The latest update from the Karakol Orphanage and Microcredit schemes

I’ve mentioned before the work of Hugh Coulter in support of the private orphanage in Karakol - several times as it happens.

He was working in Karakol on a project financed by the European Union and came across the orphanage almost by accident.  Impressed by the work of the orphanage, Hugh and his family found themselves getting involved in fund raising efforts  to support the organization.

They also got involved in setting up a couple of Microcredit funds which could make targeted, short term, small loans to individuals and small businesses to tide them over a particular cash flow crisis.

Between them, Hugh and his wife Jean … indeed the whole family and many of their friends … were undertaking activities like sponsored skydiving and running tombolas to raise funds for the projects.  Hugh’s infectious humour inspired many others both here in Kyrgyzstan and back in Ireland.  Eventually they attracted the attention of Roots and Wings – a major international charitable foundation with projects in several countries that decided to offer support for the various projects.

Conscious of the goodwill of people that donated either time or money, Jean would send out regular updates so that supporters would know that they efforts were both appreciated and being put to good use.

One of the things that always attracted me to these schemes was that a lot of thought had been given to sustainability … planning for the future … but it’s a fact of life that events rarely ever go exactly “according to plan”.

Hugh was unfortunately diagnosed with, and eventually succumbed to  cancer.  Jean and the family, however, were determined to maintain their support.  After a brief hiatus … they were, after all, grieving … they arrived in Kyrgyzstan and discovered that things definitely weren’t going exactly to plan.

As a result they have, together with Roots and Wings, been rethinking their strategy.

As a result, they have started two new  initiatives on a pilot basis, targeted at helping support individual children from disadvantaged homes:  Hugh’s Bear Cubs - where the idea  is to provide scholarships for children to attend a private kindergarten on Karakol, Kinder Land, which has been identified as an example of ”best practice” in terms of early years education, and a Children’s Clothing Fund to help ensure that they have adequate clothing to see them through the difficult Winter months.

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As it happens – recent developments may well make life even more “interesting” for all of these projects in the future.

There is a proposal to close all “private orphanages” and bring them all – and the children they serve and house – under the aegis of official bodies.  This is despite the fact that the government doesn’t have sufficient funds and has difficulty in maintaining the ones that it already has … although it is true that there are several state run children’s homes which do receive sponsorship and support from a variety of sources in order to supplement the money from the budget.  It is not yet clear, however, what the effect of this on the orphanage will be  if it is, eventually, enacted into legislation.   

In the meantime, although the Microfinance schemes in Karakol are “ticking over” nicely, there have been some additional headaches as the parliament and government have turned their attention to the whole question of providing financial support to individuals and small businesses.  Many microfinance organizations have had their operating licences either suspended … or withdrawn altogether. 

This is partly a result of a controversy that arose over the interest rates that some microfinance organizations were charging – leading to charges of usury, allegations of families drowning in a whirlpool of debt.     

 Then there is the newly proposed “Foreign Agents Law” which, if enacted, will require the funds and the orphanage being under even tighter  supervision – as the bulk of their finances come from abroad.

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Hugh in Cyrillic

Hugh sometimes referred to himself as “XB10″, because when his name was printed on his business cards in Russian … that’s what it looked like.  It was typical of his self deprecating character that he found this quite amusing.

I think, however, he will be long remembered for his catchphrase: “A little goes a long way“.

That was the idea behind the Microcredit schemes … quite often, people needed just a few thousand som as a pump priming exercise.  With it, they were able to do things for themselves which quickly bore results and they were able to replay it … before planning on more grandiose schemes … which they would be better placed to complete.

It’s also the idea behind the latest schemes.  The idea of the Bear Cubs scheme, for example, is multi-pronged.  In addition to providing the children with access to educational experience – and an invaluable start to their educational career – it will enable the parents to find work and thus supplement the family income … whilst the Clothing Fund will provide each family with a little additional support but on an item of expenditure which can can be crippling for a family’s finances.

Let’s be frank … having children – wonderful thought they are – does put a strain on the family finances … and not just here in Kyrgyzstan.  Recently there have been plenty of stories in the press trying to put a figure to the cost of having a child: food, clothing, school fees, medical fees, toys and games, holidays and entertainment … and so on.

Clothing represents one of the biggest items of expense that families face – especially as winter approaches and warm, weatherproof clothing is an essential “must” – if you’ll excuse the tautology.  It’s a real practical issue – not simply a question of being “fashionable” and having new things to wear – especially  as children grow … quickly outgrowing items of clothing that, although not new, might well still be serviceable.  So the idea of creating a Clothing Fund to help dress children from disadvantaged homes should be a considerable help to those families.

Click here to download the latest update from the Karakol Orphanage and Micro Credit  Schemes.

Poster for Home Alone, showing Macaulay Culkin displaying his famous "Munch's Scream" pose

Over the New Year I was channel hopping and saw that, once again, the film the traditional films were being faithfully screened in their customary time slots.  Just as we used to sit down to watch our regular annual dose of The Sound of Music, The Great Escape or Zulu … so the television channels here have their own traditional films.  At least theirs are more or less in keeping with the season!

There was, for example, Macaulay Culkin staring in Odeen Doma, (or Home Alone!), as the eight year old Kevin McCallister who is accidentally left behind whilst his family fly off to Paris for the Christmas holidays.

Waking up to discover himself alone, at first he is filled with shock and horror at having made his family disappear following a row with his older brother. This, however, soon disappears as he relishes his new found freedom.

Trouble is not far away, however, … and he overhears a couple of incompetent burglars, (who call themselves the “Wet Bandits”), planing to break in and rob the house.  He sets about to defends his home against them with a variety of ingenious traps in a delightful, “feel good”, slapstick comedy.

As of 2009, Home Alone was the highest grossing comedy of all time.

Here’s a trailer for the 1990 film:

S'lorgkim parom!

