From 23 July to 2 August 2009 Kyrgyz Lake Issyk Kul hosted the IVth Summer Academy on Adult Education organized by the Kyrgyz Adult Education Association and supported by dvv international (Bonn). It became a platform to bring together representatives of 11 countries, and, surprisingly, something more for them rather than just training in the oral history methodology. That is why we want to split the materials on those days into two parts: the one on what the participants learnt about oral history and the other on what they learnt about each other.
Part One: Oral History
To begin with, during training we could become acquainted with three different trainers, but they all had one thing in common – they were talented. And another one – they all enjoyed their job.
The first trainer is Olga Agapova (Russia). She immediately introduced the participants to her experience, shared it and let them feel it. Who would have thought that the topic “Biographical approaches in adult training” would enable a person to speak about something important to him/her and revisit this event when hearing about it from your group member! How many barriers we set up keeping our memories and thinking they are too personal to share them. Olga Agapova has extensive experience communicating with elderly people who remember a lot about the past and are unwilling to share their memories. The oral history method makes it possible not only to enter this treasury of memories but also to unburden oneself. Sessions with Olga Agapova made it possible to make another big discovery, which was obvious as everything brilliant: “Each person deserves attention.” It smoothly results in the biographical approach as an oral history method. The Russian trainer’s experience suggests that it works with various age groups. 20-year-olds also have something to say, and it will be characteristic of them only. The value of the oral history method is that every generation speaks about its perception of contemporaneity and what it is a moment after, i.e. history.
The topic “Signs of the Time” aroused intense interest among participants, and a surprising atmosphere of confidence appeared as “academicians” were taking things associated with something important and meaningful. There were visible changes in a person when he was speaking about something personal using such a “sign of the time” – as if the material sign of his memories supported and guided him. Thanks to Olga Agapova’s keen intuition as a trainer and her presentation of materials there was a feeling that the participants started each topic of hers by themselves, without any tension. The same style of communication was used when introducing participants to the method of liberation of consciousness while working with a geographical map. In thirty minutes the map on the wall was full of small colorful flags telling stories of each family’s paths, the cities and countries associated with stories of participants’ relatives. This variety of biographies as well as numerous overlaps brought many participants closer to each other to some extent and seemed to have surprised them. In addition, each participant touched upon a significant layer of history, which also became much closer. At the same time almost everyone started to think that there was still much to learn about one’s own genealogical tree and how important and interesting it was! Judging by participants’ emotions, they liked the method and would use it in practice.
Various oral history techniques have one common component – everything heard should be documented. “Memories become an object of study only when expressed in words” – this principle identified as underlying by the first trainer was perfectly developed by her successor.
The second trainer is – Leyla Neyzi (Turkey). Academic accuracy is her distinctive characteristic. Extensive hands-on experience in oral history enabled Leyla Neyzi not only to understand the process of preparation, recording and transcription of an interview, but also to theorize these processes, split them into essential components, that make it possible to identify most delicate shades of speaker’s memories. The trainer from Turkey was so enthusiastic when presenting materials carefully and gradually collected and based on personal experience that the audience forgot about the so-called “language barrier”. Moreover, it was easily overcome by professional interpreter Victoria Eolian.
Thanks to Leyla Neyzi’s academic approach, one could understand the parallels and differences between such concepts as “oral history” and “oral tradition”. The phenomenon of “secondary orality”, resulted from intrusion of television into people’s lives, was new to many trainees. The key feature of oral history was identified – as a rule, it focuses on recent history. Leyla Neyzi placed particular emphasis on the interview archiving. Her experience as a researcher suggests that it is important not only to transcribe the recorded memories but also to note the details pertaining to the speaker. Intonation, silences, interruptions and many other things convey a lot of information adding colors to the “picture” of memories.
In addition, the value of Leyla Neyzi’s observations and experience is represented in another indisputable conclusion, drawn during years of her research: neither official nor oral history are absolute, and comparative approach is required to use them. Leyla Neyzi generously shared those conclusions, as well as other things based on her personal experience, with the trainees who felt like genuine “academicians” after the flow of knowledge given to them, or at least were close to that feeling. And now it is high time to discuss specific projects based on oral history, both implemented and being planned. This mission was undertaken by the third trainer.
