From classrooms to communities: Young Singaporeans build ties in Uzbekistan

Singaporean students are building connections with their counterparts in Uzbekistan by sharing knowledge and learning from their hosts. Amirbek Baxshilloyev, a 17-year-old from Bukhara, now studies engineering physics at Stanford University after being accepted into the prestigious programme. His interest in mathematics began at a Russian-speaking school, and he helped guide tourists around his family's mini museum in his free time.

Amirbek credits his success to Freshman Academy, an education centre in Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent, which helped him develop critical thinking and writing skills and connect with opportunities abroad.

Nigel Li, the academy's research institute leader, notes that many Uzbek students have ambition but lack the resources and skills to pursue it. He and his team aim to provide these students with the necessary tools to succeed in the complex world. Amirbek now mentors younger participants at the academy, giving back to the community that supported his education.

Singaporean Josiah Ng, a 38-year-old design and communications teacher at the Samarkand International University of Technology, has chosen to stay in Uzbekistan for the long term. He and his family moved there after experiencing the country's potential in areas like digitisation and sustainability. The Ng family finds the Uzbek residents helpful in overcoming language and cultural challenges, making their family more resilient.

As Uzbekistan marks 35 years of independence, its growing international connections and youthful population have drawn Singaporeans like Li and Ng to contribute to the country's development.