Infographic in Russian "How to be excluded from "black list" of RF migration department

Как выйти из "черного списка" трудовым мигрантам

Project "Strengthening Public Committees by promoting initiatives at resolving migrants' and their family members' problems"

In November 2014 Public Fund "Mehr-Shavkat" launched the project "Strengthening Public Committees by promoting initiatives at resolving migrants' and their family members' problems" in partnership with Osh branch of PO "Interbilim", PF "Insan Lyelek" and PF "ISEDA". The project is financed by "ICCO Cooperation". For realizing the project, partner organizations have created consortium in November of that year. The project aims to solve migrants' and their faimilies' problems by creation of Public Committees (PC) which will lobby their problems in local and regional levels. The project is realized in Osh, Jalalabad and Batken oblasts.   

On 3rd of April 2015, partner organizations PF "Mehr-Shavkat", PF "ISEDA", PF "Insan-Leylek" and "Interbilim" have organized press conference on the project by financial support of "ICCO Cooperation". The aim of press conference was to inform local population about the project and also formulating recomendations on creation of Public Committee network that will provide support at obtaining social and legal assistance to migrants and their family members from government and and public organizations. Representatives of partner organizations and representatives of Small Public Committees (SPC) of Karasuu, Nariman and others took part in the conference. 

В Оше ряд НПО юга обсудили вопросы по повышению инициатив в решении проблем мигрантов и членов их семей

Partner organizations started to create SPCs, that will serve as forums for discussing and promoting vital issues of labor migrants and their families. In future, partner organizations are intending to turn SPCs into sustainable institutes, that will help Local Self-Governing Entities and also promote unsolved issues to Big Public Committees (BPC). In their turn, BPC will serve as big forum for representaitves of migrants, government departments, international organizations, NCOs and representatives of expert communities.   

After taking part in trainings in Osh branch of PO "Interbilim", Saida Kudayberdieva organized and conducted trainings for represnetatives of SPCs and potential migrants on board game "Russia, country of opportunities?" and "Effective use of labor migrants' remittances". For such groups were selected parents of labor migrants and students of technological lyceum of Aravan district. 

Saida Kudayberdieva presenting the board game "Russia country of opportunities?" 

Labor migrants families are playing the board game

Presentation of the board game in technological lyceum #112

Teachers and students are listening to presentation 

Students are playing the board game

Participants are discussing the results of the game

After playing the game, participants are discussing the results of the board game and making conclusions. Majority of students got to know interesting facts and possible consequences of travelling to Russian Federation without legal documents.

1st of June holiday

            On 1st of June a holiday was orgnized for celebrating International Day of Children. The holiday was orginzed by Public Fund "Mehr-Shavkat" and district administration. Federation members and their children, children of kindergardens and children of poor families were invited to this holiday. Guests and director of "Mehr-Shavkat," Tilavaldieva M. H. congratulated children with their holiday and wished them good health and peace. Then all participants watched concert and dances of children.

Before the start of concert, federation teams made a parade marching in front of guests.

Children of kindergardens

The concert ended with common walk with flags of Kyrgyz Republic and joint photo.

In addition to concert, there was a championship of chekers in which took part two players from every federation. Kids played checkers with candies as motivation to play the game. Winners were allowed to take candy pieces as rewards. Final winners were rewarded with additional prizes. 

Sports competition was the most interesting and exciting event among other activities. Majority of participants of this competition were kids of 5-8 forms in secondary schools. They were very active and happy by victories of their teams.

In addition to these events, there was organized a volleyball championship for SHG members.

Calendar on 80 years anniversary of Aravan district

Calendar of Aravan district from Mehr Shavkat

Our preparation for 1st of June

            In 1925, the 1st of June was proclaimed by Wolrd Conference on Well Being of Children as international day of children. Since that date, various countries and institutions recognize and celebrate it as a holiday for children. Public Fund "Mehr-Shavkat" also celebrate this date and  organizes various social and competitive events for children of Aravan. Since last few years, it became a tradition to conduct this event. This year also, Mehr-Shavkat has invited its group leaders for discussion and planning events for this day. 