The third trainer is Vanya Ivanova, Bulgaria. Frail and energetic, she brought to the Academy her immense experience in numerous projects that had been implemented already. Many of them address problems associated with post-conflict situation in Balkan countries. Years of this work enable Vanya Ivanova to give her own recommendation based on painful experiences: oral history can and must contribute to improvement of understanding among people, remove stereotypes, and mitigate conflicts. A specific example of using oral history in this way was the traveling exhibition, where 6 Balkan countries presented various memories and documents about themselves. The oral history methodology made it possible to improve engagement of participants in this process, ensure exchange of knowledge, discuss own conclusions that sometimes seem cast in stone. This could change not only conclusions, but also the people who drew them. Quoting Vanya Ivanova, “A person changes himself while rethinking his identity”. And if in the beginning of the Academy such statements would raise numerous questions by participants, at the stage of communication with the third trainer that was taken for granted, at least perceived as something understandable. “Rethinking of identity” seemed to be underway among the Academy participants as well. As Leyla Neyzi noted with surprise, it was one of the few groups that did not run away for dinner at the end of the session, but delayed it as each answer to its final question brought up additional questions.
Leyla Neyzi and Vanya Ivanova worked in partnership to assess the oral history-based projects developed at the end of the Summer Academy by its participants split into interest groups. Some of them wanted to design a cross-country project with a poetic title “Lake People”, while others were more interested in addressing issues pertaining to heterogeneous marriage. The project “Hearts of Kin” highlighted Uzbek-Bulgarian relations. The fate of another nation – Crimean Tatars deported to Central Asia – also has a number of interesting aspects. In a word, there were numerous project ideas as if produced by the horn of plenty! And this clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of the two weeks spent by the Summer Academy participants guided by the three talented trainers. Moreover, the organizers provided incredible facilities for work and recreation. The participants really appreciated that and seemed to be willing to continue endless discussions while getting a suntan on the shore of blue (in fine weather) Issyk Kul and enjoying hospitality of their Kyrgyz friends in wonderful ravine Oychetin. This and, most importantly, the “academicians” are discussed in the second article on the remarkable journey to the world of oral history.
Part Two: Comments of Participants in the IVth Summer Academy: “Lessons of Mutual Understanding”
What can bring together almost 30 adults in one room every day for two weeks? Obviously, education, particularly, adult education. The reason why there were experienced trainers and interactive methods was that people should be attracted by knowledge rather than lapping lake waters outside windows. And what kept those people together after classes? This is a more difficult question. However, let us try to answer it. It should be mentioned that those adults represented 11 countries of the world. Almost each country is facing its own problems and challenges. However, the people had much in common – they could not stay indifferent to what was going on in their homes, in their neighbor’s home, and at the other end of the world, which in the end is the common ball called the Earth – one for everyone.
First, they learnt that they had much in common from each other’s projects as each project was a long-cherished idea. Then human interaction helped them form a narrow circle of true participants in the Summer Academy on Adult Education – in groups during training, eating candy at coffee-breaks, discussing beautiful Issyk Kul on the shore, and of course at the unforgettable yurt in ravine Oychetin. And another thing to keep in mind – they say people also socialized during an exciting process of fishing, but they also said that there was so many fish that people really did not have much time to talk! And interviews taken with some trainees at the very end of the Academy speak for themselves about what the academicians meant to each other and what they learnt during training. Let us have a look at them.
Let us start with poets. Safo Safarov – a journalist by profession and a poet of beauty by avocation. Earnest and reasonable in the beginning of the Summer Academy, the young representative of Tajik intelligentsia soon turned out to be an emotional person and life of the party. He has his own opinion about everything, and it is highly interesting; he is amiable and affable. Moreover, at the “Party of Friends” Safo impressed everyone when he recited gorgeous poems in his native language.
