Kelajak Ovozi: new talents to emerge

December 19, 2009

The Republican final round of Kelajak ozovi (Voice of the future), one of Uzbekistan largest-scale competitions, is under way in Tashkent from December 19 to December 26, 2009. This year, more than 63 thousand boys and girls across the country have submitted applications for participation in the competition, with 200 making it to the final round. A series of innovations in the project`s format and conditions have helped to increase interest in the project not only among the youth but also specialists and observers.

The competition is held annually by the Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Foundation in conjunction with Kamolot Public Youth Movement. First held in 2005, the competition gained popularity with the youth within a short span of time. Back then, around 3,000 young talents participated in the competition`s selection stages. However, as of 2009, this number has reached 63 thousand. Given the large number of participants and in an effort to ensure transparency and a fair selection, an Arbitration Council was set up in 2007 to consider appeal letters.

This year, regional selection stages started on May 12 after a preliminary selection of applications in districts. Young people ranging between 15 and 25 years old have submitted applications in four nominations. The most applications (18,902) came in the nomination of Traditional and Applied Art. A large number of youngsters decided to participate in nominations such as "Information Technologies, Rationalizing Proposals and Technical Developments" (16,172), "Architecture and Design" (14,718), "Literary Creativity and Journalism" (13,472). In regions, the largest number of applications has come from Tashkent Region (8,210 participants), Samarkand (8,024), Jizzak (5,968), Bukhara (5,694), Tashkent city (5,516) and Namangan (5,222).

In the final round each region will be represented by 15 participants. During the ten-day event, participants will compete with each other, present projects to the competition`s Public Council, participate in master classes and meetings with experts, and get ready for Kelajak ovozi final conference.

The participants of the final round will also attend a special cultural program; they will be meeting art and culture figures, visiting places of interest in Tashkent as well as museums, presentations and other events.

The final conference for the competition is scheduled for December 26. This format of summing up results is also new: during the final ceremony participants now have to present their projects and works, demonstrate their talents and mastery to experts, public figures and peers. The Kelajak ovozi final conference will be held on the same day as the Fund Forum`s online report conference, which will help sum up the activities of the outgoing year.

The winners of this year`s competition will receive university education grants (for applicants) while those already enrolled in schools will be awarded special Kelajak ovozi scholarship on a monthly basis.

Moreover, the Fund Forum, the competition`s Public Council, and Kelajak ovozi Youth Initiatives Centre (YIC) have been providing comprehensive support for winners and promising participants of the project. Under the program to support Keljak ovozi winners, the most interesting projects devised by the winners are applied in practice, grants are made available for their implementation, assistance is provided in the laureates` participation in international festivals and programs, in the organization of exhibitions and other events. To date, seventeen winners of previous competitions have been granted patents on their own inventions and developments. Over ten have been offered jobs in Uzbekistan`s high-profile organizations thanks to the support of the Employment Assistance Center under Kelajak ovozi YIC while several are attending training sessions in China, Korea, Malaysia and Great Britain.