11 November 2024

School Project to Study the Crimean Tatar Language Has Launched in Ukraine

Last week, the unique project Holosni was launched at Novopecherska School in Kyiv. Its goal is to study the Crimean Tatar language and promote it by immersing participants in the multifaceted world of Crimea, revealing the unique history and culture of its Indigenous People, the natural beauty of the peninsula, and its current realities.

Students from grades 5 to 11 are welcome to join the Holosni project and become the “Voice” of Crimea. The project is open to all school students living in Kyiv. Participation is free and includes in-person classes in the Crimean Tatar language twice a week.

The project’s name is symbolic: just as vowels connect other letters to form words, this initiative aims to unite people around the shared goal of promoting and preserving the Crimean Tatar language. The term “Holosni” (Vowels) also embodies the voices of the Crimean Tatar people, sounding to be heard. This metaphorically represents the project’s mission to amplify the voices of those who stand for justice, fight against stereotypes and Russian narratives, and resist the occupation regime.
This project is an important support for the Indigenous Crimean Tatar people and speakers of the Crimean Tatar language. The preservation and development of indigenous languages are significant priorities for the President of Ukraine and the Mission. Since 2019-2020, numerous steps have been taken to support Indigenous peoples, including Ukraine’s Law on Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine and the Crimean Tatar Language Development Strategy for 2022-2032, aimed at restoring the integrity of the educational, informational, and communication space of the Crimean Tatar language. Therefore, launching diverse projects like this is an essential platform to encourage the study and growth of the language of one of Ukraine’s Indigenous peoples.