- At this Summer Academy I obtained a lot of knew knowledge about the concept “oral history”, its characteristics and specific features. There have been a lot of such details which I think will be helpful in my further activities, since both in terms of methodology and arrangements required to implement certain projects our trainers were able to give us enough useful and relevant information, - Safo noted in his interview. – Everything has been well-organized A very good team of participants has been formed. There have been a number of factors that united us –communication during this training and a dialog of cultures – this always brings people closer to each other. During the Academy one could feel that borders were not barriers between us.
Let us continue to quote the academic youth and give the floor to Zarina Uzakova – a young teacher from Tashkent who sees her path not only as an educator of younger generation but in oral history as well.
- The strongest impression from the Academy is people – Zarina admitted immediately. And, of course, the blue salt lake and obtaining information. Now I am sitting and processing it, and, frankly speaking, there is so much information that I am at my wits’ end. I have selected my topics and plan to start working on them at once. One of them is exogamous marriage. We have acquired practical knowledge at the Academy. I think that using biographical approaches will make it possible to understand what a person feels. And only after that we can draw conclusions about how an environment or some conditions influence him. I am going to use the obtained knowledge not only in project activities but also in teaching. I already have a number of ideas which I will start implementing as early as in September. We have to use and channel somehow the knowledge given to us here.
Now let us hear from the hospitable hosts of the Academy – Kyrgyz people, and we’ll start with the native inhabitant of Issyk Kul – Zhanyl Andogulova – What does the Academy mean to her?
- First, it is new contacts and new knowledge. I have understood how to work further. I learnt more about theoretical part of recent history. Do you remember how we were hanging “apples of expectations”? So, mine is ripe, and that is why I wanted to learn more about methodology of trainers’ work. And I’ve also got more information for myself .I think I will use these methods in my activities. The acquired knowledge will provide good guidance for me. Here, at the Academy, I have generated an idea of a new project on oral history. It addresses the mass relocation of Kyrgyz people to China in 1916, when they went there due to recruitment for the tsar’s army. Many of them stayed in that country, formed Kyrgyz villages and gave birth to children. Some of them came here in 1960s but still differ from others. Given what I have heard and learn here, I guess I have to put some questions to that generation.
The Academy has also given a great deal of ideas to Nazgul Djolochieva. Feminine and businesslike at the same time, she is always busy and discusses something. No wonder that one of the persons Nazgul will remember most is a trainer from Turkey Leyla Neyzi.
- It is her presentation that will stick to my memory as one of the strongest impressions from the Academy. One can feel that everything Leyla has told us she felt deeply and experienced herself. This is not easy and is done subconsciously, by an internal impulse when a person is interested in something personal, pertaining to him. When a researcher wants to prove something he can do this event for himself personally. Prove it for his descendants, children and even for his own future. Currently, there is an increasing interest in identity in the world. A person wants to get an answer to his question: “Who am I, where am I from?” And this leads everyone to his roots. In this regard, the oral history method, among others, might be helpful as well. It seems to me that this area is close to journalism in many respects, it is cross-sectional. In addition, I liked the examples from Vanya Ivanova’s projects on training youth in this methodology. I think this training could be carried out starting with 13-14 years, which will enable children to think about vocational choice. This is also relevant to us in Kyrgyzstan, where everyone now is aiming to be an economist or a lawyer, and after that they remain with their diplomas, but jobless. Also, I am very glad that I became a participant in the Academy thanks to new acquaintances. Just have a look at our all-wise “Uncle Sam.” He is so calm and prudent. Absolutely different people got together here, and everyone has his own world. And this is really interesting. I thank my lucky starts that I am here.
So we are shifting to “Uncle Sam.” That’s how another nickname of our distinguished Ara Gulyan (on the right) unexpectedly emerged during the interview. He amazed the Summer Academy participants with every word he said. When his eyes become quizzical one could guess that the conversation will somehow change its direction. What our distinguished representative of ancient Armenia contributed to academicians’ lives was kindness and philosopher’s wisdom. And the way it is typical of a wise man, each answer he gave initiated a new question.