Then, again, there was S lyogkim parom!, written and directed by one  the most famous and successful, (and, incidentally of my favourite – although, to be strictly truthful, he’s probably the only one that I know by name), Russian film directors: Eldar Ryzanov, was being screened in its traditional time slot on New Year’s Eve … not just on one channel, but on two!

For the record: S lyogkim parom! is actually only part of the title … in its full glory it should be called: Ironiya sudby, ili S lyogkim parom! … which means: The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy your Bath! 

Well … even that’s not quite right.  The second phrase is used colloquially to mean “Enjoy your bath” but it literally means “with easy steam!” … which is, in turn, a reference to the steam that accompanies a hot bath, (or shower or sauna … in fact, the Banya - or sauna – is still the traditional way of taking a bath”, especially in many rural areas … and the banya plays an important part in the development of the plot).

It’s a classic story of Mistaken identity, but in this case it’s not two people that are mistaken for each other … but two apartments … in two different cities.  Having met his friends for their traditional New Year gathering in a Banya, Zhenya has a little too much to drink, (actually, much too much) … and his friends take him to the airport so that he can catch his plane.  As the result of a simple mistake, catches the wrong flight and ends up in another city.  Senseless to his surroundings, he hails a taxi and gives the driver the address of his apartment block.  No problem – the beauty of Soviet centralized planning means that virtually every city is identical! Zhenya gains access to the apartment and goes to bed … to sleep the deep sleep of the intoxicated … However, whilst he is asleep, the rightful owner eventually turns up … and so does her boyfriend!.

S lyogkim parom is also a comedy, but although it has it’s element of slapstick, there is also an element of sadness, pathos and even social comment … (directed at, for example, the identical “soulless” apartment blocks found in towns throughout the former Soviet Union … or the culture of binge drinking vodka to excess, as in the incessant phrase: “Nado Menshe peet” – I must drink less!).

I remember the first time I saw it … I was so impressed because, although I didn’t understand everything, I was able to follow the gist of the story.  As a result, I have always had a soft spot for the film …  but even if I am fond of the film – for the Russians it has a very special place in their New Year traditions.

It’s in Russian … but here’s a montage from the film to give you a feel:

The 2009 Walt Disney Animation

Finally, there was a cartoon version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.  We turned on part way through … we had missed the visitation of Marley’s Ghost and Scrooge was already receiving the first of his Christmas Spectres … the Ghost of Christmas Past who took him to the Christmases of his youth so that he could see that the Season of Goodwill was far from being a case of “Bah, Humbug!”

Because the film was already underway, I found I had to explain the plot to the kids – which was pretty good going as I have never actually read it from beginning to end.  Fortunately, Maksim had already seen different versions of the film and so found it easier to follow without explanation but Andrei and Sveta needed the scene to be set.

The story is a classic – with numerous adaptions for stage, screen and television – Donald Duck, Buggs Bunny, Brer Rabbit, Mr. Magoo, the Flintsones, the Muppets and Sesame Street have all had a turn at telling the story.  Many of these have managed to introduce an element of comedy, but the story is, and was meant to be, really quite dark and disturbing.

It wasn’t the version on TV the other day, but here is a trailer for the 2009 Walt Disney version starring Jim Carrey:

 

Now, although these films are perhaps more fitting to the Christmas season than the sort of Blockbuster that we were offered as The Christmas Film in order to win the ratings war between the BBC and Independent Television, I have to confess that IO found it a little off watching A Christmas Carol just before New Year.

In a way I still a conservative traditionalist and, although Christmas decorations usually remain in place for the Twelve Days of Christmas, (that is until 7th January), many aspects f the celebrations belong to the period in the lead up to, or the day itself.

For examples, I always think that Christmas Carols, (such as Hark, the Herald Ages Sing, or O little Town of Bethlehem, or O Come All Ye Faithful!), really belong to the period before Christmas or on the day itself.  It seems out of place to sing them a week afterwards.  On the other hand, certain traditions do seem to belong to the period after Christmas Day, (such as going to see a Pantomime).

The trouble is that Dickens’ story is about the meaning of Christmas … and so, it seems to me, belongs to the the period before Christmas.  Here we were watching it just before New Year – almost a week later.

But then, I said to myself, Christmas is not the big holiday here; New Year is … and just as Santa Claus has a local equivalent in Bed Moroz, (Grandfather Frost), so the message of a Christmas Carol can just as easily be applied to the spirit of New Year.

Also, I had to remind myself … for the Russian Orthodox Church, Christmas hadn’t yet arrived … because they still work according to the old Julian Calendar, Christmas doesn’t come until January 7th … that is, today.

So, in fact, the timing was perfect … the film was shown before Christmas so that we could watch it and reflect on the lesson that Scrooge and his ghostly apparitions had to teach us about the true meaning of the holidays  - about how we treat each other.

So all that is left is for me to say, once more:

S’Rozhdestvom!  - Merry Christmas!

 

The article: Donations to charity fall 20% in a year

I came across a rather disappointing article in the Guardian the other day: Donations to charity fall 20% in a year.  Understandable … but disappointing all the same.

A survey conducted for two organizations uniting charities in the UK, (the Charities Aid Foundation and the National Council for Voluntary Organizations), has found that donations made to charity in the last year fell by 1.7 billion pounds, (from 11 billion to 9.7), but in real terms this equates to a reduction by one fifth.

It was not only the amount of money donated – but the number of people donating also fell, (only slightly … from 58% of the people surveyed to 55% each month … but a fall all the same).  The average amount donated (the median – so it was literally, slap bang in the middle with just as many larger donations as smaller ones), was ten pounds.  That was down slightly on last years figure of eleven pounds, which was also from the previous year’s twelve pounds.

Charities working in the field of  medical research and health care attracted the largest level of support, but interestingly, religious charities actually saw a rise in the average donation – by 25%.

