The Ali Somon Cultural and Intellectual Foundation was founded in Dushanbe on March 31, 1994. The name derives from the period of Somoni rule remembered as a golden era of high culture, rule of law, and scientific accomplishment by Persian-speaking people. According to its brochure, the Foundation "attempts to build a bridge between yesterday's epoch and today's life in order to regenerate the ancient culture, to help strengthen the liberty and independence of the Tajik people, and found a civilized society."

To accomplish this goal, the Ali Somon Foundation offers scholarships to aspiring students in foreign languages, business, law, politics and medicine. It also plans to open a "Free University" with departments in each of these fields. Lecturers at the Free University will first have visited foreign universities to gather ideas for curriculum and teaching methods.

The Foundation currently publishes books and other literature oriented to the business sector and operates a small "Business Center," where instruction is offered in various aspects of business and commerce. Novices in business may apply for a two-year "sponsorship" from the Ali Somon Business Center.

Ali Somon Foundation
Abdulqodir Kholiqzoda, Ph.D, Director
Aini Street 45
Dushanbe
Republic of Tajikistan 734024
Tel: 8 (3772) 22 48 26
Fax: 8 (3772) 23 08 88

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The URL for this page is: http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/~ccsi/csew/95-03/alisomon.htm
Last updated: March 28 1996

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