Qobiljon Shokirov - Student from Tajikistan
Host Institution: Antioch University New England
Field: Environmental Sociology
Grant Date: 2009 - 2011
Qobiljon Shokirov participating in the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) on May 14, 2010
My Journey from the Silk Road to the Land of Columbus
I am about to finish my journey to the United States as one of the first Fulbright students from Tajikistan. Time passes by so quickly. Before I know it, my departure day will be here. Right now, I’m busy finalizing my master’s project, preparing for a United Nations meeting on sustainable development, and planning my soil research and green village demonstration that I'll share back in Tajikistan.
When reflecting on my time in the U.S., my heart feels full of gratitude. These past two years have been a great experience for me. I learned advanced resources management and biological conservation concepts and approaches. Through several conferences, such as an International Youth Conference on Biodiversity in Japan, an internship at UN Headquarters in New York City, and four different meetings at the UN related to sustainable and social development, I have met some interesting people from around the world. These experiences have broadened my horizons; they have fostered a more profound understanding of Western culture and also helped me to introduce my country to people with whom I've met and worked.
One conference I attended on poverty eradication, the 49th session of the UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD)
, held at the UN Headquarters this past February, will stand out in my memory.
I participated in this conference because of my great interest in poverty eradication. My country, Tajikistan, is one of the smallest Central Asian countries. Although Tajikistan has made great progress in terms of socioeconomic development since our independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, poverty still persists. Incomes are low and there is a lack of sustainable resources to ensure livelihoods, as well as a general lack of public participation in political decision-making.
From listening to the delegates’ reports about poverty eradication action plans, case studies, and through sharing experiences, I learned what developed (and some developing) countries have achieved in terms of poverty eradication, how some countries measure their success, and about best practices to reference when addressing poverty issues in my country.
While at the UN, I had an opportunity to talk with our Ambassador, Sirodjidin Aslov, a gentle and very wise man. I really appreciated that he could spare some time chatting with me about development and energy issues in Tajikistan. I was especially excited to find out that he has a similar educational background to what I envision for myself, and although I may never approach the level of his achievements, we share the same enthusiasm and dream to make our beloved country a better place.
You might be wondering how I had an opportunity to go to high-level meetings at the UN. The simple answer is volunteering! I have been actively involved in the work of SustainUS, a U.S.-based non-governmental organization that brings delegations of U.S.-based youth to conferences and summits related to international policy, primarily at the UN. As youth delegates, we worked with government delegates, civil servants, and other youth to promote youth-friendly, future-focused policies related to sustainable development and climate change.
I feel that I've reached a point in my life where I would like to help out, much in the same way people have helped me. Someone once said, “For whom those much is given, much is expected.” I know that the Fulbright Program has given me a great deal of knowledge, confidence, and resources to realize my potential as a future leader. For all these reasons, I want to use my experience to help younger generations, the Fulbright community and Tajikistan. After successfully implementing my small projects, I will be able to see how small villages in Tajikistan can become more sustainable, create strong community leaders, and, most importantly, build peaceful neighborhoods. I hope these small projects will have a great, long-term impact.
This story originally appeared in the June 2011 edition of the Fulbright Foreign Student Newsletter.
To the U.S.-Tajikistan Fulbright Program