Author Marina Abrams introduces Central Asia through children’s literature in her new book Orange and Blue: The World of Barzu. The story is told through the young boy, Barzu, who lives in the mountains of Tajikistan, and who visits his grandmother. The book is vibrant, featuring the work of prominent Tajik artist Farrukh Negmatzade. Colorful depictions of clay ovens, sun-dried fruit, delicious bread and grandmother’s tale of the merchant Faiz who travels to Hindustan, invite children and all readers into Central Asian lifescapes.
The event also includes the remarks from Central Asia diaspora representatives: Dr. Togzhan Kassenova, Non-resident fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and Firdavs Nazarov, Outreach Manager, Tajik American Cultural Association for an afternoon celebrating Central Asia culture.
Marina Abrams was born and raised in Kazakhstan, has lived in Tajikistan and Russia, and traveled extensively around the Eurasia region. She is an international policy professional with fifteen years of experience in multi-disciplinary projects and nonproliferation initiatives dealing with terrorism, the physical protection of former nuclear and biological warfare (BW) facilities, and employment issues for former BW scientists in Russian Federation and Central Asian states. Prior to founding Barzu World, Marina worked at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey, CA and Global Green USA (Washington D.C.).