The conclusions seemed to be that everyone is going through difficult times.  In 2011, people in Britain earned an average monthly salary is just over 2100 pounds, (that’s just over 102000 Kyrgyz Som – which, incidentally, is ten times the average wage according to the State Statistical Committee – or just under 1700 US dollars or 1500 Euro).  Although that represented an increase on the previous year, people saw a 3% fall in income in real times and so, as the report put it, “everyone is going through difficult times and … cash is tight for everyone and people are finding it harder and harder to find money to give to charity”.

It seems to me that we can probably count as an example of a “self evident truth” … but knowing and understanding that doesn’t help the charities who rely on donations for delivering front line services, often to the most vulnerable members of society who have already encountering the effects of other public sector cuts as the government attempts to balance it budget and makes ends meet.

Of course the charities are finding this worrying and it is adding a squeeze on their activities – a squeeze created by a combination of less income being provided by fewer and smaller donations, greater needs and rising costs in trying to meet those needs.   The charities are obviously looking for ways to raise additional funds … such as Gift Aid and covenanting so that they can predict their income levels and plan accordingly.

As it happens, the level of donations struck me as quite high … even if people experienced a fall in their incomes, they have still maintained a fairly good record of charitable donations.

Mind you … the report brought lots of questions flooding into my mind … I had to wonder, for example,  what actually constituted a donation for the purposes of the survey?

A lottery ticket, for example, helps to raise funds for a variety of charities, but I don’t think I would classify that as a donation – although I can see the logic that says that the portion going to charitable causes, (once the prize money and administrative costs of organizing the lottery have been deducted), could be included.

I presume the donation has to go somewhere, and that would probably be an organization – so that a “donation” to an individual such as a street beggar or busker or “gift” to a “needy” person wouldn’t count.

That led me to wonder about what actually constituted a “charity”.

Take, for example, those “religious” charities … it seems to me that perhaps there should be some distinction between devotional purposes, (such as donating funds to the upkeep and maintenance of the local parish church – the Roof Repair Fund or the Organ Fund; or the operation of a missionary organization – such as those television missions that seem to be so popular in the States), and more social orientated projects, (such as the operation of a children’s home and adoption agency or a hospice).

In Britain we used to have four main categories of charity, and charitable purposes or activities – for: poverty relief; educational purposes; religious purposes and the “catch all” – other purposes which are considered to be beneficial to the community.  Since the Charities Act of 2006, the list of what is considered a charitable purpose has been further codified as being for:

1. the prevention or relief of poverty
2. the advancement of education
3. the advancement of religion
4. the advancement of health or the saving of lives
5. the advancement of citizenship or community development
6. the advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science
7. the advancement of amateur sport
8. the advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity
9. the advancement of environmental protection or improvement
10. the relief of those in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
11. the advancement of animal welfare
12. the promotion of the efficiency of the armed forces of the Crown or of the police, fire and rescue services or ambulance services and
13. other purposes currently recognised as charitable and, (the typical “catch all” provision), any new charitable purposes which are similar to another charitable purpose.

The newsletter online ...

I have written about Healthprom before, (for example: here), about their work, (particularly in Kyrgyzstan), how I came across them and why I like their particular approach.

Every now and again we swap emails – mainly with snippets of news particularly about the disabled in Kyrgyzstan because that’s what their projects here concentrate on.

According to a news item a week ago, the  ombudsman announced that there are over 130,000 people with disabilities living in Kyrgyzstan – 90% of the adults are without work and 80% of the children don’t go to school.  In another report from the Ministry of Social Development, the disabled comprise over three quarters of those receiving benefits … the remainder of benefits being paid for the support of children as a result of the loss of the family’s breadwinner and  to pensioners.  On the other hand, it was pointed out that 50% of people with disabilities are actually pensioners with problems relating to eyesight and hearing.

In fact, however, their interest is pretty widespread as they work throughout the region, not just in Kyrgyzstan, and have projects working on various aspects of the provision of health services – such as maternity and childcare services and mental health services as well as services and care for the disabled.

This particular newsletter included articles about their work in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia as well as Kyrgyzstan.  There were also reports on a fund raising efforts such as a quiz night in London and a run up a mountain in France, and news about their presence on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

The main Kyrgyz story concerned the provision specialist medical examinations for children with special needs in Ton district in Issyk Kul.   Many of the children are from low income families which cannot afford the trip to Bishkek for medical consultations.

What struck me was that as a result of the consultations, which took place over the course of three days more than 350 children were seen by four specialists and a hundred and one were identified as being in need of further treatment: Sixteen of them were sent straight away for emergency care at the National Centre for Maternal and Child Health in Bishkek.

ARDI's Kelechek website

The Association of Parents of Children with Disabilities, (ARDI, one of Healthprom’s partners here in Kyrgyzstan- see their Facebook page), has organized a summer camp on the southern shore of Lake Issyk Kul, for children and their parents, staffed by thirteen local volunteers and four from Europe, (German, Italy and Poland).

ARDI has also established a website especially designed for children with disabilities and their families, www.kelechek.kg; (kelechek is Kyrgyz for “future”).   It’s in Russian, but has a lot of interesting information tucked away on pages including a “guide” to Disability in Russian, Kyrgyz and English which are well worth downloading and reading.

Back in March, I wrote a postcard about the UK based charity Healthprom which had held an international conference on “intellectual disability” here in Bishkek.

Shortly after posting it, I was surprised to receive an email from a client who had worked on a project with them in the past, who thanked me for the coverage I gave them, and who was full of praises for them.

Anyway, I have now  received the latest newsletter from the charity with an update on the organization’s activities, and I thought they are worth sharing.

It includes links to a a short report on the conference and a  follow up story where two of the participants, (one from Osh in Southern Kyrgyzstan and the other from Dushanbe in Tajikistan), about their experience and feelings following the event.

