Dushanbe Evening: Promoting Adult Education in Asia!
DVV International in Tajikistan in partnership with the Adult Education Association of Tajikistan (AEAT) held the event "Dushanbe Evenings" on April 6, 2025.
Venue: Dushanbe Serena Hotel
Purpose of the Event: To create a space for open dialogue, share best practices, and explore new horizons for the development of adult education.
The evening’s program was rich and informative:
• The event began with welcoming remarks that set the tone for a productive and engaging discussion.
• Zarina Khalikova, Director of the DVV International Country Office in Tajikistan, opened the evening by highlighting the importance of long-term, fruitful cooperation between DVV International and its partners in the field of adult education. She emphasized the crucial role of joint initiatives in building the capacity of Tajikistan’s adult population—an essential step toward sustainable development.
• Galina Veremeychik, Regional Director of DVV International in Central Asia, shared her insights on the role of adult education in addressing regional challenges and opportunities. She stressed the need to tailor educational programs to the specific needs of the region.
Special Highlights of the Evening:
• A keynote speech by Uwe Gartenschlager, Director of DVV International, who was in Dushanbe on a working visit. Symbolically, it was Mr. Gartenschlager—together with Subkhon Ashurov—who co-founded the Adult Education Association of Tajikistan in 2007. In his address, Mr. Gartenschlager provided a global perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing adult education. He underscored the need to rethink educational approaches in the context of globalization, digitalization, and environmental issues. He also stressed the importance of developing adults’ skills to adapt to rapidly changing labor markets, cultivating critical thinking to counter misinformation, and fostering leadership to build a sustainable and just society.
➡️ Learn more about DVV International’s approach to adult education: https://www.dvv-international-central-asia.org/ru/
Nargis Zokirova, Director of the NGO Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, spoke about the organization’s wide-ranging efforts. She detailed its activities focused on monitoring the rights of vulnerable groups and ensuring their access to justice. Nargis shared concrete examples of successful legal aid and legal education projects implemented by the Bureau.
➡️ Learn more about the Bureau’s work: https://www.bhr.tj
Mr. Jamshed Quddusov, Chairman of the Board of AEAT, presented the current initiatives and key achievements of the association over the past year. He highlighted the strategic partnership with DVV International, which has supported the expansion of AEAT’s activities and the launch of new educational programs for adults. He invited all interested stakeholders to collaborate.
➡️ To learn more about our projects, visit: https://aeat.tj
Manzura Sultanova, Head of the NGO Saodat, shared the organization’s long-standing work, which since 1999 has provided rural populations with access to social services and clean drinking water. In partnership with DVV International Tajikistan (2020–2024), Saodat successfully implemented several projects, including the creation of the Community Learning Center (CLC) in Guliston. The CLC offers diverse educational programs such as cooking, sewing, mobile and household appliance repair, computer literacy, and language courses. The NGO is also actively involved in the project “TRUST – TogetheR Unite efforts for regional SustainabliTy” promoting a culture of peace in the Ferghana Valley.
➡️ Learn more about the projects: http://ngo-saodat.tj/projects.html
The official part of the evening was followed by a lively discussion and informal networking session, where participants shared their thoughts and experiences. The conversation covered topics such as the role of adult education in times of global change, strategies for integrating refugees and migrants into society, and the importance of digital skill development among adults.
We express our sincere gratitude to all participants for their valuable contributions to the advancement of adult education!
The event is supported by the Country Office of DVV International in the Republic of Tajikistan financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).