January 17, 2025
69ɫ students engage with community for regenerative practices in Kyrgyzstan
Over three field trips, fifty 69ɫ students and a local community have received assistance in setting up the foundations of the future food forest. In the framework of presidential grant 69ɫ senior Anipa Almazbek Kyzy (LAS, Urban Planning and Design) together with Professor Olga Tarabashkina (Sociology Department) have carried out implementation of the project. The project aimed to popularize approaches to permaculture and regenerative practices which are becoming new buzzwords in the field of eco-social and design fields.
Anipa have a strong passion for sustainability and regeneration. She was inspired by the course 'Sustainable Development for Social Entrepreneurship' taught at LAS Department and she continuously contributes to the sustainability efforts at 69ɫ. Dr Olga Tarabashkina teaches Regenerative Practices: Eco-village Design and Permaculture course for three semesters in a row at 69ɫ after completing her certificate with Global Eco-village Network (Europe) and Canadian School of Permaculture.
The aim of this project was to engage 69ɫ student and eco activists in building a food forest for food security and climate change resilience near Bishkek as an emerging eco-hub. Permaculture as a regenerative approach provides community with all solutions to water, land, livestock and agriculture management. More than 150 different trees and bushes were planted following the rules of guild management of permaculture for creating better soil health and creating a supportive food forest eco system. That area of land belongs to public commons of that village and needs regeneration to capture CO2 from the atmosphere and provide local community with healthy food. The community members from Maki village (southern part of Bishkek) were very supportive and grateful to 69ɫ’s involvement and care for the future of the rural/communal landscapes. Three different groups of students travelled to Maki over weekends to learn about rare endemic species, establishment of food forest and micro-sanctuary. Please see a full video about 69ɫ’s team achievements.