Summer school project for Nogai District of KChR enters final of Google contest

In the summer, under the "Balapanal" project, which claims to win the Google contest "Far from capital", children from the Nogai District of the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR) learned for free their native language, learned to play national instruments, and practiced jujitsu. An author of the project intends to extend the experience of the summer school to the whole republic.

The contest "Far from capital" began in September. Its authors offered residents of Russia to report about an implemented project to be proud of.

"The 'Far from the capitals' is a project we are implementing with the support of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. With the help of Google Maps and Search services, we have created a platform for all of Russia to learn about people whose ideas change lives outside Moscow and Saint Petersburg for the better," reported Dmitry Kuznetsov, the head of Google Russia, in the official blog of the company.

The project "Balapanal" ("kids" in the Nogai language), implemented by journalist and translator Bella Shakhmirzova, is fighting for the victory in the category "Education".

The main goal of the "Balapanal" school is to provide village children with the same teaching tools that are available in cities.

"I visit the Caucasus very rarely, since I feel uncomfortable there. I want to come to my native region and live in a comfortable society," noted Bella Shakhmirzova.

She is also concerned that often children in Nogai families do not speak their native language and do not know their national history and customs.

According to the Bella Shakhmirzova's story, local teachers did not expect that the children would be so attentive and enthusiastic.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.