There’s also a link to a report on the work being carried out in Afghanistan which has helped to lead to a substantial reduction in the number of newborn deaths.

The project is supporting a number of self-help initiatives in the country, but one important issue they face is how to transport expectant mothers to a health centre rather than deliver their child at home: “How to carry women in labour securely and comfortably on a donkey along rocky tracks poses a formidable problem.”  The one vehicle that they had available broke down and had to be replaced but work is underway on trying to design alternative, low cost, methods of transport.

Two things that I particularly liked about the report was that it showed how the welfare of the women that they are trying to help are interlinked with many other aspects of life and can be helped by something as basic as the provision of sewing machines and also how “cascading”, (working with a small group who then go and disseminate what they have learned), can be used to good effect.

There are several articles on the Healthprom site about their work in Afghanistan and a film will soon be available to watch and download.

There was also an announcement that the organization have been chosen by the Department for International Development, (DFID), as part of its Global Poverty Action Fund (Innovation Window), to receive funding support to continue its successful work supporting children with special needs and their families in Tajikistan.  The Fund (previously called the Poverty Impact Fund) was re-launched following a public consultation and is a “demand-led” fund supporting projects focused on poverty reduction projects, which focus on service delivery working towards the most off-track Millennium Development Goals, in some 57 poor countries.  In order to be successful, candidates have to subscribe to the core principles of  ”transparency, value for money and results”.  There is more information about the initiative available on the DFID website.

Also, for those based in the UK, there will be a sponsored cycle ride in September, (September 18th), to help raise funds for their work in Tajikistan.

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On the site you can find out more about the organization and its activities in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and can sign up to receive a copy of the newsletter.

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In the weekly postcard last Saturday, (Oh, the humanity), I mentioned that I had met up with Hugh Coulter and his wife Jean, (who run fund raising efforts for an orphanage and two Microcredit funds in Karakol), and that they promised to distribute the regular quarterly update on their various activities.

Well, the report has arrived and I am happy to post a copy here:  Karakol_orphanage_update May 2011.T

There is a strong emphasis on projects to maintain the sustainability of the orphanage.  Those who have read my previous postcards on the orphanage, (for example: Karakol Orphange, Karakol Orphanage and Microfinance update and A little goes a long way!), will know that I think is one of the aspect of this particular “good cause” so appealing.  There is a real attempt to plan for the future and consider ways in which the orphanage can fund itself and not rely on charitable donations and handouts.  There are, however, problems such as a mystery disease which hit their flock of hens, thus reducing the supply of eggs laid.

Another problem is the effect of inflation, price rises provide enough problems for those who are in work and receiving a salary, but create even greater problems for organisations like the orphanage that, (despite the attempt to raise income from various activities), still rely heavily on the goodwill and donations of others.

This has become a real problem in recent times.  The newsletter gives a graphic example of how some charities in the country are facing difficulty in finding local support as a result of the events in the south last summer.  It’s not the only example I have heard of, where charities have been told something like: “Sorry, I know that we’ve helped you in the past, but all of our charitable budget is being directed to help those who suffered from the events in Osh last year.”  The tragic events in Osh did result in a crying and urgent need for assistance, but it’s a pity that the result is that other good causes are left struggling and in even more dire straits than before.  It stikes me as important that we don’t overlook them, or worse – forget them.

Chynara and her family are currently looking after eleven children … but the number varies from time to time.  As I understand it, the idea is not provide them with a permanent home, but a place place of refuge in times of need before they can return to their extended families.

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The report on the microfinance projects give some examples of people who have received micro credits.  The sums received by each of the “clients” is not large, but they provide a good example of Hugh’s oft quoted maxim at work … “a little goes a long way – especially in Kyrgyzstan“.

When I first met Hugh and heard about his projects, I was more keen on supporting the orphanage than on the micro credit funds, but the more I learn about micro credit operations, the more I understand how important they are.   The newsletter gives some examples of how the “clients” have nowhere else to turn to in order to receive assistance.  The banks require sureties and because of their overheads, both banks and some of the other microfinance organizations, (credit unions and so forth), can’t offer the same flexibility and levels of interest rates that these projects can.

Once again, the question of sustainability is important, and it is good to note that loans are being repaid in full and on time.

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You can download the newsletter in pdf format here:  Karakol_orphanage_update May 2011.

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These days, news travels far and wide.  This fact was brought home to me last week by a letter which arrived addressed to the hotel.

There was no addressee on the envelope, just two UK stamps, an “air mail” sticker, and a printed label displaying the hotel address, (with Bishkek misspelt).  Inside were three small pieces of paper held together by a paperclip.

Two were identical.  They were about the size of half a sheet of A5 paper, and reminded me of the postcards that you would see  in the local shop or postoffice on a small noticeboard.  Indeed that’s probably what the were because the third piece of paper, the smallest, bore the legend:

Could you display these small posters for us please?
We would be very grateful indeed.
With thanks and best wishes,
PAWS IN NEED reg charity 1110537

It seems likely that the news item a couple of weeks ago about the local authorities announcing that they intended to shoot stray dogs in the capital had been seen by members of the charity and they had decided to do something about it.  I know that the story got quite wide publicity around the globe, probably as a result of the estimate that as many as 10000 animals could be targeted, (literally).

There are mixed feelings, locally, about the strays.  Whilst some people feel pity for the poor animals, other are all in favour of the measure.  Trust the British to feel sympathy for our “dumb friends”, but there are some grounds for concern.

According to the news reports there are a large number of them roaming the streets of Bishkek, and residents of some of the Microdistricts, (the residential districts, or suburbs, on the outskirts of town), are reported to be scared by them.

Most of the ones I see in the city center, (where I spend most of my time because that’s where I live, have my office and the hotel), are in ones and twos.  There is one pack which often I sometimes see which consists of about five animals which run together and make an amuzing sight because they are different breeds and sizes.  On the whole they are wary of people, and although they may yap at passers by, they turn tail and run more than they threaten anyone.  The solo dogs are more “aggressive”, standing their ground more and barking loudly, but they too turn tail and run at the first sign that someone is paying  attention to them.

