What I am doing in Central Asia is what I have done in other countries as well,
What I am doing in Central Asia is what I have done in other countries as well,

is, empower people living in the country to do whatever they can
is, empower people living in the country to do whatever they can

to promote these ideas of open society and openness.
to promote these ideas of open society and openness.

I know that I'm an outsider.
I know that I'm an outsider.

I have no real understanding of the region.
I have no real understanding of the region.

I have no
I have no

particular solution to offer for the problems of the region.
particular solution to offer for the problems of the region.

All I can do is help the people there to help themselves.
All I can do is help the people there to help themselves.

This film tells the story George Soros' Open Society Institute in three
This film tells the story George Soros' Open Society Institute in three

Central Asian states.
Central Asian states.

In January 2005, George Soros,
In January 2005, George Soros,

founder of the global network of Soros Foundations, called a meeting
founder of the global network of Soros Foundations, called a meeting

at the central office of that network,
at the central office of that network,

the Open Society Institute in New York.
the Open Society Institute in New York.

He was there to meet foundation directors from the Caucuses, Mongolia and three Central
He was there to meet foundation directors from the Caucuses, Mongolia and three Central

Asian states: Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Asian states: Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

>>> As usual the Kyrgyz opposition is fragile, and a bit weak, and obviously that situation will
>>> As usual the Kyrgyz opposition is fragile, and a bit weak, and obviously that situation will

provide a clear plan and strategy of what to do for, with the presidential elections. As our
provide a clear plan and strategy of what to do for, with the presidential elections. As our

position side it's a bit,
position side it's a bit,

tricky situation. >>> The regime was not ready to,
tricky situation. >>> The regime was not ready to,

to allow more,
to allow more,

more debates or more dialogue
more debates or more dialogue

with the political, with the opposition in Kazakhstan. >>> Yes we are facing a lot of pressure. Tajikistan is going through the,
with the political, with the opposition in Kazakhstan. >>> Yes we are facing a lot of pressure. Tajikistan is going through the,

some examination time. >>> people inside the government will remain
some examination time. >>> people inside the government will remain

very concerned. --George Soros made his fortune trading in the financial markets.
very concerned. --George Soros made his fortune trading in the financial markets.

Over 20 years ago he decided to set up a charitable foundation.
Over 20 years ago he decided to set up a charitable foundation.

I deflected long and hard.
I deflected long and hard.

I had more money than I needed for my family.
I had more money than I needed for my family.

And what is it that I really care about?
And what is it that I really care about?

And that turns out to be a rather abstract idea. The idea of an open society. So,
And that turns out to be a rather abstract idea. The idea of an open society. So,

critical thinking,
critical thinking,

democracy, market, these are the institutions that you need
democracy, market, these are the institutions that you need

for people to be able
for people to be able

to get
to get

closer through them to improve their conditions in, in life.
closer through them to improve their conditions in, in life.

From one Soros Foundation in Hungary,
From one Soros Foundation in Hungary,

there is now a global network of foundations and initiatives in over 60 countries.
there is now a global network of foundations and initiatives in over 60 countries.

They finance projects that advance this idea of open society. In Central Asia,
They finance projects that advance this idea of open society. In Central Asia,

we'll look at an example of how it works in the far north of Kazakhstan, in a tiny village called Daut.
we'll look at an example of how it works in the far north of Kazakhstan, in a tiny village called Daut.

Galina Kuznetsova, from the Soros office in Kazakhstan
Galina Kuznetsova, from the Soros office in Kazakhstan

is flying there to visit a school where a grant has transformed life
is flying there to visit a school where a grant has transformed life

for an entire community.
for an entire community.

To me this school is like a phoenix that has risen from the ashes.
To me this school is like a phoenix that has risen from the ashes.

Nothing was here before.
Nothing was here before.

Remote villages like Daut were hit hard by the fall of the USSR.
Remote villages like Daut were hit hard by the fall of the USSR.

The were frequent power cuts. There is still no running water.
The were frequent power cuts. There is still no running water.

Five years ago, with temperatures reaching minus forty Celsius, the school was shut
Five years ago, with temperatures reaching minus forty Celsius, the school was shut

down after its furnace broke.
down after its furnace broke.

Thieves stripped it bare.
Thieves stripped it bare.

But the school's Head,
But the school's Head,

Altynshash Aimaganova, wasn't ready to give up.
Altynshash Aimaganova, wasn't ready to give up.

She moved classes into the train station: it still had heat.
She moved classes into the train station: it still had heat.

There was no choice. The children had to study someplace.
There was no choice. The children had to study someplace.

The passengers would come here too. Sit quietly. It was a hard time.
The passengers would come here too. Sit quietly. It was a hard time.

Hundreds of communities were in a similar condition all over the former Soviet Union.
Hundreds of communities were in a similar condition all over the former Soviet Union.

The Soros Foundation stepped in.
The Soros Foundation stepped in.