- Academy is a good thing in terms of new knowledge, skills and experience. However, if this all is not confirmed by experience, and people do not become its owners, it will fade away in memory. The Academy should have some practical outcomes. It is the practical work that consolidates skills and knowledge. Without it, there will be no call for this knowledge.
- Given your extensive experience that has manifested itself, has there been anything that you discovered for yourself in the Academy?
- Yes. My experience suggests that every organization has its own regular experts. And irrespective of anything else, they will use the research methods they prefer. In this respect, when you work with different international organizations you accumulate experience in various research methods. Obviously, this is good. However, if you work within the scope of one international organization, the people associated with the Academy might get an opinion or an impression that the method they use is the only, the most important or the best one. I think that on the one hand, this is a disadvantage, and on the other – of course you better fully master one method rather than have little experience in using all of them.
As you can see, this is only half of the interview given by the main philosopher of Summer Academy 2009, and the unabridged version can form a basis of several projects. However, we still have other academicians to talk to and we go on to the main diplomat of the Summer Academy Babek Mamedov. So, what impressions will he bring back to his native Azerbaijan?
- I have got an impetus from beautiful nature in Kyrgyzstan with its diversity and from the experience represented by participants from Central Asia and other countries. It is wide experience that could be used, passed on and that could underlie a new system of relations among counties having common political and cultural roots. And I think that the whole process will eventually serve a good purpose – adult training – and of course each of us will keep impressions from picturesque Kyrgyzstan that will complement this activity.
For another participant – director of the Museum of Victims of Political Repressions Apriza Khusainova from Kazakhstan – the Summer Academy also became a place where she got acquainted with her colleagues. This strong, reserved and good-natured woman always contributed some quietness and balance to academicians’ discussions.
- I am very glad that I have participated in the international Summer Academy of Adult Education and I am grateful for the invitation. For me it has been interesting to know what it is, what adult education is, and in general it has met my expectations. I have learnt a lot, improved my knowledge of oral history and the history of identity. This is highly relevant to my job, as I am a director of the Museum of Victims of Political Repressions “ALZHIR” (Russian acronym for Akmola Camp for Traitors’ Wives). We also have similar training, but here it is very detailed and with highly competent trainers. I really liked Olga Agapova from St. Petersburg, the way she presented the topic “History and Identity” to us. Certainly, who will deal with history and memory if not us? And I think that the key idea of Summer Academy IV is that history passes, memories fade away, but they are essential – here is the memory, history for the generations to come. At our museum we also collect oral history materials and memories in the form of audio records and archives and reconstruct the history. When a person learns about his history and events in his country the way people spoke about the 1966 earthquake in Uzbekistan, tragic events in Karabakh and many others were discussed, and when you learn about this and inform younger generation, I think this adds more value to life. And you have something to compare. Certainly, I liked the session with Vanya Ivanove, it was very detailed. More specifically oral history was covered by Leyla Neyzi from Turkey. The most important thing in such workshops is that you get acquainted with your colleagues, find new friends and contacts. As for me, I have discovered that Uzbekistan has its Museum of Victims of Political Repressions. Georgiy Mamardashvili from Georgia made a detailed presentation about the Museum of Soviet Occupation in Tbilisi. I have watched movies, seen archive materials and learnt a lot. These are my impressions from the Academy. Naturally, we could combine all this with recreation, got a nice suntan at Lake Issyk Kul, and we enjoyed the walks we had. I think the organization of the event was very good. I would like to say “thank you” to all organizers, to the Kyrgyz Adult Education Association represented by Nadezhda and Kaliman. Everything was organized at a high level. I am going back with an idea that such Adult Education Academies are necessary since there one can improve one’s knowledge and then transfer it to a younger generation.
Alisher Sabirov, deputy director of the Museum of Victims of Repressions and Apriza’s colleague from Tashkent thinks that the knowledge acquired at the Academy is applicable to his professional activity. His interview was guided by a well-known principle “brevity is the soul of wit.”