A bigger problem seems to be the domestic animals that are often kept as guard dogs.  They can bark well into the night disturbing sleep.  We had one living near to the hotel when it opened and we installed additional double glazing to help deaden the noise.  Fortunately, it is no longer a problem.

I do know one lady who lives in a village outside Bishkek, who was bitten by such a dog who had managed to get out of the yard and into the street, but it wasn’t a stray animal.

One of the real concerns is that there is Rabies in the country.  Back in the UK, we are fortunately free of this disease, but we are aware of the potential threat posed by it.  I once got bitten by a dog in France, in a village on the outskirts of Paris.  Once again, it was a household pet.  I can tell you that I spent a few anxious nights worrying about it.  If it had been a stray dog, the doctor said, then he might have considered a course of treatment but, because it was a pet,  it was unlikely to have been infected and it would be possible to arrange for it to be kept under observation.

We sometimes get asked by tourists for advice about Rabies and, for the record, here is what we tell them:

Rabies is an acute viral infection of the nervous system.  Once symptoms develop in humans the disease is usually fatal however, if someone is bitten, then it is possible to get “post-exposure” treatment which – if given early enough – usually prevents the disease developing.  Symptoms include delirium and painful muscle spasms in the throat.

Rabies can be contracted through a bite from an infected animal.  There is a vaccine treatment against the disease and the CDC advices that travellers who might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through your work or recreation consider vaccination.  The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on the other hand says:

“Rabies vaccination before travel is only recommended for those who may be exposed to an unusual risk of infection or who are undertaking long journeys in remote areas where medical treatment may not be immediately available.”

In any case, vaccination does not remove the need for urgent medical treatment in the case of a bite from an infected animal.

To avoid Rabies it is advised that you should: Avoid contact with animals: wild, stray or apparently tame.  In any case, do not allow an animal to lick you; Cover all breaks in your skin (cuts, grazes, abrasions) with a sticky plaster or dressing.

If you are bitten: Wash the wound immediately using soap, (or detergent) and rinse with clean water; Disinfect the wound, for example with alcohol or some other strong disinfectant; Consult a doctor – or hospital.  Explain that you have been bitten by animal that might be rabid; Make a note of the details of the incident – time, place, a description of the animal – including if it was wild, stray or domestic; Inform the local police; Inform the nearest consul or embassy and Consult your doctor immediately on your return home.

You should also ensure that your insurance policy covers emergency repatriation under these circumstances.

There is reportedly rabies in mountain areas, and most hospitals carry stocks of vaccine.  Although we have never heard of a tourist contacting this disease, we do know of one case, some years ago, where a tourist was bitten by a dog and had to undergo a course of treatment.  In 2003 there were about 50 cases of rabid animals, mostly dogs, reported in the republic, and in 2004 a number of people died from Rabies following dog bites.  The incubation period can be as long as one year and clinical signs or symptoms include breathing complications, and the fear of water and light.  Rabies is also found in neighbouring countries including China so you should be careful about contact with animals.

I have come across this policy of shooting stray dogs before, in Naryn.  At that time there had been a number of cases of dogs worrying sheep and the authorities had issued an order that dogs worrying sheep were to be shot, and a bounty was paid for them.  Although there weren’t any sheep in the town, stray dogs were duly shot on sight.  Now, it so happened that one of our staff had a dog which he brought to work the guesthouse, and it wandered out through the gate, which happened to be open, into the street where a marksman found it and dispatched it.

Cats are not in such danger.  At the moment I have three cats, and two of them arrived as strays.    In fact we have had quite a large number of strays arrive over the years, but have been lucky enough to find homes for most of them.  To be honest, I suspect that these two in particular were really domestic pets that had been abandoned, because they were remarkably tame and used to human company.  Garfield, (the ginger one, very imaginatively named), for example, sat patiently inside the corridor outside the office and when someone opened the door he just marched in, found the saucer of where some cat food was laid out for one of the others, and started scoffing.  He’s now settled down, (they both have), and is considered part of the team in the office.  They even have their own Job Description.

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Anyway, I decided to do a piece of “due diligence” and find out a little about this charity.

I searched in Google for “Paws in Need” and came up with quite a few links to sites reporting on various activities, mainly in the US, concerning animals in distress.  “Paws in Need” seems to be a catchy title, maybe because of the abreciation, “PIN”.  I didn’t come across this organization, however, so I went to the Charity Commissioner’s website and typed into the search box the registration number.  Up came a page of information about the charity.

Everything seemed to fit and looked in order, (except that the website listed there didn’t seem to be working).

The stated aim of the charity is to “provide neutering, vetinary help, and food for stray dogs and cats and also assist small groups helping them.”  They further say that they seek to, “prevent and relieve the suffering and distress to dogs and cats who are in need of care and attention by reason of sickness or because they are stray, have been abandoned, neglected or maltreated.”

It’s a small charity, raising less than ten thousand pounds annually, so it doesn’t need to submit annual accounts, although they do submit an Annual Return/Update to the commissioners and have done so ever since they were established back in 2005.  According to the information on the page, they support groups in Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Portugal and Spain.  It seems as if they are intending to expand their efforts to Kyrgyzstan.

Well, I am not sure what help they are proposing that they can offer, but we have passed the information onto a family that we know who do look after some stray dogs and they promised to get in touch with the charity.

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This last week I have had a stream of visitors asking to see me, each of them, so it seems, with an air of shy embarrassment and hopeful expectation, and each of them clutching a piece of paper.

