Karakol Orphanage & Micro Credit Projects
Caring for Kyrgyzstan's Underpriviledged
Since December 2004 Jean and Hugh Coulter have been involved with humanitarian activities in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan, one of the poorest countries in the world. Rural areas in particular are very poverty stricken. Initially their fund raising activities supported the Karakol Adoption and Rehabilitation Centre for orphans, a NGO organisation that provides a safe and caring environment for orphans as well as abandoned street children. The orphanage is run by Chynara and her band of volunteers; all provide their services free of charge.
In June 2007 they decided to expand their assistance to widen impact of it in the community at large and initiated a pilot microcredit scheme aimed at supporting individuals, who had no access to credit but had viable commercial ideas to develop a business. A little money goes a long way in Kyrgyzstan so loans of between €100 to €200 were the norm. By November all loans to the pilot projects were repaid so the funds were recycled for new projects and a further injection of funds was also provided.
They were also keen to focus some of the microcredit for women's activities and felt this was best done through support to a small microcredit scheme managed by very dynamic lady who ran a NGO that worked closely with women’s groups. In October 2007 through donated funds 8 women in two women’s groups were supported with €100 each.
The Golf Classic in May 2006 at Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club, Ireland, raised €12,000 and further spin off activities brought the total donations to €24,541. With these funds we purchased a new orphanage building. The total cost of the building, together with a large garden and orchard, was €15,625. The final payment for the building was made on 7 October 2006. Following the purchase we set to refurbishing the building and most of these works were completed in time for the official opening on 28 October.
The Karakol Orphanage now caters for between 10 and 25 children, but does so on a temporary basis as the objective is to get the children returned to their families or extended families. During 2007 23 children were returned to their families and since the orphanage has started it has catered for over 150 children in this manner. Outside we have funded the construction of new fence and gates, installed railings on steps to the proposed playground area and concreted the upper yard.
In September the orphanage recruited a Peace Corp Volunteer with a psychology degree and experienced in treating problem children and also in the preparation of nutritious food for children.
Jean & Hugh’s plans for the orphanage this year involve purchasing foodstuffs (USAID Mercy Corp programme provided basic rations but they stopped in May 2007 so since then Jean & Hugh have taken up responsibility for food requirements along with some local sponsors). They are also responsible for providing various medications for children suffering with epilepsy and other ailments, developing a playground for the children, equipping a study room (kids go to local schools), seeds and other inputs for potato production and have just initiated construction of a livestock house for the cow, calves, milking goat, sheep, geese and chicken.
The long term aim is to make the orphanage more sustainable, particularly in terms of their own food requirements, and selling surplus to purchase other basic requirement of the orphanage.
Karakol Micro-Business Fund
Jean and Hugh launched this scheme in June 2007 on a pilot basis with a contribution of €1000 and supervised by several of Hugh’s former local colleagues. Loans of €100 – €200 are provided to clients who have a good business idea but can’t access funds from any local financial institution. The actual selection of clients, management and supervision of the loans was left entirely to Hugh’s local colleagues who also provide business advice.
Initial projects included purchase of queen bees to expand a bee enterprise, renovation of a small commercial sauna, production of potatoes, support to car repair business.
By November all loans had been repaid and a second cycle of loans were approved and additional funds also provided. New projects include calf rearing, working capital for a street seller, and a range of projects aimed at expanding turnover such as the installation of IP–line, or funding of stock for grocery shops!
The emphasis from the beginning has been to organisationally strengthen our business clients so that they can acquire the capacity for planning and implementation of micro level business decisions.
Jean and Hugh are now planning to launch a new promotional initiative related to this microcredit scheme called “Sponsor a Village Microcredit Committee” with funds of about €2000 per village. The basic concept is to empower villagers to make their own decisions with regarding who obtains credit for small business ventures but with Hugh’s microcredit specialists providing supervision and advice to the beneficiaries. With over 40% of rural people living below the poverty level and over 20% living in extreme poverty, this initiative can make a huge difference to getting people out of poverty at the village level.
Karakol Microcredit for Women
Jean and Hugh were keen to focus some of the microcredit specifically for women's activities and felt that this was best done through support to a small microcredit scheme. Projects supported include a range of handicrafts, calf rearing, and production of homemade foodstuffs.
Visiting
We welcome visits to the project but would request you to please contact us locally in Bishkek first.
Support Needed
As you can see a small amount of money goes a long way in Kyrgyzstan and can make such a difference to the lives of the rural poor. Please contribute generously to these very worthy causes.
Karakol Orphanage A/c Ulster Bank,
104 West Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland
A/c No. 13403018
Sort code: 98-55-65
IBAN: IE03 ULSB 9855 6513 4030 18
BIC: ULSB IE 20
