Nowadays, many people from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) live in different countries around the world. They find themselves in new environments that are different in many aspects, and must overcome cultural and linguistic challenges. Nevertheless, Yakutians abroad strive to preserve their culture and traditions, and pass them on to the next generation.

Link to: Sakha Open World

In 2002 a group of enthusiasts from Sakha-Yakutia started a web project with a goal of providing support to fellow Yakutians who live outside their native land. Today, the project has outgrown the initial plans, and has been split to a few separate ones. The biggest and the most successful one has been named "Sakha Open World". The project received an important and well needed boost when it received the "Yakutians Abroad" award from the Department of External Connections of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in 2004. Currently the project includes two parts, one in Sakha and one in Russian languages. Yakutians who live in 21 countries regularly visit the web site and make use of the resources found there.

Visitors of the site can find contacts of Yakutians who live in different countries and want to find new friends. Visitors can also participate in web discussions, share their opinions, talk about countries they live in, etc. "Sakha Open World" wants to help people from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) to adapt to their new environment quicker and easier. The column "Consultations" shares useful and practical information and gives advice on everyday problems and issues. The column "Cooking Together" publishes recipes of the Sakha cuisine and other world ethnic cuisines. The column "the Playground" discusses such issues as, for example, the problems parents may encounter while raising their children in a foreign environment.

The Sakha language web-site "Orto Doydu" ("The Middle World") is an interactive repository of information in various media formats in Sakha language. The visitors can also make their own audio and video clips, photographs, and books available for others to see. The first significant achievement of the "Orto Doidu" team is a creation of professional terminology used to translate software products to Sakha language. In addition, "Orto Doydu" will help those who want to learn Sakha but do not have an opportunity to practice Sakha with native speakers.

Sakha people who live in other countries want to maintain close relationship with Sakha-Yakutia. They also want to give back in some way to their motherland. "Sakha Open World" could become a link between the Sakha Republic and foreign cultural, ecological, and educational organizations. This project could promote new initiatives and help to bring them to life.

Visit the web-site of Sakha Open World