I know them all.  We’ve before and the conversation starts with general small talk: How are you?, How’s business?, What strange weather we are experiencing and that sort of thing.  Although such small talk is a common feature of any meeting, it’s especially important in Asia where conversations tend to go “all round the hills” before coming to the main point in the concluding moments of any meeting.  It can be rude to try and shortcut the process or trying to speed up the discussion by trying to jump to the point prematurely, even when pleading pressures of business or some other tactic.  In these particular cases, people say they understand and hurriedly present their case, but it is clear that all you have done is to have ruffled their feathers and emphasised their unease and discomfort.

Why unease and discomfort?  Because the pieces of paper they are clutching are letters asking for sponsorship.  They are representatives of various voluntary organizations and charities planning to organize some event and the budget exceeds their meagre finances so they have to seek out additional support.  To many of the older generation, brought up in the Soviet Union where the State cared for you from cradle to grave, they feel as if they are coming “cap in hand”, begging for a handout.

In a way, of course, they are right.

As I said, I know them all, those who have come to see this last week. We’ve met before and we have given them sponsorship in the past for this event or that, for one activity or another.  Now, they are coming to ask if we will be able to support them this year as well.  They have a problem because most of those who have sponsored them in the past have pleaded poverty, a result of the downturn in their business since the revolution and social upheaval of last year, or they say that all of their budget for charitable causes has been designated to other causes, (for example, helping the communities down south which have been riven by the violent disorders during the summer).  There are fewer sponsors this year, they explain, and those that have agreed to support them are pledging smaller sums.  They are finding it difficult to raise the funds necessary to carry out their activities and they have had cut back on their plans.  All of this has, of course, only heightened their anxiety and sense of unease.

During the course of a year we receive a huge number of such appeals and it is always a difficult and agonizing task to decide which ones to support, (and to what extent), and which ones we have to decline.

Such decisions of which charity to support are usually based on either emotional appeals of personal circumstances.  We all feel sympathy, for example, for children with terrible diseases or in need of a life saving operation and stories crammed with personal details accompanied by photos appeal to our feelings of compassion.  On other occasions, the problems of a family member or friend can induce us to support a cause with fewer photogenic possibilities.

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Last year, I was introduced by one of our investors to a charity with which he is involved: HealthProm.  They are based in the UK but also work here in Central Asia, as well other places around the former Soviet block.

It was established in 1984, before the break up of the Soviet Union, by doctors and other health professionals with the aim of promoting health education through various activities such as tours, conferences and exchange visits.  Over the years they have expanded their activities and now include projects covering social care for children in vulnerable situations.  As their website puts it, their mission is “to achieve sustainable, culturally sensitive dissemination of best practices in health and social care for vulnerable groups in the region in partnership with our overseas partners”

As their name implies, they do not provide services directly but rather aim to promote and build the capacity of their local partners, mostly through in-service training and the development of services.  That’s hardly rich in photogenic opportunities likely to pull at our heartstrings, but nevertheless worthy and important, especially in a region rich in need but hamstrung by financial difficulties.

Their current portfolio of activities focuses on reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, and on working with people with disabilities, through projects currently in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.  As well as providing support for programmes aimed at “safe childbirth”, they also aim to support parents to care for their children, especially children with disabilities, and so reduce the institutionalisation of babies and small children.

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As it happened, a couple of weeks ago, I was able to meet some of the people involved as they were in Bishkek for a conference called “Innovative approaches to working with children with special needs and their families: Kyrgyzstan and international experience”.   Despite the fact that it’s not a catchy title, apparently it was very successful, drawing together some 140 people from around the region.

(One of the interesting highlights, according to one of the attendees to whom I spoke, which provided a lighter moment in the crowded agenda, involved a lecture/demonstration on the mundane but important task of bathing an infant.)

This was just one of their activities in Kyrgyzstan, where they are concentrating on work with children with disabilities, (“special needs”).  These children are particularly vulnerable as many of them who do not receive any school education at all.  I have seen several reports in the local media and on the internet during the last year drawing attention to the plight of families with disabled children and one common feature in many of these reports is the link between disability and poverty.  It’s not only the cost of providing care for children with disabilities, in many cases the demands of caring for their child exclude parents from earning an income, making them particularly vulnerable.

One project, based in Bishkek and Issyk Kul, has involved working with their local partners on improving the health and well-being of both young children with disabilities, (between birth and seven years of age), and their parents, providing access to information, (including public awareness campaigns as well as multi-disciplinary training for local specialists and volunteers); community-based support services (working  together with their local partners they have established two day centers and provided a minibus for outreach services); emotional and practical support to new families of children with special needs through counselling.

Another aims to establish and strengthen sustainable community-based support mechanisms, mainly in the Talas region.  Support is being provided to parents groups to become local Family Support Centers, increasing access to basic health, social and educational services as well as providing flexible and affordable childcare and income-generating opportunities to parents.

One of the imaginative results of their work together with The Association of Parents of Disabled Children, (ARDI), IT and media specialists, a group of housebound children have been able to connect to the internet and create their own blog, (in Russian: http://my-osobennye.livejournal.com/), featuring stories, pictures and several video clips.  This has helped them to make new friends on-line, tell their stories thus breaking down stigma towards disability  and has been featured on local and Russian TV.

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Like most of the charities that have been to see me in the last week or so, they have to “cut their cloth according to their means”.  Their budget in 2009/10 was worth over a quarter of a million pounds, the majority of which came in the form of grants, and something like 96% of it was spent on delivering their operational programmes, (which looks like a pretty good ratio to me).  The administration, (accounting for the other 4%) is provided by a small staff based in London and they publish their accounts on their web.

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Amongst the things that I particularly like about HealthProm is that they work with local partners emphasising capacity building and sustainability, which means that help given today should be effective for several years to come.

