In 2013, Forum for Language Initiative (FLI), Islamabad entered into partnership with YCDO to preserve Yidgha Language. In 2015, USAID Funded a one year program which aims to publish its first ever word list, alphabets book and a folktales book. This project will be completed in 2016.

1. "Yidgha" Language
Preservation Program
Implementation Partner Local Partner
Project Presentation
Supporting Partners
PPC College Parabeg
Government High School Parabeg
Pamir Degree College Garam Chashma
Funded by

2. Yidgha Cultural & Development Organization ( YCDO) is a civil society initiatives aimed to
explore opportunities in culture preservation and community welfare. The organization engages
the community from the grass root level and cooperates with rural development institution both
of the government and international donors to implement project and programs in different key
sectors like education, health, culture, language promotions, communications and
infrastructure.
“Yidgha” is an indigenous language listed in UNESCO as the most endangered language. Its
speaker now been numbered in thousand and settled in a remote a valley in Chitral. The
language was speedily disappearing and the same was the culture. The youth of the community
realized the threat to their mother tongue and in 2010 they came together and decided to take
initiative to preserve their language. That was the moment the community decided to form an
organization for cultural and social welfare of the aboriginal Yidgha Community.
In 2013, Forum for Language Initiative (FLI), Islamabad entered into partnership with YCDO
to preserve Yidgha Language. In 2015, USAID Funded a one year program which aims to
publish its first dictionary and folk stories book. Two full time paid researchers from Yidgha
Community now been employed for the said program and this project will be completed in 2016.
.
About YCDO

3. FLI Intervention
Forum for Language Initiative (FLI) is an Islamabad based organization helping the
indigenous communities in Pakistan to document and preserve their local languages.
In 2015, FLI launched a one year project to do the basic work in preservation of Yidgha
Language. This project is funded by USAID through Small Grants & Ambassador's Fund
Program.
Following are the major set for the project.
1)To list 3500 words.
2)To outline Yidgha Alphabets, vowels, consonants, verbs etc.
3)To develop Yidgha Composing Software (FLI) to Publish Yidgha Alphabets book.
4)To record, write and publish Folktales book including 10 selected stories.

4. Following is the major progress so far made from the project commencement in July 2015 to date;
● 5 Semantic Domain Workshops held from August 2015 to November 2015. That includes Domain 1, 2, 3, 4
& 4C in Village Roi, Oghoti and High School Parabeg. 2000 words has been listed as the outcome of these
workshops.
● 11 folktales has been recorded, written and translated.
● FLI has developed a software “We Say” a Yidgha Composer . This is a complete composing software
which has been the specifically designed for Yidgha language and include its specific alphabets.
● The software now in use and has been practiced by the Yidgha writers and additionally 2000 Yidgha
language words have been listed in the composing software.
●5-days basic orthography workshop held in Government High School Parabeg. The workshop participants
were linguists, teacher, professionals, Yidgha community speakers and students. The discussion outlined
Yidgha Alphabets, Vowels, Consonants, Verbs and Compound Words.
●Two days writers workshop held in Boson Roi in collaboration with Pamir Degree College. The participants
practiced Yidgha Writing System developed in the project.
Progress

5. Next in Programs
1.Yidgha Language Committee Meeting to held in November 2015. Where the developed
writing standard will be presented to the community elders and educated members to get
community consents for Yidgha Publications.
2.Another writer workshop will be organized in December 2015.
3.Domain 6 workshop will be organized in December 2015.
4.Edited re-narration and recording of folktales will be conducted in December 2015.
5. The Folktales Book, Alphabets Book and words list shall be published during the first
quarter of 2016.
6. The project closing ceremony to be held in April-2016.

6. Workshops Completed
Event Dated Venue Participant
s
Partner Organizations
Semantic Domain-1
Workshop
27 July 2015 Boson-Royee
YCDO Office
12 FLI
YCDO
Semantic Domain-2
Workshop
8 August 2015 Boson-Royee
YCDO Office
12 FLI
YCDO
Semantic Domain -3
Workshop
August 2015 Gistini
Muhmmadin House
11 FLI
YCDO
Orthography Workshop 29 Sep. – 3 Oct
2015
Govt. High School
Parabeg
22 FLI
YCDO
Govt High School Parabeg
PPC College Parabeg
Semantic Domain – 4
Workshop
4 Oct 2015 Govt High School
Parabeg
22 FLI
YCDO
Semantic Domain
4-C Workshop
8 Oct. 2015 Oghoti
Wali House
10 FLI
YCDO
Writer Workshop 12-13 October 2015 Boson- Royee
YCDO Office
12 FLI
YCDO
Pamir Degree College

7. Future Action Plan
1. After completion of the current project YCDO will seek help through the technical cooperation of FLI
in getting donor support to extend the Language Preservation Program for another two years. The
major set is to search 6000 Yidgha Words and to publish its first dictionary.
2. YCDO will seek KPK government and other stakeholders grants to establish Yidgha Language Primary
School in the area so that the Yidgha speaker children get primary education in their own mother
tongue.
3. Forum for Language Initiative planning to publish a Flok Stories, History and Yidgha Poetry Book in
2016

8. Name Designation
Mr. Allauddin Honorary Chairman YCDO
Mr. Hussamuddin
Chairman (Arbitration Board) The Aga Khan Local Council and SCT Teacher at Govt High School
Parabeg
Mr. Miran Shah Secretary The Aga Khan Local Council & Principal Girls High School Royee
Mr. Sharbat Khan Ex-Teacher Turned Politician Leader PTI Chitral
Mr. Bahauddin Teacher, Govt High School Parabeg
Mr. Arif Teacher, AKES Chitral
Mr. Khairuddin Shadani Journalist & President YCDO
Mr. Shafi Rehmat Finance Manager – GADO
Mr. Hameed Gul Teacher Al-Nasir College
Mr. Walu Community Member
Mr. Mohyuddin Teacher AKES
Mr. Shireen Khan Advocate Chitral
Mr. Munir Teacher AKES
Mr. Jalil Community Member
Mr. Noor Azam General Counselor Village Council Birzeen
Mr. Qayoom Community Member
Mr. Hisam Uddin Youth Counselor Village Council Parabeg
Mr. Shaferoz Researcher FLI
Mr. Mian Jan Community Member
Rahmat Ali General Counselor Village Council Parabeg
Yidgha Language Committee

9. Participants of Orthography Workshop-3 October 2015

10. Participant of Semantic Domain 4 Workshop Village Oghoti – 23 October 2015

11. Participants of Semantic Domain Workshop- GHS Parabeg – 4 October 2015

12. Semantic Domain Workshop – Boson- Royee Oct 18 2015

13. Writer Workshop -Boson Royee
13 November 2015

14. Yidgha Research in FLI Workshop – Islamabad October 2015

15. Thank you
Presentation by
Khairuddin Shadani
President
Yidgha Cultural & Development Organization
YCDO Office: Village Boson- Royee,
Garam Chashma Valley, Tehsil & District Chitral
Phone- +92 943 310188
Mobile- +92 340 9862603
Email:yidgha.cdo@gmail.com
Website: www.yidgha.weebly.com