Pre-defined place for piloting and testing of manual
- Determined the place of project products: high school in Beshkent village. The school is taught in Kyrgyz and Uzbek languages. Currently, 340 students attend school.
