UGRAD Alumna Brings America to At-Risk Youth in Kazakhstan Through "Two Capitals - Two Cultures" Project

In July, UGRAD alumna Ulyana Tyrtyshnaya teamed up with local university students and American Peace Corps Volunteers to share her firsthand knowledge of the United States and bring two world capitals to youth at a local orphanage. During Ulyana’s week-long project, the 12 teens practiced their spoken English and learned about American culture through a virtual tour of Washington, DC. They then traveled to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, to tour its monuments and museums. Following the trip, the group discussed similarities and differences between American and Kazakhstani culture and created collages about their experiences during the “Two Capitals – Two Cultures” project. Project participants display their collages

“The trip was the most thrilling part of our project,” Ulyana reflected. “We travelled by train and spent the whole day in the capital of our country, Astana, a wonderful city with incredible architecture and a unique history. None of this group of orphanage children has ever been on a trip like this before. They have never left Petropavlovsk actually, so that was an amazing time for them. I cannot even describe the expressions that they had on their faces. There was surprise, joy, happiness and delight all mixed in.”

Ulyana recently graduated from North Kazakhstan State University in Petropavlovsk and took courses in education at Wittenberg University in Ohio during her UGRAD fellowship. As a future teacher of English and German, her partnership with the orphanage could impact her career plans. “I haven’t chosen the place of my future work yet, but I feel that I might want to work in the orphanage with children that don’t have parents,” Ulyana shared. “I have both a father and mother and know how important it is to feel your parents’ love and care. I want to share my love with children.” She and one of her classmates plan to continue visiting the orphanage to help the teens with their English.

The "Two Capitals - Two Cultures" project was supported by an Alumni Small Grant funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by IREX.