Why should nomadic children either renounce their families or their education? In Russia it is common that children of reindeer-nomad descent (e.g. Nenets, Khanty, Evenk) spend most of the year in boarding schools growing up far from familiar surroundings. Attending classes in small villages or during wanderings is not intended. Even though children spend the summer holidays with their parents, the consequences are highly visible: alienation between child and parents, loss of cultural identity, lacking proficiency for the life in Tundra and Taiga.

(FOTO) One of the Evenk families with the teacher Alexander Gabyshev

Therefore, in February 2006 the French-Evenk society SEKALAN launched a pilot project in cooperation with pro Sibiria e. V.

Ten percent of about 30.000 Evenk live in Amur Oblast. The Evenk village of Ust-Njukzha is located in the North-East of Oblast. This is where the nomads start for their wanderings with reindeers in search of fertile grasslands at the foothills of the Stanowoi-Mountains.

(FOTO) The first students are already studying eagerly

The project aims at teaching about 25 Evenk scholars by means of experienced tutors while they are following the reindeers with their families. Three female teachers and one male teacher are not only conveying the standard Russian curricular and basic skills handling computers to the children according to their age; they are also teaching the children Evenk and English as well as providing an insight into other regions of the world. One to two guides who are of Evenk descent accompany the teachers. Besides taking care of practical issues (loading of sledges, assembling tents, partially cooking, supporting the care of reindeers etc.) they are to pass on their knowledge on Evenk tradition and culture as well as their knowledge on the nature’s processes. Implementing classes among a 7 to 10 camp leads to the positive secondary effect that also parents deal with the curricular, broaden their minds and exchange traditional knowledge with teachers and guides.

For the time being, the project is scheduled for four years. The headmaster of the local village school and the local supervisory school authority support the educational project so that is not only officially acknowledged but also that teachers and guides will have social insurance. Moreover, a minimum of equipment will be guaranteed. Despite of it, the project staffs still work for very low wages. The earnings do not even meet the standard wages for Russian teachers. Due to the importance of finding teachers who are on the one hand experienced and who are on the other hand of Evenk descent and/or rather familiar with nomadic life among reindeers, SEKALAN and pro Sibiria e.V. decided on financing these jobs in particular. As a second step, we are now looking for further sponsorship due to the fact that the local supervisory school authority will probably not be able to summon up the necessary funds for the ongoing business affairs and to offer an appropriate payment to the teachers.

(FOTO) Teacher Maria Maximowa with her student Nadejola

Moreover, children and their parents shall gain access to the Internet. This is essential in order to allow the Evenk to interconnect and learn by using global communication networks. At the moment they are learning how to use a computer by means of a notebook, which is provided by Alexandra Lavrillier. Henceforth, the notebook (whose batteries are charged by means of a small generator on the tents’ stove) will be connected regularly to the Internet via satellite telephone in order to exchange emails and/or gain insight into the world outside the Siberian homeland.

(FOTO) A new student arrives

Even though Internet access out of a tent in the midst the Siberian Taiga still remains a dream for now, the project is further on in need of your support in order to keep on paying the teachers’ and guides’ wages until the end of the pilot phase. When local supervisory school authorities acknowledge the project as being successful, a stronger financial support by governmental authorities can be expected.