Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Children’s Academy Samarkand Marathon (Samarkand Marathon) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been established by the Art and Culture for Development Foundation. The Academy is the declared result of the Samarkand Charity Marathon 2020.

Children’s Academy Samarkand Marathon (Samarkand Marathon) is a new specialized creative space for children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). The Academy is located in the Navruz park, it has all the conditions for creative and interactive activities: a recreation area, a creative workshop, a courtyard, a waiting area for parents. It will be available for both teenagers and young children.

The academy will become a rehabilitation center for children and their parents, which will help develop their skills through creativity.

Saida Mirziyoyeva, Deputy Chairman of the Council Art and Culture for Development Foundation said: “Our goal is to help children integrate correctly into the social environment, teach them to adapt, become independent and find a worthy place in society. The Samarkand Marathon Children’s Academy is one of the first steps towards this goal. This space will become a place where parents can provide mutual support to each other, exchange ideas and experiences. We will engage local and international professionals to provide a decent environment for rehabilitation through the arts and creative pursuits.”

Gayane Umerova, Executive Director of the Art and Culture for Development Foundation, noted: “The Fund has been holding the Samarkand Marathon charity run for the fourth year in a row. We have set ourselves a large-scale task as the development of an inclusive environment in Uzbekistan through charitable sports and cultural events. Over the years, the Samarkand Marathon has managed to become a social model and a leading flagship sporting event that annually attracts thousands of tourists and athletes, both from the regions of our country and from abroad. The goal of this year’s charity marathon is to adapt museums for the blind and visually impaired people.

The Foundation team will work on creating tactile models of famous artworks and exhibits, and an audio guide system will be introduced in the museums of Uzbekistan. Work in this direction will be carried out in cooperation with leading foreign experts in this field. Overall, we hope that the marathon will help bring additional attention and resources to this topic.”

Ensuring equal access for all people to culture and art, regardless of their physical abilities, is one of the most important tasks of the Art and Culture for Development Foundation. The main goal of the Samarkand Marathon is to draw public attention to the problems of accessibility and the creation of an inclusive environment in cultural and creative institutions.

Samarkand Marathon 2019

In November 2019, the first international marathon was held in the city of Samarkand, the purpose of which was to draw public attention to the problem of accessibility and inclusiveness of cultural and art objects, as well as to promote a healthy lifestyle and develop sports tourism in Uzbekistan. More than 1100 participants took part in it. Every year, the proceeds from the entry fee of the participants are directed to the implementation of a charitable goal. The proceeds from the 2019 marathon were used to implement the audio commentary project in Tashkent theaters.

As a result, equipment was purchased, more than 20 performances with audio commentary were staged, the first two specialists (Samira Kakhramonova, Nazima Bakhromova) were trained, who studied under a grant from the Foundation at the REAKOMP Institute (Russia). Every year, the Foundation announces a grant for training in audiovisual commentary.

Samarkand Marathon 2020

In 2020, the marathon was held online during the pandemic. More than 3,000 people took part in the online marathon along with participants on a real track. In 2020, the mission of the Samarkand Marathon was to draw public attention to the problems of children with autism.

Thanks to the funds raised by the participants and partners of the marathon, the Children’s Academy Samarkand Marathon (Samarkand Marathon) for children with ASD was created. The Academy will have a special children’s program, including an art therapy course and a special program for developing the creative potential of children with ASD. As part of the program, specialists and participants from such centers as Contact Profi (Uzbekistan), Down Side Sport (Uzbekistan), as well as representatives of the community of parents and children with ASD Spectrum Uzbekistan Autismkids (Uzbekistan) will be invited.

Samarkand Marathon 2021

In 2021, more than 2,200 people took part in the race. The mission of the 2021 charity run is the employment of persons with disabilities in cultural institutions.

Persons with disabilities need support to integrate into society. Work in this direction is being carried out in stages. At this stage, studying There are problems in the field of employment of persons with disabilities.

In the near future, the Foundation will announce an open competition for cultural institutions wishing to provide jobs for people with disabilities. Also, programs will be developed for the adaptation of persons with disabilities in the workplace in cultural institutions.

The development of an inclusive environment in cultural institutions is a long process that involves not only updating the infrastructure of institutions but also educational programs and retraining of employees for the inclusive provision of services. This is a long-term program that will be fully implemented during 2022-2023.

Samarkand marathon 2022

On 6 November 2022, the fourth charity run of the Samarakand Marathon will take place. Charity Goal 2022: Adapting Museums for the Blind. The Fund for the Development of Culture and Art will create tactile models of famous works of art and exhibits, as well as introduce a system of audio guides in the museums of Uzbekistan.

The idea of the marathon captured a huge number of people in Uzbekistan and abroad. The marathon has become the country’s flagship sporting event, attracting thousands of tourists and athletes every year.

In February of this year, the Samarkand Marathon became a qualifying race for the World Championship. The marathon is included in the list of qualifying races for the World Marathon Age Group Championship. The AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championship this year includes the top 300 events in the world, as well as six of the most important marathons. Now Samarkand Marathon is among them.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of different conditions that are characterized by certain difficulties with social interaction and communication.