Kyrgyzstan
Since 2003 we've worked closely with local partners on older people's issues, including:
- Social protection: We are working with the Ministry of Social Protection of Population to ensure older people are included in social protection policies.
- Migration: We are working with partners to measure the number of households affected by migration and are supporting over 3,500 "skipped generation" households.
- Livelihoods: The increase of the informal sector means many workers will not be eligible for a pension in old age and will rely on social benefits. We have collected research on the informal economy and are raising these issues with the government.
- Seasonal poverty: We are measuring seasonal poverty in 140 households led by older people.
- Health: We are working to prevent and manage diabetes with 25 older people's groups.
Life story: Anarkan, 72
HelpAge and partners distributed wellbeing kits to older people like Anarkan after the unrest in Kyrgyzstan.
© Dina Zekic Gillham/HelpAge International 2010
Anarkan is a resident of a nursing home just outside of Osh, Kyrgyzstan's second city which is located in the south of the country. She has no family, as her husband and five children have all died.
In June 2010, Osh saw a wave of violence between different ethnic groups, including Uzbeks and Kyrgyz. More than 400 people lost their lives, up to 3,500 were injured and many homes and businesses were destroyed.
Together with local partners and the Kyrgyz social services department, we conducted surveys and assessments and distributed wellbeing kits and cash to older men and women affected by the violence.
When Anarkan received her wellbeing kit, which includes 500 som (US$10), she kissed and hugged HelpAge staff. The kit contains towels, soap, shampoo, combs, crockery and cutlery sets, toilet paper, hand wipes, toothpaste and brush, antiseptics and tea.
When asked what she would spend the money included in her wellbeing kit on, she replied with a big smile: "A new dress!"
The difference we made in 2010-11
Over 2010 and 2011 we have:
- Given 1,000 older men and women, through our older people's groups, the skills to monitor their access to social services and earn an income.
- Helped older people through the extreme winter by giving 1,200 older men and women hot soup and providing alternative energy sources, such as solar panels to public spaces like medical rooms or tea houses.
- Supported 40 older people's groups to work with the police and older people in their communities in order to raise awareness and tackle elder abuse and domestic violence against people.
- Responded to the violence in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010. We've given cash grants and hygiene products to around 3,000 vulnerable older women and men. We set up food preservation activities to help older people through the extreme winters and replaced lost or destroyed ID cards. We also worked with other agencies to raise awareness of older people's specific needs in emergency situations.
What next?
Our focus over the next year will be to:
- Provide food and livelihoods support to families affected by migration.
- Work with policy makers, donors and development agencies to address poverty caused by the extreme cold and ensure that 100% of cash transfers to older people are made.
- Prepare older people and their communities for emergencies by building their skills and knowledge.
- Work with international humanitarian agencies, local civil society and the government to ensure older people are included in emergency preparedness, recovery and response programmes.
- Gather evidence at a national level about violence against older women and men and elder abuse, which we will use to strengthen our partners' work in addressing these issues.
Constant crisis photogallery
Our affiliates
UMUT Resource Center for Elderly People
Our partners
Ministry of Health, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Babushka Adoption, ADRA, Mehr Shavkat, Association of Crises Centres (ACC), Neighbourhood Watch, Ministry of Social Protection, National Agency on Local Self Governance.
Our donors
European Union, UNICEF, Soros Foundation Kyrgyzstan, OSCE, World Diabetes Federation through DanChuch Aid
