"Altyn Iul" ("Golden Way") Project

In 2007-2008 "ACME" implemented the "Altyn Yul" ("Golden Way") project, which included making a DVD with 13 videos and a Manual on moral education for children, junior youth and youth, as well as conducting training seminars for teachers, psychologists and social workers in the Republic of Tatarstan. 23 training workshops were conducted in five cities of Tatarstan for over 1,000 people; each participant received a kit with a DVD and a Manual, as well as the Certificate of the “Altyn Yul” Trainer.

Program was approved by the State Council and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan and recommended for implementation in 26 secondary schools. The goal of the "Altyn Yul" ("Golden Way") program is to promote development and strengthening of moral principles of children, junior youth and youth, promote crime prevention, help to increase social maturity of junior youth and youth, to develop skills of peacemaking and conflict resolution in a positive constructive way, promote atmosphere of interethnic and interreligious peace and understanding in the society, to promote high culture and language skills, help adopting healthy lifestyle, to promote unity in families as well as help developing positive social mindset, acquire tolerance, psychological stability and readiness for stressful situations.

The program consists of a series of interactive sessions on the most critical issues of children, junior youth and youth. Each lesson includes demonstration of the video illustrating the problem, followed by a meaningful discussion, which is focused on a creative search for a positive constructive way of solving the problem.

Main topics of the lessons are relevant moral-ethical categories such as "Respect in the Family", "Being Law-Abiding”, “Fulfilling One’s Civic Duty", "Respecting One’s Mother Tongue and Culture", "Diligence", "Truthfulness", "Being a Loving Person", "Interethnic and Interreligious Peace”, as well as opposing such negative phenomena as "Drug Addiction", "Alcoholism", "Behavior Leading to Crime," "Violence" etc.

The "Altyn Yul" ("Golden Way") program has been successfully tested in 29 educational institutions of the Republic of Tatarstan and received positive feedback from the Departments of Education of Kazan and Almetyevsk, as well as the scientists and NGOs of Tatarstan.

The program uses innovative approaches in school pedagogy:

1. Analysis and modeling of conflict situations;

2. Dramatization and emotionalization of experiences through the drama;

3. Positive constructive approach to conflict situations;

4. Development of collective thinking skills, the ability to consult;

5. Emphasis on morality and ethics;

6. Systematic structured approach, regularity and sustainability of the project.

Distinctive features of the program, ensuring its effectiveness and attractiveness for young generation are:

1. Vivid emotionally attractive character due to the presence of a video skit;

2. Highly dynamic character and compliance with the modern trends of life of a young person;

3. Usage of techniques accessible for teachers and social workers;

4. Wide coverage of students of all ages;

5. Possibility of involving parents in the discussion of the topics;

6. Mastering the skills of positive conflict resolution by the students;

7. Learning essence of moral and ethical categories by the students;

8. Acquiring positive behavior models by the students;

9. Low cost of the kit for schools;

10. Regularity of lessons and sustainability of the project as a whole.

Feedback from the training participants on the effectiveness of the program:

Gulnaz Elinson, Assistant Professor, Psychology and Pedagogy Chair, State Institute of Municipal Service in Almetyevsk:

Such lessons are vital for the youth. Interactive session is an effective communication experience; it is a means for understanding difficult life situations, it nurtures the ability to look at the problem with different eyes. Today it is crucial to raise the awareness in the society. There is a wonderful saying: "Save yourself, and thousands will be saved". I believe that if even one child of those present at these lessons benefited from them, then this will spread to others!

Ellie Alendukova, Deputy Director of the Starosurkinskaya secondary school:

Forms and methods chosen for this project comply with the age and psychological peculiarities of junior youth. The program is highly focused on the development and strengthening of moral principles of children. Knowledge they receive at the lessons help them resolve conflict situations in the best and positive way. “Altyn Yul” lessons are focused on communication and speech skills, children learn to listen, analyze, which is an integral part of their mental development at this stage.

Roza Vorobey, Deputy Director of the Novo-Mikhaylovskaya secondary school:

Interesting new form of extracurricular work, it helps to feel the “breath” of the students, understand what are they, how they get out of difficult situations. It gives the opportunity to the students to open up, feel comfortable and relaxed.

Sania Yumagulova, Deputy Director of the Almetyevsk secondary school №10:

“Altyn Yul” lessons are very interesting interactive events. Such debates give children the opportunity to express their opinion, to establish their point of view. They learn not only to speak but also to listen to the opinion of their peers. Their opinion is to be heard and, therefore, they will draw lessons for themselves. For teachers this is another opportunity to become better acquainted with their students and get to know them better.

Natalia Kotenevskaya, psychologist, Almetyevsk secondary school №6:

“Altyn Yul” lessons contribute to the development of interpersonal relations of junior youth, and to the ability to freely express their feelings, thoughts and opinions. I would love to use this methodology in my work, as nowadays children live in the atmosphere of "vacuum" concerning moral education which needs to be filled.

Olga Gavrilova, psychologist, Centre of Psycho-Pedagogical Support for Children and Youth of the city of Almetyevsk:

I am very interested in this methodology. It was a real pleasure to see how actively children, psychologists and lawyers have involved in the deep and meaningful conversation. It is a way to learn a lot both for children and for teachers.

Aigul Akhmadieva, Deputy Director, Almetyevsk College №1 named after Riza Fahretdin:

“Altyn Yul” methodology contributes to the development of active social position of students, helps to expand their mind horizons. Holding these lessons regularly and systematically, perhaps we can help to solve certain problems existing in the educational process at school.

Igor Bugaev, senior teacher, Chair of Psychology and Pedagogy, State Institute of Municipal Service in Almetyevsk:

This informal methodology is very attractive, it teaches children to express their opinion and correct their attitudes. Students participate actively. Topics used are relevant for all ages, views expressed by children are very important.

Rania Rakhmankulova, psychologist, Almetyevsk secondary school №48:

These interactive lessons highly inspire activity and full participation of the students. I was happy to witness students speak about their feelings, express their opinion, analyze the characters in the skits, think about consequences of the events and draw conclusions. By their statements we can conclude about formation of their civic responsibility, their growing maturity. I liked the form of active dialogue between students and adults (parents, teachers, psychologists), which will, I hope, help to remove the "parents vs. children" problem, to improve relationships between teachers and students.

Conclusions:

Teachers who participated in testing the "Altyn Yul" (“Golden Way”) methodology have noted the importance of the civil and ethic education of youth. They were encouraged to conduct lessons using this methodology. Most of them noted the high effectiveness of the program for children and youth as a tool for teaching moral values, developing social competence and promoting positive ideas.

Total number of educational institutions and organizations involved in testing of the "Altyn Yul" (“Golden Way”) methodology – 29.

Total number of students participating in testing of the "Altyn Yul" (“Golden Way”) methodology – 1546.