When the government collapsed,
When the government collapsed,

practically anything that one could do to keep culture
practically anything that one could do to keep culture

and administration going,
and administration going,

was a contribution.
was a contribution.

The Soros Foundation in Kazakhstan announced a community school competition.
The Soros Foundation in Kazakhstan announced a community school competition.

Any school director from a small community could apply for a modest Soros Foundation grant.
Any school director from a small community could apply for a modest Soros Foundation grant.

First of all, we knew nearly nothing about the Foundation. When I wrote the application
First of all, we knew nearly nothing about the Foundation. When I wrote the application

essay I was rather skeptical
essay I was rather skeptical

and didn't believe in it. So I didn't tell a soul.
and didn't believe in it. So I didn't tell a soul.

After a while, I forgot about it.
After a while, I forgot about it.

There is a
There is a

transparent
transparent

and equitable process of
and equitable process of

distributing grants because there's always a temptation to give it to your brother-in-law
distributing grants because there's always a temptation to give it to your brother-in-law

or
or

friend or so. So, we
friend or so. So, we

generally announce competitions
generally announce competitions

and we have a very orderly process of selecting the grants, and then publishing the grants.
and we have a very orderly process of selecting the grants, and then publishing the grants.

To her surprise, Altynshash made it through to the next stage: a visit from the Foundation's representative, Galina Kuznetsova.
To her surprise, Altynshash made it through to the next stage: a visit from the Foundation's representative, Galina Kuznetsova.

When I came here for the first time,
When I came here for the first time,

and I remember it very well,
and I remember it very well,

because almost everyone gathered there, in the school hall. Almost the whole village.
because almost everyone gathered there, in the school hall. Almost the whole village.

The place was full. That is when they said to me, "If they close our school, we will die here.
The place was full. That is when they said to me, "If they close our school, we will die here.

There will be no village anymore.
There will be no village anymore.

We have nothing left but the school."
We have nothing left but the school."

Soros granted Altynshash's project $4,000.
Soros granted Altynshash's project $4,000.

Some of the money bought the equipment necessary to put in windows, and fix the school's heating.
Some of the money bought the equipment necessary to put in windows, and fix the school's heating.

The children moved back in.
The children moved back in.

But the heart of the project was to make the school into a center for the community,
But the heart of the project was to make the school into a center for the community,

so some money went into this house, with facilities for both school and village.
so some money went into this house, with facilities for both school and village.

When we started the first project, we decided not to ask for computers or anything
When we started the first project, we decided not to ask for computers or anything

extravagant.
extravagant.

Instead, we built in a workshop and a bakery.
Instead, we built in a workshop and a bakery.

I thought it was important for people to learn to do something practical, and to see concrete
I thought it was important for people to learn to do something practical, and to see concrete

results.
results.

That, I knew, would give people hope.
That, I knew, would give people hope.

So, here in the bakery, school children now can learn to make the bread they eat in school.
So, here in the bakery, school children now can learn to make the bread they eat in school.

When you're making bread you should be aware that dough also has its own character.
When you're making bread you should be aware that dough also has its own character.

If the character is hard then the bread will come out hard. But if it is nice and soft then the bread will
If the character is hard then the bread will come out hard. But if it is nice and soft then the bread will

rise well and come out nice and soft.
rise well and come out nice and soft.

They learn necessary and useful skills in this rural community:
They learn necessary and useful skills in this rural community:

sewing, and woodwork.
sewing, and woodwork.

My first visit to this gym shocked me.
My first visit to this gym shocked me.

I came in through the doors and started looking around, measuring the dimensions.
I came in through the doors and started looking around, measuring the dimensions.

I stepped inside, and fell through the floor! Exactly from this spot, because there
I stepped inside, and fell through the floor! Exactly from this spot, because there

was no floor!
was no floor!

It's been a huge change.
It's been a huge change.

The year before the school was reopened there were three teenage suicides in this
The year before the school was reopened there were three teenage suicides in this

village of 1100 people.
village of 1100 people.

Since then, they have been none.
Since then, they have been none.

Tell me what government is.
Tell me what government is.

Let's decide what sort of society we want to live in. Let's decide. Tell me. Free?
Let's decide what sort of society we want to live in. Let's decide. Tell me. Free?

Right.
Right.

Good, a democratic society. That's rather similar.
Good, a democratic society. That's rather similar.

The idea of the project is to show other small communities that, by restoring
The idea of the project is to show other small communities that, by restoring

the school, the community itself can be renewed.
the school, the community itself can be renewed.

This school is actually the only place where people can get together.
This school is actually the only place where people can get together.

Older people, young people for their discos.
Older people, young people for their discos.

It's the only place where our
It's the only place where our

local government can organize their elections and village meetings.
local government can organize their elections and village meetings.

And if you put some more soul in it, and expand it, then the school begins to be the
And if you put some more soul in it, and expand it, then the school begins to be the

heart of the community.
heart of the community.