To find out more you can visit their website, www.healthprom.org, subscribe to their e-mail newsletter and/or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

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Safely cocooned and beavering away in my office at various mundane tasks, muttering to myself under my breath at each and every one of the interruptions that arose and dragged me away from the task currently at hand, it was only as the afternoon progressed that started to I heard something about a massive earthquake in Japan through tweets on Twitter.  To be honest, I didn’t take much notice of the news until later in the evening when I eventually decided that enough was enough, pushed the keyboard back, fed the cats and I climbed the stairs to my flat to make myself a meal and settle down to an evening watching the television.

Unlocking the door, I walked in, removed my shoes (it’s de riggeur here when entering a house or a flat and it’s become a habit), turned on the TV and headed into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee.  Whilst the kettle was boiling I returned to the main room intending to go into the bedroom and change into something a little more comfortable.  I never made it.  The cup of coffee and any thought of a meal were also put on hold as I stood, and eventually collapsed onto the couch, mesmerized by the news coverage.  What I saw shocked me.  No doubt it shocked many other people around the globe, too.

The shaky images shot inside a supermarket and offices showing people scattering, running for cover; the swaying light fittings and pictures; the rocking furniture and the falling of objects, (books, files and ornaments), to the floor showed power of the quake and I thought of the few small quakes that I have experienced here in Bishkek, instinctively thanking whatever forces govern our destinies that I hadn’t lived through anything like that.

This is an Earthquake zone and the possibility of a serious earthquake is one of my recurring worries.  Members of my staff are used to hearing my concerns over fire drills and exits, evacuation routines and emergency procedures, and my repetition of the phrase, “It’s not just fire that worries me, think of a bomb explosion, or an earthquake!”

I subscribe to a news alert from the United States Geological Survey.  They send me an email whenever there is an earthquake of magnitude 4 or above anywhere around the world.  I originally subscribed in order to get news about earthquakes in this region but there are so many that I have thought about cancelling it.  Some weeks I met get 150 such emails.  In the last two days I have received over 550!

The video was dramatic, but nothing compared to that which followed of the Tsunami sweeping across farmland, taking all before it that stood in its path: vehicles, boats being washed far inland, even uprooting buildings from their foundations and carrying them like pieces of paper as flotsam and jetsam as it sped inland.  It was the sheer speed of the onrush of that tide that shook me first of all.

Much of the commentary seemed mundane, repetitive and shallow but, to be fair, it reflected the thoughts of shock and awe that were running through my brain.  It can’t be easy being a newscaster having to respond instantly to events unfolding before you, about which you know little, or nothing, and having to keep talking, to prevent any eerie silence that might heighten and worsen any effect of the scenes unfolding on the screen.

As snippets of information seeped through in the sequence of observations being offered by the various pundits, I was able to suspend my stunned shock and horror and reflect on what I was seeing.

Much of the video should not have been so surprising, I thought to myself, remembering similar clips from the Kobe earthquake and the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004.  The difference that made it so effective was the immediacy.  They had been reports of something that had happened but this was something that was unfolding before our very eyes.  True, some of the more dramatic footage was of events that had occurred a  short time before, but the constant switching to live coverage from places far afield from each other showing the latest situation brought home the fact that it was not over and a very real human crisis was underway.

This went on to a guilty feeling of vicarious voyeurism.  Thanking my lucky stars once more that I wasn’t experiencing the same horror and panic as those I was watching courtesy of CNN and the BBC whose wall to wall coverage of the event had taken over the airways and captured my attention so effectively.

I have known several such incidents in my time where live news coverage has brought my world to a temporary stop whilst I sit enthralled, absorbed in the moment of history through which I am living, such as: The Iranian Embassy siege in London; the sinking of the Herald of Free Enterprise; September 11th 2001, of course; the Tulip Revolution in 2005 and the Easter Revolution of 2011.

They have all been different, of course. The SAS assault which ended the Iranian Embassy siege was dramatic, but short and surrounded by mystery as the existence of this existence and nature of this elite group of Special Forces had to be explained to an incredulous public.  The Herald of Free Enterprise happened in the early morning and there was video, but the regular radio programming was suspended as reports came in and were instantly related to an anxious public.

I particularly remember hearing one American commentator saying that this wall to wall coverage with the suspension of normal programming would be almost impossible in the States and had only having ever occurred on a few momentous occasions such as the assignation of JFK.  How times have changed.

In the case of 9/11, I didn’t watch most of the coverage.  I was working in my office and received a phone call: “Do you remember going to the Twin Towers in New York?”, “Yes.”  “A plane has just crashed into the building and it’s on fire.  It’s all over the news if you want to watch.”  So, I duly went and watched, but just for a few minutes before returning to the office and the reports awaiting completion.  Later another call, “A second plane …” led to another few minutes of couch potato behavior.  A third phone call led to me seeing the collapse of the towers.  I didn’t stay any longer.  I found it too upsetting.  I have never been fond of either horror, or disaster movies and the scenes unfolding on the small screen before me, although fascinating, brought out this dislike which was intensified by the knowledge that it was “for real”.  Those people weren’t actors playing a role and going home when shooting was done.  They were real people going through “hell on earth”, panicking, suffering injuries, dying.

It was much closer to home in the case of the two revolutions, of course.  Those events were happening on my doorstep – literally – and the news coverage was both welcome and frustrating just as it was fascinating and frightening.  Welcome, because I got news of what was happening as events unfolded elsewhere, not just on my doorstep.  Frustrating because it was episodic and some of the commentary seemed repetitive and mundane, (and sometimes not exactly fair and accurate, at least as far as I could tell).  Fascinating because it was unfolding here and now, playing on that aspect of human nature of curiosity, wanting to know what was going on albeit vicariously, without necessarily being involved.  Frightening because of the violence of events and knowing that it was happening not far away, just outside my door in fact.

This was much the same, but more so.  Intensified by a factor of … well, many fold.

Eventually, the time came when I realized that I had to eat, I had to sleep, that life goes on.  It was nighttime, and the reports were now concentrating on the preparation being made about the Pacific Rim for the expected onslaught of the Tsunami.  The drama was over for the turn being.  I turned the television off, and did both.