- There is a lot of information that needs to be processed in the context of my further activity. I have made a number of new contacts, met with interesting people and what is most important – I have identified great opportunities for joint international projects. By the way, donors now welcome projects associated with more than one country.
The interview showed that one of the quietest academicians – Berdi Sadikov, director of Social Foudation “Batken Center for Adult Development and Education”, Kyrgyzstan, was as witty and brief as Alisher. He was always very specific, and one could feel confidence of an experienced person in his words.
- The Academy is useful as what we knew before in general and where we were guided by feelings has become very clear now.
- And what about oral history as a subject in general – how has it aroused your interest given its novelty?
- Well, in general it is not new, I just have started viewing many things from a different perspective and learnt the methodology.
- What strong impressions has the Academy produced on you in addition to training?
- The lake, new faces, very interesting trainer - Leyla Neyzi – I am very interested in her approach.
Leyla Neyzi’s talent as a trainer was also highly appreciated by Irina Shakirova from Tashkent (on the right) who is a professional trainer-consultant herself. She was cheerful and could add some fun to any serious discussion, let alone recreation.
- My goal has been to understand what oral history is, and how my idea could fit in this context. I had no theoretical views on that, and of course my perspectives were based on my own experience in journalism and probably history. It is this viewpoint that I was interested in. I admire our trainers as it is a completely different environment. For example, Leyla Neyzi. She is an open-minded representative of scientific community. And she tried to give us everything she had accumulated. Also, I would like to mention the atmosphere in general, as there were so many intellectual people – nice, new and completely different – and this also contributed to good spirits, work and the whole process.
Friendly environment of the Academy was also appreciated by Kommuna Khamidova, specialist of the Museum of Regional Studies in Kokand city (Uzbekistan). She was one of the most receptive listeners, and her views always demonstrated accurate and interesting observations.
- Thanks to this Summer Academy I have made a lot of friends, improved my knowledge and learnt the oral history methods; I want to practice these methods when I come back. Moreover, I want to train my colleagues – specialists I work with at a museum in Kokand – in these methods. In addition, this is my first visit to Issyk Kul, and I really liked the rest and recreation organized here, and a wonderful opportunity to go swimming. I will remember all my life our hike up the ravine, warm hospitality of Kyrgyz people, national dishes, and a very interesting culture of this nation. I guess I will remember this for ever.
Her opinion is shared by Dilorom Shukurova, director of Ferghana Regional Information-Library Center (Uzbekistan). When you see such an intellectual director you can imagine the air of comfort and affability in her library halls.
- I am participating in such Summer Academy for the second time already, and each time I improve my knowledge. This time I have come here to develop my project on oral history, and I have achieved my goal. There have been lots of useful things, everything taught by Olga Agapova, Vanya Ivanova and Leyla Neyzi, and I was able to almost finish designing my project during the Summer Academy. What I also like is that I have made a great many of new friends, whom I have learnt from as almost all of them have their experiences in oral history work. And of course I like Issyk Kul as here you can combine the useful with the pleasing.
If during the Academy there was a contest to identify the most inquisitive participant, then Zholdubay Sultanbekov, director of the Social Foundation “Danida”, Osh, Kyrgyzstan, would have all the chances to win it. He never left a question unanswered and tried to get explanations for everything that was unclear. The results were soon to come.
- I liked to participate in this Summer Academy. Our city has a motto “There is no future without history”, which reflects our topic. I was surprised with many things, asked questions about the history of identity, in particular about using the oral history method, and now I can see that work with elderly people, eye-witnesses of events, is also one of the adult education techniques. And this is my field of activity. I have learnt a lot at the Summer Academy - both in terms of methodology, and how one can work with elderly people using historic events; how to influence people, personalities and society as a whole. We have followed the right direction, and in general the Summer Academy has been of great help to me and has been the so-called eye-opening experience with regard to oral history.
