The annual international exhibition and fair “Kids Expo: Everything for Children” is taking place in the capital of Turkmenistan. This specialized exhibition has long established itself as a respected platform bringing together leading domestic and international companies that produce goods for children and adolescents, as well as provide services in the fields of education and upbringing.
A traditional participant in the forum is the American Center at the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan. Center representative Muhabat Rozmammedova told “GA” in an interview about the center’s extensive program and key areas of work.
“The American Center operates at the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan. We provide visitors with access to an extensive collection of printed books, our electronic library, as well as advanced American technological and educational resources. We have been participating in the ‘Kids Expo’ exhibition for the third consecutive year. This time, our exhibition is dedicated to the theme of space and high technologies. We have prepared interactive areas for visitors of different ages,” said Muhabat.
The center’s area is designed as a space pavilion. Here, the youngest visitors can master basic programming skills with the help of Dash robots, while older children can build and code complex models from Lego sets.
For high school students and adults, resources based on the Arduino platform are presented, allowing them to create their own robots and microelectronic devices.
Visitors can also take part in intellectual competitions. The organizers hold the Math24 contest, where participants compete in the speed of performing arithmetic calculations.
A special place in the program is occupied by the international NASA Space Apps Challenge project. During the two-day hackathon, participants solve improvised tasks set by NASA scientists. They cover a wide range of topics – from space research and technologies to current climate problems on Earth.
According to the center’s representatives, the interactive format receives an enormous response from young visitors. The children are delighted by the opportunity to touch the equipment, program a robot’s movements, configure its functions or assemble a module with their own hands. This gives children their first practical experience.
“For us, ‘Kids Expo’ is not only a celebration for children, but also an important platform for dialogue. Here, educational centers, diplomatic missions and representatives of relevant businesses can establish contacts and find areas for future cooperation. The main goal, however, is to give children the opportunity to realize their potential, develop their talents and become interested in science,” noted Muhabat Rozmammedova.
