ISSA welcomes a new Member in Tajikistan: Nuri Hidoyat 

Nuri Hidoyat, which means “light of guidance” in English is a non-governmental organization based in Dushanbe, Tajikistan which is driven by the goal of ensuring that every child has access to quality, holistic and inclusive care and education. 

As the Open Society Foundation (OSF) Tajikistan is closing, Nuri Hidoyat has taken over the activities and legacy of OSF Early Childhood Development (ECD) program in the country. Since 2002, Nuri Hidoyat’s director, Jamila Nabieva has been implementing the Step by Step program in Tajikistan. Nuri Hidoyat is also the only organization in the country with expertise in this program.  

Over the years, the team have established strong relationships with parents and partners and a good reputation among national and international organizations. They also have experience developing education related ECD modules in partnership with institutions of higher education.  

Currently, Nuri Hidoyat is only active in the capital, Dushanbe, but are planning to expand their activities at country level. Despite being a young organization established in 2020, they have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education and Science for the next five years — a crucial step in securing Nuri Hidoyat in the ECD landscape of the country. Nuri Hidoyat is also the only ECD organization in Tajikistan that has a license for the next five years. 

The ISSA Secretariat asked Jamila a few questions about Nuri Hidoyat's work and what they hope to gain as a member of the ISSA Network. 
 

What does your organization want to change in people's lives and how? 

Our organization is driven by the goals of access and inclusion. We strive to ensure that all children receive equitable early childhood development and intervention services — including children with disabilities, children from low-income families, children without legal status, and children from ethnic minority families. 

We also work to promote the creation of a national, unified, and integrated system for early childhood and preschool development in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, international organizations, and civil society to strengthen the health, education, and protection of children in their early years. 

What specific knowledge or expertise can you offer to other organizations? 

Our trainers are specialists in early preschool education with experience in: 

• Organizing trainings for teachers and specialists at preschool institutions and child development centers 
• Implementing and training other practitioners on programs such as the Step by Step program, Learning Through Play, Inclusive Education, and the Aflatoun program (for social and financial education) 
• Working with families of different nationalities, religions, and ways of life in remote mountainous and rural areas. 

Additionally, we are members of various working groups including the working group of the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan on the development of regulatory documents and educational programs in the field of preschool education; a World Bank project working group on “Early Childhood Development for Human Capital Building in Tajikistan”; and a working group creating a 50-episode cartoon program called "Sandukchai Zulbiyo", for children aged 5-7 years old.  

What challenges do you hope to get help with through your involvement in the network? 

Through being a Member of the ISSA Network, we hope to establish partnerships with local NGOs and international organizations in the field of early childhood development and early childhood education to help us work towards our aims of ensuring inclusion and access to early childhood services for all children, especially those in remote regions and rural areas.  

By tapping into the knowledge and experience present within the ISSA network we hope to expand access to quality early years and preschool education programs for families in their mother tongue and improve early childhood services for children with disabilities and special needs. We also hope that being a member of the network will help us raising public awareness of children’s issues and the importance of early childhood development among communities and families.  

*Currently Nuri Hidoyat do not have a website or social media channels but there are plans to develop these soon.