Zhanylkan Namazbekova, Talas city, Kyrgyzstan, appreciated the Academy as an experience in intercultural dialog. Teaching is her vocation and avocation, and she works at Talas Center for Education and Development of Population. Her talents as a teacher and a good psychologist always helped her communicate with all academicians.
- The main impression is from human resources, the people. They are so different, so interesting – both in terms of appearance and character. At first, this combination of beauty and intellect shocked me, and then I was surprised and pleased with that. So, this Summer Academy is magnificent thanks to the people. And of course knowledge, human interaction and future projects. Communication with such people as Misha Rozhansky, Irina Shakirova and others, in such a quiet atmosphere with so interesting and different people – as Ara said, the human “mosaic”. Despite challenges, economic crisis and natural catastrophes, there is something special about that fact that a human soul is more important than those problems. And we have turned out to be optimists. I will tell my children about this meeting so that in time they will remain mediators not only of our culture but of the intercultural dialog as well, and will be able to contribute to enhancing solidarity among cultures.
Zarina Khalikova, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, also contributed to the summer intercultural dialog. Despite her young age, all her manners showed immense experience in communication and organization of various events. Surprisingly, Zarina’s calmness was combined with her ability to laugh at any joke or situation and become the life of the party (left: Dilorom Shukurova, center: Irina Shakirova; right: Zarina Khalikova).
- I think the most important thing about this Summer Academy is that we all had our own understanding of oral history, and here three different persons having been working on this for many years gave us a new level to understand this subject. I think that our group will definitely do something since there is a highly diverse company – historians, journalists and staff of organizations that can promote these things. I think that methodology – oral history – will fit into our region and I hope that it will serve only good purposes. What I also liked is good organization of the Summer Academy, and people are good here, well-organized, they go where they are told to go and do things in due time. This is surprising, as usually in such summer camps and academies people think that they go on some sort of vacation, and it is quite serious here. Also, as far as I remember, this is one of the most serious events, from the beginning till the end, and very official until the very last day. It has never been like this. Even clothes were quite formal on the first and the last day. This is my impression.
There were various academicians among trainees. However, some of them were more “academic” as compared to others. Especially the above-mentioned Ara Gulyan, and Mikhail Rozhansky from Russia. He is an expert in oral history himself and has been practicing it for many years. He is a director of Irkutsk Center for Independent Social Research and Education. However, he observed a custom of going to training as if it were for the first time – willing to absorb everything. His interview will conclude this vivid presentation of views on the major and remarkable event that occurred on the shore of Lake Issyk Kul in summer 2009 – IVth Summer Academy of Adult Education.
- The strongest and most vivid impression from the Academy is certainly its natural atmosphere, which has easily been established among people from different countries without any tension or effort. Very quickly, naturally, neither politicized nor ideologized. I think this is it. What else? In fact, I have lots of impressions from Issyk Kul itself, Kyrgyzstan. However, they are largely about people. Well, as for everything related to the content, this is my profession, and my training included comparing and assessing a number of different experiences. I communicated with my colleague from Turkey for the first time, and it even seems to me that everything associated with Leyla follows the same direction. And the stage she is at now is also a specific stage of my work at a different time and in a different community. And it has been very interesting for me to compare this. It even seems to me that for my colleague from Bulgaria it is interesting as well. And this experience is also very similar. On the one hand, she is a researcher, and for me research is one of the essential activities in my life, and at the same time this is my work in education, moreover, at school, which is also very important to me. So, my English has been the only barrier between us. Thus, this is a remarkable coincidence, although she mostly works in Europe, but I have a strong impression about how many matches in the goals, perception, forms and purposes we have. And this might be the first time when I talked to my colleagues from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Well, I used to have some contacts in Soviet time, but in recent decades this happened occasionally, and I have met only one colleague from Azerbaijan. The fact that they are not politicized and ideologized and the human context of our work are also a complete match.
Like everything good, the IVth Summer Academy is over. And the participants seem to have just started their oral history. The first emails have appeared, and people have felt that they want to continue the human interaction initiated by the Summer Academy of dvv international.
Luiza Makhmudova,
Journalist
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