Tashkent Children’s Library Hosts Five-Day Festival on Inclusion and Accessibility

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — From 17 to 21 September, the Republican Children’s Library is hosting the first International Hamnafas Festival dedicated to accessibility and inclusion.

The program combines lectures, public talks, workshops, intensives, hackathons, and film screenings, showcasing a practical approach to creating equal opportunities for people with diverse experiences. The festival’s name, “hamnafas” in Uzbek, translates as “breathing together” and symbolizes solidarity and mutual support — a spirit reflected in its concept, where lectures are interwoven with practice and interaction.

Organizers have invited international experts — architects, designers, researchers — alongside Uzbek specialists and enthusiasts who work daily to make public spaces more accessible and society more inclusive.

Many activities are designed for whole families and require no prior experience — only curiosity, openness, and a willingness to play, explore, and co-create solutions. Admission to all events is free, with participation available by pre-registration, which is already open on the library’s website. Sessions will be held in Uzbek, English, and Russian, with simultaneous interpretation provided if needed.

Canadian expert on inclusive design and digital accessibility Moisen Mahjubnia will hold three sessions. On 18 September, his lecture “The Art of Inclusion” will explore how small changes in spaces can help every child, parent, or community member feel involved. On 20 September, the interactive workshop “Designing the Future Together” will invite participants to reimagine their surroundings and cities through collaboration and creativity. His final contribution, the roundtable “Rethinking Inclusion in Culture” on 21 September, will bring together professionals applying inclusive practices in politics, business, community initiatives, and cultural projects. Mahjubnia has advised governments and major corporations, including Ontario Public Service, the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services of Ontario, and Walmart’s international division.

On 20 September, architect and co-founder of London-based Studio Weave Je Ahn will deliver a lecture “Participatory Design in Action,” showing how community involvement transforms design processes, turning temporary installations and cultural centers into living spaces through dialogue and shared creativity. Studio Weave is known for its focus on the unique character of places and public spaces in the UK, South Korea, the US, Europe, and Japan.

From 18 to 20 September, Tatiana Balchukova and Anastasia Titova of the “Naked Hearts” Family Support Center will lead a three-day intensive on working with people with special needs. The program includes an introductory lecture on communication rules, practical exercises for interacting with people on the autism spectrum, and a workshop on creating social stories. It is tailored both for professionals and educators as well as participants in schools, preschools, and community spaces.

Additional inclusive workshops include Mirsaid Mukhtorov’s session on Braille and a “Typhlo-Commentary Workshop” by top-category expert Nazima Bakhramova. The musical program will feature pianists Sevara Mirsidikova and Artem Sabirov.

Special attention is given to children and teenagers. A performance workshop will introduce teenagers to the language of performative movement under the guidance of Elizaveta Zuckerberg, while children aged 4 to 6 will explore music through Carl Orff’s method with teacher Svetlana Yukina. Evening film screenings in the library courtyard will feature works created by Uzbek teenagers, including “Chai” by Shokir Kholikov, winner of the Grand Prix at the ENTRE 2 Marches Festival in Cannes. On 20 September, the band Bu Qala will premiere its new single “Maktab 2010.”

Director of the Republican Children’s Library Asror Khodjaev emphasized: “It is important for us to be a space without barriers — physical, cultural, and human. We want to unite the local community, exchange international experience, and remind everyone of a simple truth: the library and knowledge are open to all. Come, ask questions, share ideas, and join in — together we can make the city and everyday life truly open for everyone.”