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.