The River That Connects Us Faridun Pulotov   © Copyright 2026 by Faridun Pulotov

Photo courtesy of the author.

I am 19 years old, live in Khujand. I study programming and lead a volunteer club "Vatanparvar". Before this trip, water was just something usual for me. It flows from tap every day and you don't even think about it. You wash face, drink tea, swim in river. But one day in Telegram group for activists I saw a post about Youth Water Forum in Dushanbe. It said they look for young people who care about ecology.

I applied as media representative. To be honest, I was not confident at all. I was actually scared! I thought: "I am just a volunteer from Sughd region, what do I know about global water problems? Why they should pick me?" But inside I felt something strong: this is my chance. A few days later I got email: "You passed selection."

I couldn't believe it! I read it three times and called my mom immediately.

On trip day I woke up at 5 AM. It was dark outside. My mom, dad and little sister helped me to pack — someone searched for charger, someone folded my clothes, someone just stood near me quietly. In moments like this you understand that your family is always behind you. We said goodbye, I took taxi Khujand - Dushanbe and started my way.

4.5 hours on the road. Outside window: beautiful mountains, green valleys, small villages on hills... I saw all beauty of my country from window. I listened to music and thought: is it really me, a regular guy from Khujand, going to capital to represent my region?

When I arrived in Dushanbe, city was so big and noisy. I realized I don't have place to sleep. Hotels were too expensive for me. So I just wrote in that activist chat: "Hey guys, I'm in Dushanbe now. Can someone host me for night?"

I didn't expect this, but dozens of people replied! Complete strangers from different cities! One guy wrote: "Brother, where are you? Wait there, I am coming." 20 minutes later he came by car, smiled and took me to his house.

I lived with his family for 5 days. They didn't even let me leave! Every evening we played chess, cooked plov together, talked about future and laughed until late night. Super friendly family, just like my own. I brought some gifts from Khujand for them, but they gave me much more — warmth, trust and feeling that we are all brothers. This is our culture.

And then forum started.

When I entered main hall, I couldn't even breathe. Huge space with dozens of flags from different countries. Delegates, journalists, translators everywhere. I felt nervous and proud at same time. I put on my media badge, took notebook and sat on my chair. In that moment I realized: I want to learn all my life, develop myself and never be afraid to say my ideas.

I looked at people around and understood one thing: some people know everything, but they cannot speak about it. No one hears them. I don't want to be like that. I want people to hear my ideas.

I wrote everything in my notebook — numbers, quotes, names, new ideas. I still keep two badges from Water Forum and International Conference. They are not just paper for me, they are proof that I was there and brought big experience home.

My English was not very good at that time, just a few phrases. But translators helped a lot. I put on headphones and listened to translator's voice. I got one simple truth: language is not barrier if people really want to understand each other. Water also has no borders! It flows everywhere and connects everyone.

Delegates from different countries spoke different languages, but all talked about same thing — water is life, and we have less and less of it every year. People shared their problems. Some have no rain for years, some walk 10 km just to get dirty water. It was big lesson for me. It made me understand how lucky we are in Tajikistan and how we must protect our rivers.

Billions of people live without clean water today. By 2050 it can be real disaster. Central Asia is in big risk, and Tajikistan gives up to 60% of water for Aral Sea basin. This is huge responsibility for us.

President Emomali Rahmon gave very strong speech. He proposed real steps:

— Create Dushanbe Framework Programme for water;

— Create Interstate Energy Commission and help Aral Sea fund;

— Make International President Prize for water research;

— Hold UN Water Conference in Dushanbe in 2028.

I sat there and thought: I am just a guy from Khujand, but I sit here and listen how world leaders decide future of planet. This is crazy!

After forum I didn't stop. I joined Youth Forum for Syr Darya river — "Green Patrols". This river flows through several countries, and its future depends on how we agree with each other. Water knows no borders.

When I came back to Khujand, I gathered my volunteers in "Vatanparvar" and told them everything. I showed notes, photos, badges. I joined Eco TUT school and started writing my own eco project.

My project is about water and climate. The idea is to build special filter for factory smoke. Smoke goes through system with microalgae. These small plants absorb CO2 and turn it into clean water, fuel and fertilizer. This is real biotechnology and I want to adapt it for our factories in Tajikistan. Imagine: factories don't just pollute, but actually give water and fertilizer!

I know it's a lot of work for years. But if climate problem is common, solution must be common too. I want my project to help factories reduce smoke and give water to farmers.

One conference is just a start.

Water problem is global. Borders are just lines on map. Water flows through countries, peoples and generations. It connects all of us. No matter what language you speak or what religion you have. We all need water. We are all one river.

I came back from Dushanbe as a new person. Water is life, and we are all one river.