UNODC Empowers Uzbekistan’s Children to Build Resilience to Crime with Educational Videos, Games, and Comic Strips

Values and social skills are not learned overnight. Therefore, it is essential that children acquire knowledge about rule of law topics at an early stage. Addressing these issues in children's initial educational development provides them with the basic skills to both understand and react when they are confronted with corruption, violence, and other forms of crime in their lives.

 

To support children in building resilience to crime, UNODC has since 2020 been piloting new teaching methods to foster a culture of lawfulness among children in primary schools in Uzbekistan. This is done within the framework of UNODC’s Education for Justice initiative.

One of the innovative materials used is the Zorbs series of animated videos and comic books, which tell the story of an imaginary planet and its inhabitants who overcome a range of challenges thanks to various core values and skills. The series has been designed as a fun yet informative educational tool for schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 and covers issues related to justice, cybercrime, human rights, gender, and integrity.

 

During the 2020-2021 school year, the Zorbs video series were used to promote the teaching of values, such as acceptance, fairness, integrity, and respect among over 600 000 schoolchildren. To share experiences and lessons learned during the implementation of UNODC's Education for Justice initiative in Uzbekistan, UNODC gathered 70 educators from 12 regions of Uzbekistan, including Karakalpakstan, at a workshop in late September 2021.

According to Mr. Akbar Tagaev, Head of the Department of Spiritual and Moral Education from the Ministry of Public Education: “The Zorbs provide school children with an interactive way of learning. This raises their interest in education. We hope that through education for justice we will help prevent children from being involved in crime.”

 

One of the primary school teachers said that the Zorbs videos and related lesson plans are of great help to teachers. “Before we did not have any interactive materials. The Zorbs changed this. For example, a session like "Log out and calm down" shows how communicating online can generate misunderstandings and what values and skills are needed to communicate respectfully online. Each task or question comes with a step-by-step description. This is very convenient”, the teacher said.

10-year-old pupil Elzara shared her thoughts about the Zorbs videos. “After watching the videos, I wondered why children with disabilities do not study with us, why there are no elevators for them or a ramp so that they can enter the building and climb the floors. When I grow up, I would like to become a member of parliament and do my best for every child with disabilities”.

“The Zorbs taught me to pay attention to everyday things that I hadn't noticed before. We should save drinking water and be careful what we throw away. Our actions can change the state of the environment”, stressed another school child aged 13.

 

The materials accompanying the Zorbs video series equip children with skills, such as conflict resolution, critical thinking, teamwork, and empathy. These values and skills are crucial in reducing acceptance of crime and violence and assisting children in solving ethical dilemmas.

More Zorbs resources can be found in the Fun Corner, a space targeted specifically to children to “watch, create, play and read”. All these resources contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and are part of UNODC’s varied portfolio of innovative, educational tools.

 

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For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist

UNODC ROCA

+996775987817 WhatsApp/ Cellphone

vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org