-
Projects
-
Donors
Together we change the world
© Heine Pedersen -
What we do
What we do
© ACT/Paul Jeffrey -
About us
DanChurchAid believes
© Mike Kollöffel -
Get involved
Work with us
© ACT/Paul Jeffrey
Kyrgyzstan
© Folkekirkens Nødhjælp
What we doOur work here focuses on supporting poor immigrant families, education for marginalised children and young people and self-help groups for the elderly. |
The shattered dream
When Kyrgyzstan was declared independent in 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the future looked bright. But soon the country suffered the effects of unemployment, poverty and political repression. The first governments were equally corrupt, nepotic and indifferent to the poverty among the population. Two presidents were overturned by public revolts and both of them managed to take millions of dollars out of the national purse.
Challenges
Kyrgyzstan has a population of approx. 5 million inhabitants and 40% live below the poverty line. Therefore, one million people have left the country in the pursuit of happiness in Russia. The majority of those who leave Kyrgyzstan are young people with a good education.
The sick, the handicapped and the senior citizens are left in Kyrgyzstan. 80% of the country’s senior citizens live below the poverty line.
Migration from the country to the city, has made the slum areas around the capital Bishkek, grow explosively. The people who move lose their civil registration (propiska), which is vital for their right to receive benefits from the state. Because of the high unemployment, many children have to work to ensure the survival of the family.
In June 2010 violent and brutal fights erupted between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the southern part of the country. Rather than ethnicity, the real reason for the riots is poverty combined with unequal economic distribution, repression, fights about natural resources and the search for a national identity.
What we do in Kyrgyzstan
DanChurchAid has been involved in Central Asia since 1996. DanChurchAid supports the work of local partners to improve the living conditions for the most vulnerable groups of the Kyrgyz society:
-
Socially vulnerable children and youth
-
People who have moved to the larger cities
-
Elderly people
In addition, DanChurchAid supports the local partners’ efforts to:
-
Influence laws and administration concerning civil registration - propiska
-
Monitor public budgets
-
Educate local organizations
-
Strengthen the cooperation between NGOs and authorities
ACT Alliance in Central Asia
DanChurchAid shares offices and collaborates closely with two sister organizations – the Dutch ICCO and the British Christian Aid.
Articles about FKN
The EU has granted EUR 4.55 million to a group of international humanitarian organisations to support their work reducing and alleviating the after-effects of the conflict in 2010 and preventing further escalation of conflicts. ACT Alliance – CA headed by DanChurchAid spearheads this work.
21/07/2010
Kyrgyzstan in Turmoil
DCA, as part of ACT Alliance, responded immediately to the humanitarian crisis in Kyrgyzstan, having the advantage of its presence through long-term development programmes. While responding to the humanitarian needs, ACT Alliance conducted one more round of rapid assessment during July 13-14. Observations from the visits to affected families and IDP (internally displaced persons) camps are summarized here
20/04/2010
Kyrgyzstan's NGOs express cautious optimism
More then 280 representatives from about 100 NGOs from all over Kyrgyzstan took part in the exceptional NGO Forum held in Bishkek on April 17th.
16/04/2010
AIDS follows the Heroin Route
When Nato and its allies went to war in Afghanistan, the alliance promised to curtail the export of drugs to Europe. So far their efforts have not been very successful. In a new film Danish Journalist and Filmmaker, Michael Andersen, shows how drug smuggling routes though the former Soviet Republics of Central Asia bring new dangers to the area.
09/04/2010
Kyrgyzstan mourns their dead
After a restless night of chaotic looting and shooting in different parts of Bishkek, volunteers have begun to clean up the streets and Police have returned to the city.
The first ever National Forum of “Act Development Central Asia” Alliance was successfully held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on November 6-7. The Forum brought together five international development agencies – ICCO (the Netherlands), DanChurchAid (DCA, Denmark), Christian Aid (United Kingdom), Norwegian Church Aid and Hungarian Interchurch Aid – and more than fifteen non-governmental organisations and microfinance inst...
