On May 2, the United States Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Pamela L. Spratlen [3] attended a forum theater performance in Batken, Kyrgyzstan by the Kelechek Drama Club at Bakonbaev School, supported by USAID’s Youth Theater for Peace [4] (YTP) program. The Kelechek club at Bakonbaev School is one of more than 30 drama clubs created in Kyrgyzstan since YTP began supporting drama clubs in 2010.
“I think this theater makes a big contribution to resolving conflicts in communities,” said Ambassador Spratlen. Forum theater methodology utilizes short plays about real-life conflict issues, engaging the audience to be part of the performance and contribute to the resolution. Kelechek’s performance told the story of a young girl who is in conflict with her father over money that she earns working in the market. The girl must also cope with the social stigma of her father’s alcoholism.
Vice-Mayor of Batken City, Imigulson Toksonova also participated in the performance and commented, “This project is unique. It is well known that Kelechek Drama Club makes a great contribution to Batken City.”
School Director Aygul Sadykovna thanked USAID, the Ambassador, and the Drama Club. “Even though the participants aren’t professional actors they have a big impact on school development, better education quality and upbringing youth,” said Sadykovna.
An externally-led evaluation [5]of YTP’s impact found significant differences in attitudes about conflict between the program’s youth participants and a comparison group that did not participate in YTP. Nearly 98% of program participants reported confidence in their ability to positively affect conflict situations in their community, compared to about 31% of comparison group respondents.
The Youth Theater for Peace Program is funded by the US Agency for International Development [6] and implemented by IREX [7].