High school gym teachers in Kyrgyzstan are using sports to promote ethnic tolerance and increase gender equality. Last month, teachers Svetlana, Natalia, Nurbek, Nurlan and Furkhat travelled to the United States as part of the Kyrgyzstan Innovations in Coaching Kids (KICK) [8] program. On their first visit to the United States, the coaches came to observe American gym classes and meet with their coaching peers to learn new sports training methodologies and tools for integrating conflict mitigation strategies and girls more effectively into their schools’ sports programming.
This trip gave the coaches an opportunity to learn from their American peers and use this knowledge to strengthen their sports curricula at home, and increase the capacity of their fellow coaches and teachers. They also taught their American hosts about Kyrgyzstan and their own approaches to teaching and conflict mitigation in their communities. The coaches spent the majority of their trip in Webster Groves, Missouri, where they visited an elementary, middle, and high school and met with numerous athletic coaches and school administrators.
There were many things that surprised the coaches during their visit in regards to gym classes and sports programming in American schools. Nurbek noticed that students “freely communicate with their coach” and that “every teacher gives each student an opportunity to express his/her point of view.” Natalia expressed surprise that “girls are actively involved in sports like boys are,” and she appreciated the “accessibility and attitude of people towards sports” and the “interest in sports (that) is imparted from a very early childhood.”
Overall, the coaches found the trip to be very rewarding and eye-opening. Natalia noted, “I’m very glad that I had a chance to visit the USA. Now I have food for thought and will try to change childrens’ attitudes towards PE classes.”
According to Svetlana, “The important thing I’ve learned and saw was that coaches do not strive to bring up a champion, but give fundamental knowledge and skills.”
Nurbek experienced personal growth as a result of the exchange experience. “Communication with Americans and participation in (the KICK) program has changed my attitude towards people in a positive way (I am now friendlier, not aggressive during classes and understand people better)."
Using their experience in the United States, the coaches are also working diligently to plan a Youth Sports Camp in June. Stay tuned for details and pictures from Kyrgyzstan next month.
The Kyrgyzstan Innovations in Coaching Kids (KICK) program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by IREX.