On September 12, a press tour was conducted in Bishkek with participation of five news agencies, five television channels and one printing publication. The event was aimed at familiarizing the media representatives with initiatives of the Institute for Youth Development supported by DVV International and at the same time highlighting the problems associated with acts of vandalism targeting new installations and products the city society is not familiar with. The goal was achieved through the organization of an informal meeting with journalists during which they were able to ask all the questions to organizers during a visit to the following main locations::
- street musical instruments made of recycled materials on the Alley of Youth;
- workout facility for people with disabilities on the west side of K. Bayalinov Library;
- swing for people with disabilities in Erkindik Park.
During the demonstration of the art objects journalists interviewed authors and project coordinators. Media representatives took part in the opening ceremony of a new sculptural composition based on the cartoon of cult director Hayao Miyazaki "Spirited Away". "Purify Bishkek" sculptural composition was made of recycled materials, and symbolizes the environmental problems of the city.
The first object with which the participants saw was a set of street musical instruments made of recycled materials “To create, not to be silent” (tank drum, xylophone, trumpet, and a set of cowbells). The initiative is aimed at familiarizing citizens with creativity, raising, improving the appearance of the city and the professional growth of young musicians and music lovers. The installation was presented to the city in April 2018. Since the tools were installed in the city center, they have been available to guests and residents of the capital around the clock. Being of a completely new format, belonging to an unusual kind of street culture in the Kyrgyz context, they have aroused great interest among residents. Unfortunately, the unusual installation format has also become the object of inapt use, as a result of which the tools were partially destroyed. All elements will be restored, and a number of activities will be carried out jointly with residents to demonstrate and use these tools.
Then the participants went to the western side of the Republican Library named after K. Bayalinov, where the second installation of the Project called “Sport for All” was installed. It consist of horizontal bars which can be used for exercises by people with disabilities. Further improvements of the recreation ground including the installation of lighting and benches is planned by the Institute of Youth Development. It will be one of the public spaces that will have an applied function - popularization of workout platforms and integration of people with special needs into the life of the society. This initiative caused positive reactions on the part of not only the city residents, but also on the part of the residents of nearby villages, in particular Paralympic athletes and young people who constantly need physical exertion for rehabilitation, as there are no opportunities for their outdoor activities in public places. So far this is the only object that has not suffered much from destruction - benches and horizontal bars are painted. This is because the guys involved in street workout, are constantly on the recreation ground and do not allow random people to get it. The reason for that is seen in the fact that its users, local youth, are constantly present on the recreation ground and do not grant access to those that might cause damage to it. Coverage of the results of the press tour through the media will help to widely disseminate information and draw public attention to the need to increase the number of such recreation grounds and to foster a careful attitude towards them.
Another project aimed at establishing recreation grounds for young people with special needs was presented - a swing for persons with disabilities. This initiative is the first step towards building a space with equal opportunities for children, regardless of their physical characteristics. However, a week after opening, the ramps were broken, the chain was torn off, and a notice board was stolen. Instead of children with disabilities, ordinary children ride here, people sit on the swings ten at a time, childrens’ parents do not pay any attention to any remarks. Now the swing is part of the inventory of the city hall; they have been repaired more than once, but all in vain.
Despite the fact that many of the objects are broken, the Institute for Youth Development hopes that citizens in the future will take care of the restored compositions that adorn Bishkek.
The press tour ended with the presentation of the sculptural composition “Purify” in the park named after Y.Fuchik, which represents the characters from the world famous anime of Hayao Miyazaki "Spirited Away". The goal of the project is to encourage citizens to participate in initiatives aimed at improving the environmental situation in Bishkek. At the opening ceremony the Acting Chairman of the Bishkek City Kenesh addressed the audience, and urged citizens to keep the city clean and not to stand aside from environmental problems. The Executive Director of the Institute for Youth Development, Elnur Kalybayeva, as well as the representative of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Julia Kanoute, delivered a speech. Dr. Thekla Kelbert, Regional Director of DVV International in Central Asia, addressed the audience and emphasized the importance of the ideas underlying the presented compositions - environmental protection and youth involvement in the life of the city.
The event was covered by the following media.: