An event dedicated to February 21 - International Mother Language Day was held at the British Library in London, the capital of England. The event was jointly organized by the British Azerbaijanis Society and the Karabakh School under it, with the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora.

In her introductory speech, school principal Farida Panahova stated that the main goal of the event is to contribute to the conserving, promoting the Azerbaijani language, national identity, and cultural heritage. She expressed her gratitude to the Committee for its support in the organization of the event and in the activities of the Karabakh school.

In her speech, an Azerbaijani language teacher at the Karabakh School and the author of the mother-tongue book “Bulbul” Emiliya Jabrayilova emphasized that the mother tongue plays a vital role in children’s intellectual development, in shaping their national identity, and in strengthening their ties to their historical roots.

Parents – Laman Aghasi, Ilaha Ojal, Jeyran Shirinova and Ulviyye Taghizade noted the importance of teaching their children the mother tongue and preserving national and cultural values within the family.

Eltay Aslanov, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, also participated in the event. He stated that such initiatives carry special importance, as well as the mother tongue plays vital role in preserving national identity.

During the event, the children were asked what comes to their mind when they hear the word “Azerbaijan”. The children proudly answered “the Azerbaijani flag”. Afterwards, the students drew pictures of National Flag, coloured the pages featuring our national ornaments in the “Colour It Yourself” section of the “Bulbul” book. They also recited poems and sang songs in Azerbaijani, performed the “Tarakama” dance, and watched the animated film “Tig-Tig Khanum”. At the end, 20 copies of the “Bulbul” book were presented to the children on behalf of the Committee.

Families of students attending the Garabakh School from Oxford, Cambridge, and Manchester, also participated in the event. The in-person meeting was particularly significant for children who usually attend classes online. The event was filled with memorable moments for both students and parents and played an important role in fostering interaction and building connections. The organizers emphasized that such initiatives will continue in the future.

It should be noted that the online Garabakh School, established in 2021 by the British Azerbaijanis Society, operates with the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora. The school plays a vital role in teaching the Azerbaijani language, culture, and national heritage to Azerbaijani children living abroad, while also promoting these values internationally.