Muharam Tilavaldieva, director of Public Fund is proposing the events for this day

Muharam Tilavaldieva, director of organization has started the meeting by greeting guests and informing them about the agenda of the day. She noted importance of this holiday for children and suggested several events for the day. 

Participants drawing lots

As a part of meeting, all participants drew lots in order to maintain fairness and prevent unfair competition. Every person who drew a lot represented his or her own group members and their children.

Arranging groups by lots

 After drawing lots, a schedule was formed and groups were arranged according to the results. All guests accepted the schedule as fair and agreed with the rules of competitions. In addition, they also discussed possible scenarios for the day and made a list of required items and equipments for events.

Making plans and arrangements

During break time, our workers also discussed their own organizational activities, made a list of activities for the day and divided responsibilities among staff of the organization.

Saida Kudayberdieva, project coordinator explaining competition rules

After short break, Saida Kudayberdieva explained one sample of competition so guest could understand and prepare their children for games. They also were informed about prises for winners and active participants. Giving awards serve as motivation for children and their parents to come and take part in events of and competitions of the day. 

Federation and group leaders

Participants finalizing discussion

The end of meeting

Now leaders of federations will start their preparations for this holodays

Video clips on migrants of Central Asia

         As you might have guessed the main hero is a labour migrant who is going abroad to work there. His family accompanying him gets into the shot - his mother and younger brother, meagre settings of the house’s courtyard is also shown. The main hero works a lot and hard regularly sending money home. What the sent money is spent for is also shown, i.e. for celebrations, purchase of a car. Joyful homecoming of the labour migrant is darkened by the same meagre surroundings and the need in the family which was here before his departure.

Further, there is a reflection of an alternative outcome. The main character during his work abroad thinks about the way to invest his funds and comes to a different decision. Now his arrival is not overshadowed at all, meagre surroundings had disappeared, the dilapidated gate had been replaced by a new metal gate, and instead of hopeless penury a shop for baking bread had appeared.

Both scenarios of the course of events should make labour migrants and first of all their families remaining in the homeland think about the rational use of remitted funds for their long-term and sustainable development.

The character of the video is going abroad for earnings, and while waiting for the train he is watching videos about migrants in his phone. All videos about migrants have negative content. Once in the train, he continues watching the videos. Upon arrival he has a bottle of beer in his hands but having thought about it he decides to throw it away, a local woman seeing the action nods her head as an approval.

Reflection of an internal struggle between negative and positive principles of the main character and making the correct decision which was greatly influence by watching negative aspects of our migrants is the main message of this movie. The right decision in this case is symbolized by a thrown away bottle of beer, and viewing videos of negative content is intended to convey to the audience - potential migrants, the message of how they cannot behave. The following slogan completes the video: “You are an ambassador of your country, wherever you may be. Your people are judges by you.”

For more information about projects on migration you can visit Central Asia on the Move Partner Civil Platform  

Interviews of EWA project beneficiaries

          PF "Mehr-Shavkat" has been working with WECF for many years. In 1st July of 2012, together with WECF, we launched the project "Empower Women - Benefit (for) All" (EWA) project. Overall goal of the project is to improve women's economic and policitical status by eductation and trainings. Within framework of this project, 200 women of Aravan region were selected and trained in various subjects such as agriculture, farming, income generating activities and others. As a result, the beneficiaries of the project achieved positive results and improved their own living conditions and also made contribtutions to improvement of social lives of their own communities. Below you may watch interviews of the project beneficiaries and learn about their achievements.

This year the project is coming to its final stage and one can say that the project achieved success. Beneficiaries gained access to finances and engaged in various economic activities. With help of this project, women not only improved economic conditions in their families, but they also improved their social status in their local communities. In future, PF "Mehr-Shavkat" is intending to use EWA beneficiaries' experience in other regions of Kyrgyzstan by replicating it with new beneficiaries and conutinue cooperation with WECF. If you would like to learn more about the project, then follow to this official website of WECF.

