BISHKEK, June 21, 2011. Today the World Bank Bishkek Office announced the results of the Civil Society Fund 2011. Ten Kyrgyz non-profit, non-governmental organizations have been selected as finalists to receive grant awards to implement projects focusing on civic engagement. The WB Bishkek Office had received 103 project proposals from NGOs across the country. A committee represented by WB Bishkek Office respective staff and external partners reviewed the proposals and selected the finalists.
“Through this Program the Bank is actively interacting with civil society organizations, as well as with small community groups outside major cities”, – says Alexander Kremer, Country Manager in the Kyrgyz Republic. “We do value these small community driven projects which build local capacity. The World Bank looks forward to strengthening its cooperation with NGOs in Kyrgyz Republic on development issues.”
Under the CSF-2011, the following NGOs have been selected to implement their proposed projects:
1. Public Fund "Door Media", Bishkek. The project "We are Together" aims at social integration of 30 disabled kids from Bishkek. The project team will conduct trainings to help kids with disabilities acquire social and self-education skills via Internet and social networks. Using video and photo equipment the children will develop a multimedia coverage on social topics and will raise the issues of concern for them. They will get an opportunity to interact with peers, and using new knowledge to identify future profession.
2. Public fund “Hearing and speaking skills development Center”, Chon-Aryk village. Under the project «I live among you!!! » 50 family members and parents with deaf children will obtain gesture language skills and develop video - manual on gesture language. An information database will be developed to help parents exchange their experience within the network. The parents will also learn about laws on children's rights protection and obtain skills of conflict prevention.
3. Public fund "Women of Central Asia are for Peace and Stability", Bishkek. “Improved access to social protection and health care for rural women in Batken and Djalal-Abad oblasts who suffer from breast cancer". The project will conduct information campaign for women in poorest and remote Batken and Djalal-Abad oblasts to promote the importance of early diagnosis of the disease - the breast cancer. The project will organize mobile counseling services to be offered by Cancer Center physicians and medical examination for 1000 women in remote areas.
4. Public fund "Youth Network of Peer Training "Y-Peer", Bishkek. “Healthy body - healthy spirit” project is aimed at civic engagement of teenagers from 5 boarding schools in Chui oblast. The project will carry out activities, such as trainings of social skills, healthy life style, interactive methodologies for 120 teenagers deprived of parental care and tutors of 5 boarding schools.
5. Public fund «Otrada I Uteshenie», Kant, Chuy oblast. «Youth Free of Violence is a Norm». This project will draw public attention to the issues and causes of increasingly aggressive behaviors among teenagers from risk groups. Discussions with parents will allow strengthening intra-family links. Series of trainings will be conducted for parents, school teachers on legal issues, conflict management, civic participation and social mobilization.
6. Public fund "Jeti-Oguz Aiymy", Kyzyl-Suu village, Issyk-Kul oblast. “Childhood Free of Violence” project aims at reducing school-based racket and suicide. Information campaign through community mobilization, involvement of civil society and state authorities will cover 33 schools in Jeti-Oguz rayon. The project will reach out to 660 teenagers, from dysfunctional families and single parent families including those under observation of law enforcement authorities.
7. Public fund "Daanaker", Djalal-Abad. “Human Rights of People with Disabilities” project will provide legal counseling to 120 handicapped people in Djalal- Abad city and Suzak rayon of Djalal-Abad oblast. Beneficiaries will learn to protect their rights in various instances and will receive information on where and how handicapped people can find employment and what privileges they have according to legislation for making contributions to the Social Fund.
8. Public fund «El kutu Ayalzat», Chaek village, Naryn oblast. «Let's make our village cleaner as this is our home! » proposal addresses the issue of waste management in the village: households’ garbage is dumped into the river, thus leading to increased infectious disease rates. The project will mobilize 2 thousand residents of Chaek village and carry out community outreach activities to maintain hygiene and sanitary requirements in the village. 200 garbage bins will be installed along the central street.
9. Public fund "Media Center “Demge - Dem", Osh. “Consolidating active young people and journalists in the south of Kyrgyzstan to promote socially beneficial activities”. The project will train 15 members of youth NGOs and journalists from Osh, Djalal-Abad and Batken oblasts to help them obtain skills of organizing socially oriented activities. The young people will be trained on producing social b-rolls and develop plots on social campaigns. 4 social campaigns will be promoted via Internet will be organized with participation of 100 volunteers among students and unemployed people. The project outcomes will be broadcasted on OTRK (Public TV and Radio Company).
10. Public fund «Smail.KG», Osh. «Joy of Life» project will create rehabilitation opportunities and provide access to education, facilitate social skills and creativity among street children and teenagers at the Center for Children with Special Needs "Luch Nadezhdy" in Osh oblast children's library. The NGO will hold an information campaign to draw public attention to the issues of homeless children in Osh city. The activities planned under the project include trainings for homeless kids.
The WB Bishkek Office will closely interact with the grant recipients on regular basis during the implementation period of projects to ensure that the objectives and goals agreed upon for each project are met.
This is the fifteenth year the World Bank Civil Society Fund is implemented in Kyrgyz Republic. During this period seventy-two local NGOs have received grants in the total amount of USD 470,000 disbursed by the WB Bishkek Office.
