Preserving Uyghur language and culture in US weekend schools

In a weekend school based in the US state of Virginia, the younger generation of Uyghurs are not only preserving their language and culture for posterity, but they are also learning vital vocabulary that will enable them to engage in discussions about the distressing situation faced by their loved ones in China.

The Uyghur language, history, and culture classes are held every Sunday at the Ana Care and Education Centre and are part of a larger network of Uyghur groups that aim to connect the diaspora in America. According to Irade Kashgary, who co-founded the school with her mother Sureyya, the centre tries to keep politics out of the equation.

Despite efforts to remain non-political, older students who are keen to learn about and discuss contemporary issues are given a safe space to understand the impact of the changing landscape on their lives and the…