A little goes a long way!
It’s that time of year again, time for the regular quarterly report from Hugh and Jean about the activities at the Karakol Orphanage and the two micro credit organizations that they support. The update arrived in the email, and anyone who would like to see a copy, a pdf version can be found here.
Hugh is a consultant who has undertaken a number of projects here in Kyrgyzstan, and it was whilst on one of those, and based in Karakol, that he first came across the orphanage and began to look for ways to help support them. One long term project finished last year, but he has been contracted to come here again and so the couple are able to continue their support and maintain close contact with the people in Karakol.
As it happens, Hugh was here last year, but he was diagnosed with cancer and med-evacuated back to the UK for treatment. They seem to have caught it early and he has responded well to treatment, so much so that he is due back in Kyrgyzstan next month.
The people in Karakol have been working away, both at the orphanage and the two microcredit organizations and the January newsletters of what they have been doing, how they have spent the money that they have raised so far, (over EUR15,000 last year), and what their future plans are.
I have said before that two of the things that really impress me about these projects are the emphasis on sustainability and the fact that, as Hugh is constantly saying, “a little goes a long way!” The microcredit organizations, for example, have helped something like 60 clients – and the average credit is just EUR250. The newsletter gives some examples of the sort of things they have supported.
The number of kids being supported in the Orphanage varies, from 11 to 21. Actually, they are not all orphans, and the aim is always to try and get the children back into a home setting wherever possible. Although ten children were resettled with relatives, another seven joined the orphanage during the year. Since the orphanage opened they have provided care for over 260 children.
.
For those of you on Facebook, they even have a group page: Karakol Orphanage and Microcredit Projects – email: – why not go and check it out? It’s worth a look.
Bishkek