Osh, October 25, 2022 - Yesterday, on October 24, a women's volleyball tournament dedicated to UN Day was held in the gymnasium of the "Kok-Zhar" school in the Nookat district of the Osh region. The tournament was held among five teams from Zulpuev, Isanov, Zhany-Nookat, Kok-Zhar aiyl aimaks and Nookat town.

The event was initiated by women of the local community of Nookat and organized by the PF "Women's Development Bank" with the support of the joint UN project "Inclusive Governance and Civic Identity for Sustainable Peace and Development" funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund and implemented by UNDP, UNICEF and OHCHR.

Volleyball is popular in Nookat District; amateur teams of rural women regularly gather for joint training and friendly meetings.

According to the results of the game, the first three places are distributed as follows:

I place - the team of Kok-Jar aiyl aimak 

II place - the team of Zhany-Nookat aiyl aimak 

III place - the team of Zulpuev aiyl aimak 

"We are very happy that we have this opportunity to play volleyball despite our many chores and field work. Every time we get together with women from other municipalities, we are happy to share news, invite each other to our houses. We feel happy, healthy and fit," said Makhabat Baitova, a tournament participant from Nookat.

The winners of the volleyball tournament received volleyball balls and nets in addition to the cup, and now they have even more opportunities to play sports in their ayil aimag. The tournament participants were also given T-shirts with the logos of the Kyrgyz Civic Identity Development Concept as a kind reminder of one of its moto  "Health Starts with Me!".

The result of the women's volleyball tournament:

- increased social activity and cohesion of the target group of rural women.

- created a platform for communication and cooperation through the organization of useful recreational activities of physical education.

- enhanced friendship and mutual understanding among women of the five municipalities.

- rural women were informed about the UN Day, goals and objectives of the joint project of UNDP, UNICEF and OHCHR, as well as about the Kyrgyz Jarany Civic Identity Development Concept.

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Contacts for more information: Sharabidin Tairov, UNDP Programme Officer in the city of Osh, sharabidin.tairov@undp.org