Singer Cesaria Evora to Give Grants to Talented Uzbek Youth

'Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan' Foundation (the Fund Forum)

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 11 - World renowned Portuguese singer, Cesaria Evora and Fund
Forums' Chairperson Dr Gulnara Karimova, will give grants to Uzbekistan's
talented youth. The joint award ceremony by the Fund Forum and Cesaria Evora
for 'Yangi Avlod' (New Generation) children's creativity Festival will be
held in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) during the final gala-concert on Tuesday,
November 17. The ceremony will be followed by Cesaria Evora's solo music
program. This year the project is organized with support from UNICEF.

A unique initiative for children, the 'Yangi Avlod' Festival has been
held in Uzbekistan since 2004. The festival has not only become an important
way of discovering and supporting gifted children from all regions of
Uzbekistan, but presents an opportunity for them to showcase their talents
and perform with celebrities at home and in the international arena.

The Festival became the basis for the opening of the Children`s
Creativity Centers in Tashkent and Samarkand. In these free centers over 1200
children can study subjects such as computer literacy, acting, painting,
needlework, singing, dancing and chess.

Children's creative teams and solo performers from 6 to 14 years old
participate with different disciplines, such as classical music, singing,
national instruments, dance, fine and applied arts, poetry, literature and
theatrical scenarios. In the last five years about 50 thousand children from
all regions of Uzbekistan have attended the Festival. About 1500 of them were
winners.

Internationally renowned singer Sting while participating in the Art Week
Style.Uz 2009 project awarded special grant Diplomas to the 4 best 'Yangi
Avlod' laureates, acknowledging their talents and motivating them for further
development.

The final gala-concert by 'Yangi Avlod' 2009 participants is
dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN 'On the Right of
the Child Convention' and in this framework we have announced, in partnership
with local UNICEF office, a competition themed "Me and my right for
self-expression" for children participating in two categories; Fine and
Applied Arts and Poetry, literature and theatrical scripts.

The final gala concert is being held at one of the major
concert halls in Tashkent and its program consists of the Festival finalists'
performances and Uzbek stars from music and the arts.

Cesaria Evora previously performed in Tashkent when invited by
the Fund Forum to give a concert dedicated to 16th anniversary of
Uzbekistan's independence.

www.fundforum.uz

Tel\Fax: +998-71-239-27-71; +998-71-239-27-74, e-mail: info at fundforum.uz