Saturday, a quick review of the latest news and time to reflect further.

Andrei asked what the government was doing.  He meant the Japanese government, and I tried to explain that the first thing was to assess the situation, to decide what action was needed … they would be gathering information to know what sort of help was needed, where and on what scale.  They would also be trying to “make safe” and rescue people where possible.  It would be some time before they begin reconstruction and restoration so that normal life could resume.

As it happens, the Kyrgyz government was considering what they could do as well.   An announcement was made by the Ministry of Emergency Situations that they were considering what sort of help they could offer.  What can we offer?  A good question.  The government doesn’t have enough funds in the budget to cover its our expenses and the country has a huge debt to foreign donors. As it happens, ironically, Japan is one of the major supporters of Kyrgyzstan and the country receives considerable aid from Japan.

At the moment it looks like personnel may be sent to help with the rescue and clean up operations, which has raised tentative comments about the cost involved and whether Kyrgyzstan can actually afford this help – especially bearing in mind that we are living on “borrowed money” – not to mention the “ethics” of borrowing from “Peter” in order to repay “Paul”, (or in this case, borrowing, say, USD10000 from Peter in order to send him assistance, spending USD8000 in the process so that he gets help to the value of just USD2000).

I suppose that, for example, if we have any tents or supplies left over following the events in the South last year, and if Japan decides they need them, then maybe these could be redirected there.

In the meantime, some young people have already decided show their sympathy for and empathy with the people of Japan in their time of trouble by organizing a symbolic gathering outside the Japanese embassy here in Bishkek.  They laid flowers, signed a letter of condolences and lit candles … the usual sort of activities for such a vigil.  It was even the subject of a live broadcast on the internet.

But, what about practical help?  Of course, direct help, assistance given to those directly affected, is preferable if at all possible, but if not then support for those who can is the next best option.

If official resources are scant, then it is possible that individuals may be able to do something.  In many countries around the world, when there have been catastrophic disasters, special “disaster relief funds” have been set up in order to channel the public’s compassion and concern into raising funds for relief efforts.  There is already talk of setting up such a fund here in Kyrgyzstan, but I’m not sure that this is the right approach.

The important thing is for assistance to be given where it is needed, and that it is appropriate to the needs of those who are affected by the events.  The people best placed to judge this, to assess the situation and what is needed, are those “on the ground”.  The people in Japan, with the training and experience of working in such disaster zones, need to assess the situation and tell the rest of us around the world what is needed.  Then, it is necessary to get whatever it is to them.  The best way to do this is not to organize small and diverse fund but to use the those with established networks and experience, people like the Red Cross/Red Crescent and the United Nations Disaster Relief agencies.

I have written before about Pamir Bridges, a Swiss charity that aims to renovate bridges in rural areas, often high in the mountains, in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan.

Last week I received the notification of four “soirées”, or Cultural Evenings, they are organizing in March and their Annual General Meeting which will be held in April.

As it is their tenth anniversary, it’s obviously a big occasion for them.  Since they were founded in 2001, they have identified over 70 bridges in need of attention and managed to repair 40 of them.  They have also held some 45 such soirées in Switzerland, France and the USA; provided support for Ecotourism activities in the region and arranged for the translation of a book by Ellie Maillart into Kyrgyz.

If anyone happens to be in the area at the time and has some free time, they offer the chance for a nice evening out, learning a little about life in the remote mountains of Central Asia as well as Pamir Bridges and their work.

• 16th March – in Solothurn – at the Landhaus (Säulenhalle), Landhausquai 4, (about 3 minutes on foot from the station)
• 17th March – in Sursee – at Dägersteinstrasse 1, Pfarreiheim Sursee
• 18th March – in Lucerne – at Lukassaal, Murbacherstasse
• 19th March – in Basle – at the Union and Cultural Center

The soirées are all free and all start at 19:30, and the programme is:

19:30 “A shepherd’s life” – a film by Serge Musy
19:50 “Expeditions to the Little Pamir of Afghanistan” a film by Dao Truong and Bernard Repond
Intermission
20:45 “Bridge 53″, bridges in the Pamir – a film by Omar Barubaev

Also, Ishen Obolbekov, a Kyrgyz horseman from Barskoon on the southern shores of Lake Issyk Kul, will be available to answer questions about Kyrgyzstan.

Handicrafts from Kyrgyzstan will be available for sale with proceeds going towards supporting the work of “Pamir’s Bridges”.

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The Annual General Meeting is being held on April 6th in Fribourg, I the Panorama Hall at the NH Hotel, (Ex-EUROTEL), 14 Grandes Places – just a three minute walk from the station.   It will be followed by Dinner and another Soirée.

The programme starts at 17:30 with the usual business matters, (minutes of the last meeting, reports from the President on the year’s activities and a financial report, as well as plans for the future and elections of officers.  Although it’s technically a meeting of the Society, it’s open to members of the public.  It will be followed at 18:30 by a dinner, (37 Swiss Francs – without drinks), and then at 19:30 by a “conference” and films.

20:00 «Afghanistan – Europe: drug roads», a presentation by René Cagnat, a writer and specialist on Central Asia.
20:45 “Expeditions to the Little Pamir of Afghanistan”, a film by Dao Truong and Bernard Repond
21:15 Intermission
21:30 “Bridge 53″, bridges in the Pamir – a film by Omar Barubaev

Ishen Obolbekov will be available to answer questions once more, as well the chance to buy handmade handicrafts.  There will also be an exhibition of photographs by Dao Truong.

Oh, and there will be a collection made for the benefit of the Association’s funds.

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You can find out more about Pamir Bridges and their work on:  http://www.pamirbridges.ch/ or they can be contacted by email: pamirbridges@gmail.com or for more information you could call Bernard Repond in Switzerland on: 079 304 84 04