q Takhmina is a 10th grader at Kona Kurgan High School in
Kurgan at a district English competition. She beat out 24 other
Tajikistan. The school sits just below 12,000 ft in elevation and
students to win first place. When she grows up, she hopes to
the village is cut off from other towns for months at a time
become an English teacher and share her love of the language
once the winter snows make the roads impassable. Takhmina’s
with her students.
favorite subject is English and last year she represented Kona
20 | JOURNEY OF HOPE
CENTRAL ASIA INSTITUTE