Small seeds for an active civil society are starting to grow in the poor Central Asian Republic Kyrgyzstan where children have to work to get an income to the family
In Central Asian countries the fight for women to strengthen their rights and move closer to full partnership with men is well documented by international organizations. One example of such partnership in Kyrgzstan is Avazbek Balthabaev and his wife Paiza Bathaeva, who work as a team in both business and in self-help groups in their community.
Where have all the young men gone, gone to Russia everyone," might be the modified refrain of a folk song in many a rural village in Tajikistan, at least for the women left behind. This is the 4th part in the series on self help groups in Central Asia, written by Peter Kenny.
14/07/2008
Helping the poorest
DanChurchAid and local partners work together to find sustainable solutions to problems experienced by the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
Margarita Zobnina, a medical biologist in the nursing profession, joined a women's group in her native Kazakhstan after the collapse of the Soviet Union, at a time when women faced not only increasing impoverishment but also loneliness.
There should be plenty of water at the town of Balykchy, where property prices are booming for some. But the faces of the elderly at the local community centre look crestfallen.
If the main bridge across the Rhone River in central Geneva collapsed and was not repaired, or attended to within days, or even hours, residents of the Swiss city would be up in arms, lobbying and harassing local, regional or federal authorities to act. Action would likely soon be taken.
17/06/2008
DanChurchAid's partners in Kazakhstan
DanChurchAid is working with these partners in Kazakhstan.
17/06/2008
DanChurchAid's partners in Kyrgyzstan
DanChurchAid is working with these partners in Kyrgyzstan.
12/04/2007
Massive demonstrations in Kyrgyzstan
In the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bisjkek, thousands of people from all parts of the country have camped on the city square to participate in large demonstrations against President Bakiev’s regime.
25/08/2006
Curse of the cotton factory
When the Soviet Union broke down in 1991, the Kazakhs had the opportunity to create their own state. However, the price of independence has been high for Kazakhstan’s large working-class population.
02/08/2006
The strength of community
The establishment of self help groups is an efficient method to fight poverty; this is the experience of DanChurchAid’s partners in Kazakhstan.
11/07/2006
House building and women self help groups
DanChurchAid works in Kazakhstan through two organisations, Baspana and Moldir. Both working in Almaty, Baspana is focusing on improving conditions for poor people, and Moldir is mainly working towards improving poor and vulnerable women’s conditions.
25/06/2006
Paranoia in the east
First it happened in Russia, now NGOs in Kyrgyzstan are being blamed for subversive activities.
19/06/2006
ECCA Programme on Access
10 partner organisations met on June 13-14 with DanChurchAid to develop the ECCA programme on ‘Access to Basic Social Services’.
07/06/2006
Cooperation gives results in Central Asia
DanChurchAid works with a regional approach in Central Asia. To improve the impact of the work, DanChurchAid cooperates closely with three European sister organisations in the Ecumenical Consortium for Central Asia, ECCA. The cooperation has proven to be very effective showing good results in the work for the poorest people in the region.
01/06/2006
Adopt a group of elderly
GrannyAid is a new, joint initiative between DaneAge Association and DanChurchAid with the aim of assisting elderly people in need in the former Soviet Republic, Kyrgyzstan through adoptions.
01/06/2006
A hopeful future for the children
DanChurchAid and Operation Day's Work supports one of DanChurchAid's local partner organisations in Kyrgyzstan, the Center for Protection of Children, CPC.
16/05/2006
Strengthening local NGOs
A large part of DanChurchAid's work also focuses on strengthening local NGOs by teaching administrative skills and promoting democratic leadership as well as guidance in dealing with the authorities.
10/05/2006
Deterioration of education and health
A fifth of the population in Kazakhstan is living below the poverty line. Children in particular are affected as are pensioners and people on low incomes. Though the country is oil-rich, the surplus isn’t distributed equally.
23/04/2006
An authoritarian presidency
Until 1991, Kazakhstan formed part of the Soviet Union. After the independence process, the country has struggled to get back on its feet.
More articles
