Changemaker Aichurek

About Changemaker Aichurek

Would you like to start your own Theatre just like Aichurek? Download our step-by-step guidelines at the bottom of this page and let us know what you did at changemaker@kidsrights.org.
Aichurek is the daughter of migrant parents and has a disabled mother. Her father left them years ago. At the age of 12, she had to go to work to look after her family. During that time she learned about her rights as a child and subsequently stood up for them. She also told other children about their rights, in order to keep them out of the same misery that she had been through. Aichurek is especially focused on the right of children to a non-violent environment at school and at home. Together with some friends, she set up a private foundation to create more awareness, by thorough training and theater performances.
What's the problem? In Kyrgyzstan, many families live in poverty and violence. Parents do not earn enough money or no money at all, so the children have to work. As a result, they cannot go to school.
Often, it is the girls that cannot go to school because they have to work. Aichurek has been working since she was 12 years old, as her mother has a disability with which she cannot work.
What is Aichurek's solution? Aichurek wants girls to know what their rights are. Because every child has the right to education, a safe environment and a life without violence!
Aichurek first heard about children’s rights at the child protection center in her neighborhood. She was immediately determined to learn more and to inform other children about their rights.
By organizing forum theater, Aichurek wants to make children aware of their rights. But what is forum theater? It is theater where problems are re-enacted, which the audience itself sometimes experiences. During the theater, the cast often stops performing. They do this so that the audience can have a say in how the play should proceed.
The audience will then discuss questions such as: What does the main character want? Why is this not working? What else could he / she do?
For example, Aichurek wants to make a play about families, working girls and violence. Daily problems are reenacted in the play. It will be problems that almost all of the students have seen, heard or experienced.
What is the goal? The goal is to teach girls that they have a choice. They need to know that they have rights and what these rights entail. It is important to show the children that anyone can change his or her life. You just need to believe in yourself.
Aichurek also wants boys to realize that girls have the same rights as they have. She wants teachers, school directors and parents to see how the violations of children’s rights are experienced by the children.
How does Aichurek work? First, Aichurek wants to create a team with peers. Together with this team she wants to think, write and practice the plays for the forum theater. She will then search for schools where the plays can be performed.
Before the forum theater begins, she will ask for the students’ opinions on equality between girls and boys. She does this to see if they change their opinion after the forum theater.
Would you like to start your own Theatre just like Aichurek? Download our step-by-step guidelines via the download button below and let us know what you did at changemaker@kidsrights.org.