Day of clean hands at Khalbaev school

      "Improvement of hygiene and sanitary practices of children and creation of friendly and safe environment in selected school and prescool institutions of Osh oblast" was financed by UNICEF. In order to raise interest and stimulate participant institutions, we announced competition for taking video clip on hand cleaness. All schools have prepared their video clips and conducted evlations of their works. As a result, video clip made by Khalbaev shool was selected as the best one among all videos. Below you may watch the video clips made by this school, all of them are made in local languages, Kyrgyz and Russian:  

As chiefs of schools have noted, during process of shooting video clips students took active part and there were many students who expressed their interests in taking part in videos, in view of this fact they have announced competition among students. Some directors of schools involved children of dysfunctional families, after taking part in competition, teachers sensed tangible positive changes in behaviors of these children. As they stated, the competion has helped them at improving behaviors of children very much.  

One should note that, chiefs of Khalbaev school took competition very seriously and made very good, interesting and high quality video clips on clean hands. We epress our gratitude for their work at preparing these video clips at for help at realizing the project. As it is known, the shool has been hosting Japanese ambassador in 2013. 

TECHNICAL ASSIGNEMENT/TERMS OF REFERENCE

       
                                            

technical assignement/TERMS of reference

On conducting external evaluation of the project “Migrant is also citizen!”

GENERAL INFORMATION

Public Fund “Mehr-Shavkat” (further referred as MSH) realizes the project “Migrant is also citizen!,” financed by ICCO and Kerk in Actie. MSH is indigenous partner of ICCO Fund and Kerk in Actie in Kyrgyzstan and a member of “Central Asia in movement” platform, which has 25 member organizations. Key aims of the platform are:

• Assistance at realization of the program “Central Asia in Movement”
• Create conditions, which guarantee protection of labor migrants and their families’ rights, and assist Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan’s citizens at civilized migration to other countries.

The platform works in three subgroups:

1. Sending communities;

2. Regions that receive internal migrants;

3. Regions that receive external migrants.

PF “Mehr-Shavkat” realizes its activities in subgroup of “sending communities”

Aim of the project: Promotion of migrants’ rights and interests, raising potential of their families and Local Self Governance entities, and also creation and introduction of mechanisms that protect rights and interests of migrants in local levels.

Immediate aims and results of the project:

1. Community members, 8 village committees, 15 villages of Aravan district and 1 village committee of Kara-Suu district of Osh oblast, face negative consequences of migration and have access to social services in local level.    

• Communities’  social and economic rights, 8 village committees, 15 villages of Aravan district and 1 village committee of Kara-Suu district of Osh oblast will be taken into consideration during decision making process in local and national levels, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, social status, religious and political convictions, place of residence and other reasons.
• Vulnerable community members, 8 village committees, 15 villages of Aravan district and 1 village committee of Kara-Suu district of Osh oblast, who are subject to migration, (including women and men) will be informed about consequences of migration, their own rights and duties, and may act appropriately  in different situations.
• Community members,  8 village committees, 15 villages of Aravan district and 1 village committee of Kara-Suu district of Osh oblast, face negative consequences of migration, will have access to social support, provided by local authorities, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, social status, religious and political convictions, place of residence and other reasons.
• SHG federations, IG and GIM members in levels of 9 village committees provide amendments during project realization and further in coming years to the laws (regulations and laws about Local Self Governance entities, concept of migration policy) and processes of budget allocation in local level in view of migrant families’ interests.

2. Migrants’ families in 8 village committees of Aravan district and 1 village committee of Kara-Suu district are informed about consequences of migration, about their legal rights and responsibilities and have capabilities to react in appropriate ways.

3. Migrants’ families of 8 village committees of Aravan district and 1 village committee of Kara-Suu have access to social support provided by local authorities.

AIMS AND ISSUES OF EVALUATION:

Aim of evaluation – evaluate achievements of the project, significant factors, general impact of the project, and contribution to general objective/strategy of partnership of the project.

                                     
Success of the project will be measured with help of Logical Framework Matrix and the project’s theory of change, which consider indicators of results and impact of the project during its realization, and also relevant ways of checking and finding confirmations.

1. Relevance of the project 

Evaluate, to what level the project and its realization helped to address the needs of focus groups, and also objectives and results of program “Central Asia in Movement”

Assess the quality of realized HAP standards, namely: level of focus groups and beneficiaries awareness, who gained help, organization and its activities/project; to what level the organization has been interested and paid attention to focus groups’ and beneficiaries’ opinions, who obtained support during the project and organized their participation in the project. 

