“I used to be kind of a problem kid,” chuckled Erzhan Kubat-uulu, a high school student in Kyrgyzstan’s isolated northwestern province of Talas, “My parents were often asked to come to school because of my behavior.”
This year, Erzhan got involved with a new drama club that opened at his school through USAID’s Youth Theater for Peace program. “I invited my parents to come see one of our drama performances,” he stated. “Afterward, I felt for the first time they were not ashamed because of me, they were proud.”
Erzhan’s parents had good reason to be proud. His teachers rave about his personal transformation, and the performance his parents attended exemplified the remarkable reputation the drama club has cultivated in the community. The performance was part of the opening ceremony of the new Youth Center of Talas province, attended by the Kyrgyz Republic’s Minister of Youth, Labor and Employment, A.T. Alymkulov, and Vice-mayor of Talas city, K.D. Osmonov.
The performance examined an issue of increasing concern in Talas: school racketeering. In September 2012, a group of teens in Talas City beat a classmate for failing to pay the debts they claimed he owed. The incident was captured on video by a mobile phone, and quickly spread through the Kyrgyz Republic’s internet community. The drama club developed a play that mirrored the scenario and invited audience members at the Youth Center opening to “intervene” in the play, allowing attendees to pause the action on stage, take an actor’s place, and attempt to improve the outcome of the incident.
At school, the drama club continues to facilitate dialogue about peaceful conflict resolution in performances on issues that affect local youth, including suicide, juvenile criminality and bride-kidnapping. “The atmosphere all over school is changing,” said school principal Kanyshai Akmatova. “Parents have come to us and asked ‘Please! Take my child as a member of the drama club!”
Erzhan is keeping up his good behavior. “After the Youth Center performance I try not to upset people through my actions, wanting to give smiles and bring more good into people’s lives.”
The Youth Theater for Peace Program is funded by the US Agency for International Development [7] and implemented by IREX.