Representatives of government agencies, diplomats, educators, and students gathered at the event to demonstrate how knowledge of ecology can change the educational process in schools. As part of the handover, educational materials in Kyrgyz and Russian languages were presented, as well as play sets and methodological recommendations for teachers. It is important to note that the project emphasizes inclusivity: Kyrgyzstan has become a pioneer in the UNDP network by developing adapted materials in Braille and Easy-to-Read format, making climate education accessible for children with special needs.
Aleksandra Solovyova, the UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education and all partners for fruitful cooperation. "The initiatives we saw today from the students are inspiring. We are observing plans that are yet to be implemented. This contributes to the formation of future professions and the contribution to the country's climate agenda. We will continue to support efforts in climate education and youth entrepreneurship within our program until 2030," she noted.
Almazbek Toktomametov, the Director General of the Republican Institute for Advanced Training of Educators, emphasized the importance of integrating ecological topics into the educational process, pointing out their role in ensuring the safety and sustainable development of Kyrgyzstan. "The 'Climate Box' provides teachers with ready-made tools and students with understandable practical tasks," he added.
Ivan Prokopenko, an advisor at the Embassy of the Russian Federation, noted that Russia actively supports the sustainable development of Kyrgyzstan through various bilateral and multilateral initiatives. "Since 2016, the 'Climate Box' project has covered almost all schools in the country, providing them with innovative kits to raise students' ecological awareness," he said, emphasizing that it is pleasing to see gifted children implementing their original ideas through this project.
The highlight of the event was the interactive exhibition "The Climate Box in Action," where school teams presented their ecological solutions:
- The team from secondary school No. 64 amazed everyone with the project "Alternative Energy Based on Biological Processes in Soil," where the movement of earthworms generates electricity to charge mobile devices. They also demonstrated an "Insect Hotel" and the concept of a nano-tablet for cleansing the body of plastic pollution.
- Secondary school No. 65 presented the Climate-class project: a monitoring system for parameters in greenhouses and a CO₂ sensor. The device shows the level of carbon dioxide in the air and signals when the norm is exceeded, allowing for timely ventilation of the room.
- Secondary school No. 94 presented a working model for sorting and recycling waste.
Participants shared personal experiences. A student from school No. 94, Nurasyil Abdyzhaparov, mentioned that he previously did not understand the importance of climate change, but the "Climate Box" helped him realize how these changes affect each of us. A geographer from Talas, Angela Hanyuk, added that the interdisciplinary approach sparks students' interest and helps broaden their thinking.
The project "Climate Education for Achieving the SDGs and Climate Action" is implemented by UNDP with the support of the Russian Trust Fund. It is worth noting that the "Climate Box" began to be implemented in the republic in 2016. Initially, only 21 educational institutions participated in the project, but now it covers almost all schools in the country, becoming a significant part of the educational system.