Evaluate to what level the approaches based on rights and gender equality have been used (increasing number of rights and opportunities of women, to what level the project has provided equal opportunities for women and men in view of each groups’ needs) transparency of used resources and transparent functioning of the organization (for instance: publication of information about finances on website, providing complete information upon request of beneficiaries, etc.) 

2. Effectiveness of the project realization and effectiveness at resources use:

Evaluate to what level set aims have been achieved, results, indicators of the project, and effectiveness of developed strategy;

Assess effectiveness of resource attraction (government subsidies, grants, sponsorship resources, volunteer and humanitarian aids) and also effectiveness of these resources use for reaching the aims of the project.

Evaluate effectiveness of networks use and existing cooperation practices with different stakeholders at reaching the project aims, in particular, the “Central Asia in Movement” platform’s resources.

3. The impact of the project at realization of focus groups’ rights

Identify the influence of activities (lobbying, training, actions, publications, meetings, experience exchanges and others) of the project on life quality and self-assessment of focus groups

Identify the impact and influence of the project to local communities, local self-governing entities attitude to the problem of migration.

4. Sustainability of achieved changes 

Evaluate the quality and sustainability of achieved changes at the end of the project.

5. Потенциал развития проекта: Potential of the project’s development

Evaluate the potential of the project by number of involved focus groups that needed services of the project

Evaluate the benefits of established cooperation with partners within the framework of the project

SCALE OF EVALUATION

The evaluation process should be conducted till 15^th of November, 2014. During evaluation process, it is required to use methods, which are familiar to our target communities: interviews, holding talks and conversations with focus groups in Kyrgyz language

EXPECTED RESULTS FROM THE EVALUATOR

1. Provide information about methodology that will be used for evaluation process

2. Prepare analysis and report about whole project activities (realization process, impact of the project, results of the project, sustainability)

3. Evaluation of planning and realization of the project from rights and gender approach points of view.

4. Provide recomendations on how to reach sustainability of the project.

NATURE AND SCOPE OF SERVICES

Activities within framework of given project ARE realized in two districts of Osh oblast:

Aravan district, rural council Tepe-Kurgan	Uygur-Abad village
Aravan district, rural council Tepe-Kurgan	Jany-Abad village
Aravan district, rural council A. Anarov	Charbak village
Aravan district, rural council A. Anarov	Jany-Aravan village
Aravan district, rural council A. Anarov	Pakhta-Dobo village
Aravan district, rural council S. Yusupova	Birlik village
Aravan district, rural council S. Yusupova	Pakhta-Aral village
Aravan district, rural council S. Yusupova	Karrak village
Aravan district, rural council Chek-Abad	Chek-Abad village
Aravan district, rural council Chek-Abad	Kyzyr-Abad village
Aravan district, rural council Nur-Abad	Kakyr-Pilton village
Aravan district, rural council Nur-Abad	Langar village
Aravan district, rural council Too-Moyun	Aviz village
Aravan district, rural council Kerme-Too	Mangyt village
Aravan district, rural council Kerme-Too	Gulbakhor village
Kara-Suu district, rural council Saray	Kirov village
Kara-Suu district, rural council Saray	Konurat village
Kara-Suu district, rural council Saray	Erkin village
Kara-Suu district, rural council Saray	Telman village
Kara-Suu district, rural council Saray	Prisavay village

TERMS, LOGISTICS AND TECHNICAL-MATERIAL CONDITIONS

Evaluation process should be conducted during November of 2014, including conducting analysis, meetings, and interviews and writing report. The evaluator will be provided with all necessary materials, reports, data on the project and all conditions for work (room, equipment, organization of meetings and travel to sites etc.) The project workers will organize meetings with beneficiaries and interested sides: Village committee representatives, local deputies, workers of social support institutions, project partners.

REPORTING

The evaluator should provide preliminary presentation of evaluation findings to director and workers of the organziation (project) prior to providing final report. Final written report will be provided in russian and English languages till 10^th of December, 2014