Review of a review of the year
New year is approaching and it offers a time for reflecting on the events and activities that have taken place over the last twelve months and for making for the next twelve. A common feature of the last half of December is a series of Reviews of the Year; Person of the Year; Film of the Year … and so on. One of those reviews landed on my desk last week, from one of the charities that we support, Babushka Adoption.
I have written about Babushka Adoption before, (here and here), and you can find out more about them on their website, but I thought I would spend a few moments to “review the review”.
The newsletter began by setting the scene with a review of the social and economic uncertainties which we have experienced here in Kyrgyzstan in the last year, arising out of the revolution in April 2010 as well as the ever present perils such as inflation. Despite the difficulties working in this context, Babushka Adoption has continued trying to protect and support the elderly in the community by, both maintaining their existing services and also developing new ones.
They not only receive financial support from sponsors which is distributed in the form of regular grants, (albeit small grants), to their beneficiaries, but also grants from various aid agencies and international donor agencies … and also from many people here in Kyrgyzstan. It is possible to make donations through many of the Automatic Teller Machines that are found throughout Bishkek and users of the popular Diesel internet forum have also organized support including collecting funds to support a number of babushkas.
The core activity of Babushka Adoption is, of course, providing financial and social support by distributing the contributions made by their sponsors to almost 1000 babushkas and dedushkas, mainly in the Chui and Batken regions. However, they also do much more.
They have, for example, delivered other gifts, parcels and food packages, walking aids, crutches, clothes and bedding as well as translating letters and organized a variety of social events for their beneficiaries.
Social activities are important in that they can help bring people together to help one another, socialize and break out of the isolation that so many of the elderly suffer – a feature common to many societies, not just here in Kyrgyzstan.
In May, for example, they organized an event, in the village of Belevodskoye outside Bishkek, to commemorate the 66th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War, (or Great Patriotic War, as it is known here). Three veterans reflected on their experiences of the war and the first Victory Day, (May 9th, 1944); other members read monologues about the war a local choir, “Parmyat”, (which means “Memory” in Russian), performed songs from the period.
October saw the International Day of Older People, and Babushka Adoption organized a concert to commemorate the day, featuring some of the country’s talented opera singers and even pop groups.
During the year there were a number of activities under the umbrella of the national “From Heart to Heart” programme. Members of the Self Help Groups set up by the organization were able to sell handmade handicrafts, flowers and produce.
The Self Help Groups are an important part of their work and, as the name implies, are designed to encourage and help the elderly, and especially people those approaching retirement age, to help themselves by providing opportunities to engage in generating additional income. With the help of the German aid agency, GIZ, equipment was purchased to help various Self Help Groups with fund raising activities; sewing machines and irons as well as electric ovens.
One of the important activities they organize is training sessions on practical issues as varied as Plant Pests, Diseases of Rabbits and Diseases of Bees, Combining Silk and Felt and Marketing.
Their work is not, however, just concerned with raising income. Amongst the social activities they undertake are an exercise group and a choir organized by one of the local centers that have been established, The Center of Elderly Initiatives and Support, (in the village of Belvodskoye, which was opened with financial support from Holland).
The Self Help Groups also encouraging the idea of social responsibility where more active members of the group help in taking care of more immobile older people in their communities.
They have also been involved in advocacy and lobbying activities with members taking an active role in the lives and affairs of their local communities.
In fact, Babushka Adoption is involved in advocacy work aimed to protect the rights of older people and improving their living conditions. Working, for example, with the Ministry for Social Protection and other state bodies, representatives of the media and business community, they held a Round Table to discuss how to improve the image of the elderly in Kyrgyzstan.
During the year, with financial support from the United States Democracy Commission, they also implemented a programme, “Voice of the Elderly”, aimed at involving senior citizens in their own advocacy and lobbying; providing training and a brochure outlining the basic needs and rights of older citizens. Some members have started to extend their interests to environmental protection in their own communities.
Needless to say, the work of a body like Babushka Adoption raises considerable public interest and they have been featured on television during the course of the year, both here and abroad.
They have also received visits from some of the people from abroad who sponsor a babushka or dedushka and are always pleased to welcome such visitors.
Babushka Adoption is one of my favourite charities here in Kyrgyzstan. It offers practical support and helps to make a real difference; it is also a fine example of the principle, as Hugh Coulter so often said, that “a little goes a long way”!, and well worthy of support … all of which I hope my “review of the review goes to show.
Bishkek