With support from the United States through USAID, the Aga Khan Foundation has launched “Fun Kitep 2” a mobile application with 15 new interactive storybooks in the Kyrgyz language.  This free application allows children to read stories and complete fun exercises to encourage reading comprehension. These interactive games motivate children to read more, and quizzes challenge children to understand and think critically about what they have read. Six of the books are also available in Russian and English.

Parents can find “Fun Kitep 2” (search “Читаем играя 2” or “Ойноп китеп окуйбуз 2”) on the Google Play store to download on any Android mobile device. The application can also be downloaded from www.akfgame.kg to install on any personal computer.

“Education professionals know that reading with your young children is critical to ensuring later success when they start school. Unfortunately, quality books are often expensive or unavailable in rural communities,” said Guljan Tolbaeva of the USAID education team. “Increasing parents’ access to quality books is a critical step to helping USAID and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Education reach our shared goals of improving reading skills among students.”

“Fun Kitep 2” is an improved version of “Fun Kitep” launched in 2015 and has more books, greater functionality and the ability to add content in the future.

“Fun Kitep was the first mobile application for children in the Kyrgyz language developed to improve reading skills. I hope that the application is useful to promote reading among youngsters,” said Burulai Aitkulova, Education Program Officer with the Aga Khan Foundation.

This mobile application is a part of the United States’ commitment to quality early grade education in the Kyrgyz Republic. USAID also supported production of 26 episodes of the popular children’s television show Reading Together on Balastan TV.

The USAID Quality Reading Project is a four-year initiative to promote reading and critical thinking skills among children in early grades in partnership with teachers and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. This program is one of many supported by the United States through USAID.  For more information about U.S. programs in the Kyrgyz Republic, please visit our website at http://usaid.gov/kyrgyz-republic.

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Short video about the application (in Russian)