Teen's Birdhouse Design Boosts Chick Survival by 35%

When Ovezmurad Sapargeldyev noticed fewer sparrows around his school in Turkmenistan, the 7th grader didn't just wonder why. He decided to do something about it.

Working with his biology teacher Anna Shamova at Secondary School No. 55, Ovezmurad discovered that urban development and rising temperatures were making it harder for house sparrows to find safe nesting spaces. The birds that had lived alongside humans for generations were struggling to survive in a changing environment.

His response was both practical and brilliant. Ovezmurad designed "climate-tolerant" birdhouses using a sandwich structure that layers wood with natural insulating materials like moss, hay, and foam to keep nests cooler.

The results exceeded expectations. His birdhouses reduced internal temperatures by up to 4.5°C and increased chick survival rates by 35 percent. What started as a school project became measurable proof that young people can create real solutions to climate challenges.

Ovezmurad's work grew from the United Nations Development Programme's Climate Box initiative, which brings climate education tools to thousands of schools across 17 languages. The program has already trained more than 7,000 educators and reached tens of thousands of students in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.

His project earned him a spot at Thailand's International Climate School, where he met students facing similar environmental challenges. "When I met students from other countries, I saw that we all have similar problems," Ovezmurad says. "It made me want to keep going and think of new ideas."

The Ripple Effect

In April 2026, Ovezmurad presented his birdhouse design at the United Nations building in Ashgabat, where it received enthusiastic support from educators and climate experts. The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Turkmenistan confirmed technical and financial assistance to help expand the project.

Now those small wooden nests are appearing across schools in the region, becoming symbols of what's possible when young people combine observation with action. UNDP Resident Representative Narine Sahakyan called the Climate Box "a powerful example of how educational tools can help build a generation that not only understands climate challenges but is ready to act."

Ovezmurad's teacher Anna Shamova puts it simply: "He didn't just study the issue. He worked to address it."

The sparrows are returning, one temperature-controlled birdhouse at a time.