Pamir Bridges
Our experience on the Kara Keche road, on the way down from Lake Son Kul, reminded me of the work of a Swiss charity which works here in Central Asia: Pamir Bridges.
I was introduced to “Pamir Bridges” by Bernard, a Swiss citizen who, as well as being involved in the region over many years is also one of the founders and has served as President of the Charity.
Their work that they undertake is based on a very simple concept, but is limited, targeted, practical and effective in making a real difference to the lives of the local population.
The idea is to renovate bridges in rural areas, often high in the mountains, in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Since 2001, they have identified over 70 bridges in need of attention and managed to repair over 37 of them.
Why bridges? Because they are a vital and essential link, a lifeline, for the people who live in remote settlements in the mountains – often amongst the poorest in the country – and they provide a means of transportation, trade and communication with other areas of the country. Often, when a bridge is damaged, the community on the far side is cut off, and even if they are not actually unable to travel, to transport their livestock, or to communicate with the outside world, they experience considerable difficulty in doing so.
For the rehabilitation of these bridges, preference is always given to local materials, such as wood and stone.
The project also helps to provide jobs for the local people who are often amongst the poorest in the country and would otherwise almost exclusively be occupied with raising animals or forestry jobs.
To help raise the funds necessary in order to fulfill their mission, they rely on subscriptions and donations … but they also organize special events celebrating Central Asian nomadic culture …
You can find out more about Pamir Bridges and their work on: http://www.pamirbridges.ch/
Bishkek