Building hope in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a country in Central Asia surrounded by land and 80 percent mountains. It has an estimated population of 5 million people and, of those, only 34 percent live in urban areas.

The country was one of the poorest in the former Soviet Union from which it became independent in 1991. Before independence, 55 percent of the population lived in poverty and 23 percent lived in extreme poverty.

Although these numbers are slowly decreasing, the situation remains alarming.

In urban areas, a large number of the population lives in concrete block apartment buildings remaining from the Soviet era in poor condition from lack of maintenance and repair.

Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, is where most of the dormitories, barracks and non-residential premises are located and where the population is growing due to domestic migration.

In 2005, 187 dormitories in Bishkek were identified as unsatisfactory dwellings. Most of them hadn’t had any renovation since they were built.

For example, the dormitory pictured here housed 281 families, each living in a room an average of 16 to 18 square meters and sharing a bathroom with six other families. Sewage pipes are rotting. Also, baths and sinks are broken, and people use their own bowls for washing and taking showers. The roof has leaks that erode the concrete floors, beams and walls. Concrete panels are cracking, and reinforcements are rusting.

Living in these kinds of conditions is unhealthy. Residents are constantly coming down with various illnesses and diseases. Also this unsafe environment makes it almost impossible for children to study and develop normally.

After becoming aware of this critical situation, Habitat for Humanity took action, establishing a four-year plan (2006 to 2009), with the following goals:

• Serve five times as many families in the next four years — up from 100 families during HFH Kyrgyzstan’s first five years to 513 families by the end of FY2009.

• Expand programs to four new regions of Kyrgyzstan and begin projects in response to local initiatives and partnership opportunities.

• Expand the national organization by creating four new national board committees, four new regional committees and subcommittees, and by adding regional program and project staff as needed.

• Increase awareness of poverty housing and the Habitat solution in Kyrgyzstan.

• Conduct a fund-raising campaign to more than double funds received by FY2009.

• Conduct an intensive local and international volunteer recruitment program.

• Expand and improve the training program for all participants.

Already, HFH has renovated two apartment blocks providing healthy and decent shelter for families. The change in the quality of life and atmosphere has been remarkable.

The main objectives of these two renovation projects were the reconstruction of the dormitory roofs and apartments and the training of condominium members in legal association issues. They were also trained in health, safety, education and work issues.

These activities combined give people the opportunity to provide improved health, education, work and safety for their families.