SOS Children in Kyrgyzstan
A small, mountainous, rural country, Kyrgyzstan became independent following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The economic situation, created in part by Kyrgyzstan's failure to complete the transition from communism, continues to be dire. Factories remain closed, unemployment has soared and malnutrition is rife. A growing number of children live and work in the market bazaars without parental supervision, and there are increasing rates of institutionalisation and abandonment of children by parents who are unable to cope.
The charity began working in Kyrgyzstan in 1999 when a community was opened in the capital Bishkek. The village, in a pine forest near Ata-Turk Park, has fourteen family houses built in a circle to symbolize the sun with gardens for flowers and vegetables alongside each one. An SOS nursery school provides pre-school education for children from the village and the neighbourhood. In 2002, an SOS School for 300 primary and secondary pupils was added to the facilities at Bishkek.
Kyrgyzstan's second village, SOS Children Cholpon-Ata opened in 2002 on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. The village has twelve family houses and a four-classroom nursery school for up to 80 children. A multi-purpose sports ground is used for ice-skating and hockey in the winter and baseball and football in the summer by both SOS and local children. There is also an SOS Family Strengthening Programme to help prevent abandonment helping nearly 400 vulnerable children and their families.
Local contacts
SOS Children's Villages Kyrgyzstan
Isanova Street 94, Flat #3
720001 Bishkek / Kyrgyzstan
Tel +996/312/61 0727
Fax +996/312/66 1727
e-mail: sosncoab@transfer.kg
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