Odiljon Sattarov
Chairman Of The Public Foundation Vatandoshlar (Tashkent)
The “Vatandoshlar” Foundation – a Spiritual Bridge between Uzbekistan and the World
In a world where borders are fading and culture gains a digital heartbeat, the Vatandoshlar Foundation has become a symbol of the spiritual connection between Uzbekistan and its compatriots abroad. Its mission is to unite generations, continents, and values while preserving the language, culture, and traditions of the nation. The Foundation is a key institution of people’s diplomacy, bringing together more than thirty Uzbek diaspora communities and cultural centers across the globe. Its projects encompass a full spectrum of public life–from science and education to art and technology.
Significant initiatives in recent years include educational centers within diaspora communities to teach Uzbek culture; international academic exchanges and internships for young professionals; mentorship and grant programs for researchers, entrepreneurs, and educators; cultural festivals like “Days of Uzbekistan” held in the USA, Israel, Germany, and Japan; and the Alisher Navoi International Olympiad of the Uzbek Language.
“We do not lose our connections — we turn distance into cooperation,” emphasizes Odiljon Sattarov. Vatandoshlar has become a magnet for everyone who carries Uzbekistan in their heart, regardless of where they live.
The Power of the Word in the Digital Age
When Uzbek was granted official status on October 21, 1989, it was an act of spiritual self-affirmation for the nation. Today, the language is not only alive but rapidly evolving into a language of science, technology, and international communication. Over 50 million people speak Uzbek worldwide; it is taught in universities from Istanbul to Tokyo.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined a strategic goal: to digitize the Uzbek language, making it a tool for national advancement and global dialogue.
During the visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the U.S., a highlighted event was his meeting with Uzbek compatriots and El-Yurt Umidi Foundation scholars studying at leading American universities. The President stressed nurturing youth capable of creative and independent thinking -combining modern knowledge with ancestral wisdom.
Language, Technology, and Youth–A New Cultural Model
The Vatandoshlar Foundation implements this vision by merging digital culture with national strategy to preserve identity amid technological progress. Its initiatives include online platforms and mobile apps for learning Uzbek; digital support for the “Alley of Writers” project; AI-enabled educational modules; and collaboration among teachers and youth researchers through “Digital Language for Youth.”
“Sogdiana NEXT”–Global Youth Startup Fund in May 2026
The next step is the joint initiative by Vatandoshlar and the Sogdiana Association: the Sogdiana NEXT Startup Development Fund, to launch at the 11th International Conference in New York in May 2026. Backed by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Israel, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Samarkand State University, with scientific leadership from Professors Askar Safarov and Sergey Aronbayev, key projects include environmental monitoring systems; rapid medical diagnostic analyzers; liposomal drug formulations; and innovations in reproductive medicine and dentistry.
These initiatives unite Israeli technological advances and Uzbek intellectual potential, forming a new international scientific partnership. Aba Priev remarks, “We do not export ideas — we build bridges between talents.”
Sogdiana NEXT supports startups by identifying innovative projects, conducting joint evaluation, offering mentorship, providing grants and investments, and creating joint labs in Uzbekistan, Israel, and the USA. It organizes international forums and hackathons for young innovators across cultures.
A Unified Path of Knowledge, Culture, and Cooperation
Vatandoshlar, Sogdiana NEXT, and national digital language programs flow as one river — the river of memory, language, and action — embodying Uzbekistan’s philosophy to connect generations and cultures through science, language, and innovation. These projects establish a new model of international humanism where knowledge is a bridge and language a key to understanding.
We invite the World Congress of Bukharian Jews, Brit Yotzei Bukhara, Friendship Societies with Uzbekistan, and cultural and scientific centers worldwide to join us.
Let every reader—scholar, educator, investor, or dreamer—hear this call: To Build. To Connect. To Inspire. For a future founded on our culture.
English translation by Aba Priev, Chairman of the the International Association Sogdiana