On July 1st, fifteen FLEX alumni from across Turkmenistan gathered for a Re-entry seminar in Archabil Hotel in Ashgabat. The event started with an opening speech by Nona Majidi, Cultural Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Turkmenistan. Carrie Miller, Country Director of the American Councils in Turkmenistan and Diana Muhammedova’08, FLEX Program Hub Director followed with the welcoming remarks.
On June 30, American Councils in Turkmenistan celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the FLEX program to highlight program’s success and impact on its alumni. The event was divided into two parts, starting with a professional development workshop led by a global educator and trainer, Simon Norton focused on “Aligning Work and Life Choices with Your Purpose, Values and Compass”, ending with a gala reception. Following the workshop, alumni enjoyed a reception where Embassy guests, including Mr. Ambassador Klimow and Mrs. Klimow and Cultural Affairs Officer, Nona Majidi, attended.
Jeren Tolegova is a UCA alumna from Lebap region who is currently a student at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. Her first introduction to EducationUSA was the Summer Admissions Workshop where she learned all about the higher education system in the United States. She then went on to complete the UCA program in Turkmenabat where, in addition to material covered in the program curriculum, she also learned soft skills such as time-management and how to prioritize tasks effectively.
In addition to her studies at JSU, Jeren also works as a Resident Assistant in the dormitories and is involved in many extracurricular activities. These include involvement in Girls Who Code and ibRecruit. She is also completing an internship for Union Bank of Switzerland and is a summer online program facilitator for Columbia pre-college programs.
Before she leaves the US, Jeren hopes to do OPT and get more experience in finance and investment. She then plans to return to Turkmenistan to help develop the financial sector using the experience she gained in the United States.