A Father's Story
My father was orphaned in the aftermath of the Second World War. His own father died in the conflict before the two of them ever met. His mother passed away not long afterwards. As a young child, he was taken into a state orphanage in the Soviet Union — fed, housed, and, crucially, educated.
That education changed everything. It gave him a profession, a future, and eventually a family. It is not an exaggeration to say that the opportunity to learn gave my father his life.
Both of my parents placed education above everything else. Growing up, I understood this not as an abstract value but as something with real weight — the difference between a life that opens and one that closes. I became a teacher. It made sense.
"Education, quite literally, gave my father a life. That is not a figure of speech. It is the plain fact of his story — and it has shaped everything I believe about opportunity and responsibility."
What I Saw — Then and Now
When I first returned to Uzbekistan in 1997, I encountered a level of poverty I had never seen before and have not seen since. It was the middle of winter. In some homes, there was no electricity. Basic services were limited. Food was scarce.
What struck me — and what I have thought about many times since — was this: even in those conditions, there were books in many of the homes I visited. Most were old Soviet or Russian-language texts, worn and out of date. But they were there. They were valued. They were carefully kept. Even in the worst of circumstances, education still mattered to people.
When I returned in 2024, I was genuinely encouraged by how much the country had developed. The contrast with 1997 was striking — infrastructure, services, and general living standards had improved considerably.
But something else concerned me. In many homes I visited, the books had gone. And in their place — not much. At the same time, Uzbekistan has been making a significant national shift: moving away from Russian as the primary second language and toward English. This is the right direction. The problem is that the resources needed to support this transition — books, teaching materials, trained teachers — are still seriously limited outside the major cities.
A Small Beginning
In 2025, I organised a small trip back to the valley with five people: my brother, my eldest son, my closest friend, and his son. We packed two suitcases full of donated books from Melbourne schools and picked up some sporting equipment along the way.
The plan was modest: share the materials with some distant relatives in the village. Word spread. Before the afternoon was out, much of the village had gathered. Families arrived with children. Questions came quickly — could more books be brought? Could someone help teach English? Could this happen again?
The children's response to the books and the soccer balls was something I will not easily forget. But it was the questions from the adults — the hunger for more, the understanding that education is the path forward — that stayed with me longer.
"It was not a grand gesture. Two suitcases of donated books and a few soccer balls. But the response told me something important: the need is real, the welcome is genuine, and even small efforts matter."
What This Means for UzOz Travellers
Through UzOz Tours, a portion of every journey directly contributes toward educational resources — books, materials, and equipment — for schools in the communities we visit. This is not a programme added to a travel company after the fact. It is part of the reason the company exists in the form it does.
Several of our travellers have already chosen to bring donated books or materials on their journey. For those who do, the experience becomes something quite different from a conventional tour. You arrive not as a visitor being shown a country, but as someone with a specific, personal connection to the people you are meeting.
Books donated to Fergana Valley schools
English-language children's readers, workbooks, and reference materials collected from Melbourne schools and carried directly to village communities.
Sporting equipment for village children
Soccer balls, skipping ropes, and basic equipment — practical, lightweight, and received with the same enthusiasm as the books.
Ongoing community connection
Each UzOz journey strengthens the relationship between Australian travellers and Fergana Valley communities — not as charity, but as genuine exchange.
A portion of every journey
A share of every UzOz booking goes directly toward sourcing and transporting educational resources for the schools in the regions we visit.
Want to Bring Donations?
If you would like to bring donated books or materials on your journey, UzOz will guide you on what to bring, how to pack it, and what to expect at customs. We coordinate donations across the group before departure so you will not be navigating this alone.
The most useful items are English-language children's books, workbooks, dictionaries, and basic stationery. Sporting equipment — soccer balls, skipping ropes — is equally welcome and straightforward to pack.
Customs at a Glance
Current as of July 2025Leaving Australia
No export permit or duty on books and sporting equipment.
Entering Uzbekistan
USD $1,000 duty-free per traveller. Donations are non-commercial goods. Distribute across group members.
On your return
Items donated and left in Uzbekistan do not need to be declared.
Always verify with customs.uz and abf.gov.au before travel.
For Donations, Contact Buck
Buck coordinates all donation logistics personally — what to bring, how to pack it, customs briefing, and making sure everything reaches the right hands. Get in touch before your journey and he will take care of the rest.
Email Buckinfo@uzoztours.com
If you are not yet registered for a journey, you can also use the enquiry form — just mention that you are interested in bringing donations and Buck will be in touch.
Go to Enquiry Form