Kyrgyzstan

Blog Post:  Posted August 25, 2010, 1:01 am by Brad Myers

Friends in the field

Country: Kyrgyzstan

The airline representative tossed my duffel bag crammed full of funky felt slippers and Kalpaks — traditional Kyrgyz hats — onto the conveyor belt. Early for my flight, I found a seat near my departure gate with a view of the tarmac. I glanced at my watch — it was just before 8 a.m. I knew Alymbek, the security inspector for Mercy Corps/Kompanion’s office in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan was greeting staff with that same giant smile he gave me every morning I passed him on my way into the office.

Every day across the globe, heartfelt goodbyes are exchanged between foreign and local humanitarian staff. Employment contracts begin and end. Grants are awarded and spent. Programmes are implemented and completed. And, in this case, interns come and go. According to the statistic around the world, 95 percent of Mercy Corps team members are nationals of the countries in which they work. Belonging to the other five percent I realize friendships formed with local staff, although inherently transitory, are an invaluable reward of fieldwork.

Friends in the field are often defined by the sum of very simple moments. A genuine smile, like Alymbek’s daily greeting, can make all the difference when working in remote locations under stressful conditions. Even a spontaneous trip to the rural reaches of a country to monitor a programme or survey beneficiaries can be a catalyst for making an unexpected friend. I enjoyed the name-dropping by Mercy Corps staff members who referenced their enduring friendships they have with expatriate staff, some dating back to 1994, when Mercy Corps opened its first office in Kyrgyzstan.

The plane climbed above snow-capped peaks as I watched massive mountain ranges slip beneath the cloud cover. Thoughts of friends and family had me anticipating their amusement and interest in the souvenirs and anecdotes I’ve collected from this fascinating region of Central Asia. Surely some will ask what I miss most about my time in the field. Recalling cherished moments and loud laughter traded with local staff members, I will reply without hesitation — my friends.

Blog Post:  Posted August 20, 2010, 9:33 am by Mary Tam

Оценить жизнь (Assessing life)

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Topics: Microfinance, Economic Development

My three months in Kyrgyzstan are nearly up! I am incredibly lucky to have been involved with our work here at such a pivotal time. While my duties have morphed as particular needs have arisen, I still recall my first assignment.

Originally, I was part of an ad hoc team that was assessing data and knowledge management needs at Kompanion, a microfinance institution and social enterprise. Just as I started researching the Human Development Index (HDI), the UN’s Human Poverty Index and other social indicators, this assignment was put on hold, overshadowed by more pressing emergency-related obligations. The subject of knowledge management is not as attractive as emergency activity (is anyone even still reading this?), but it certainly deserves its two minutes of fame.

Kompanion diligently tracks information on loan products and has conducted analyses of specific externally-funded projects. However, the company has been limited in its ability to measure overall efficacy with regards to social performance through the tracking of non-traditional indicators — measurable aspects of life that complement standard economic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provide a more comprehensive understanding of poverty reduction.

Funding impact evaluation is a significant a challenge for the international non-governmental organisation (NGO) community. Responsible donors, understandably, want confirmation that their gifts have contributed to effective outcomes. Yet, ironically, they are often disinclined to fund the operations that make this type of reporting possible. The tendency is to direct funds towards tangible results such as items distributed, schools built or children fed. Impact evaluation has the potential to produce an equal if not greater Social Return on Investment (SROI), as it allows an organisation to learn, adjust and become more effective.

Similarly, I’ve tried to learn, adjust and become a more effective intern over the last few months. In a country plagued with unrest, I am experiencing my own internal conflict.

On the one hand, I am overwhelmed by the trauma sustained by both ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. My mind simmers with frustration as widespread anger and resentment continue to thrive. Many people have limited interest in the fact that the majority of those affected, on both sides, played no part whatsoever in activities that initiated the violence. Instead people focus on specific anecdotes and claims — segments of the truth — that they believe justify the actions and position of “their side.” Having said all that, it’s easy for me to remain objective as an outsider. Ask me again when it is me, my family or my friends that have been harmed and I may sing a different tune.

On the other (and more selfish) hand, I have thoroughly enjoyed the simple pleasures of exploring an unfamiliar culture. As I approach the end of my stay, I reflect over the experiences I’ve collected. Tasting raw garlic from a client’s home garden. Bouncing around in the back seat of the two-door Lada. Hearing prayers being sung at a nearby mosque. The smell of fresh lepyoshka (local bread). Watching children frolic in the fountains of Ala-Too Square. Appreciating the communal nature of our development team.

It’s strange to be leaving just when I am beginning to feel invested. Despite the country’s complex situation, I am fortunate to have gathered new information and personal experiences of considerable intrinsic value. If I were to monitor and evaluate the last three months, I’d say they’ve contributed to the achievement of a high ranking on the MTLSI — the Mary Tam Life Satisfaction Index.

Blog Post:  Posted August 11, 2010, 7:24 am by Mary Tam

VIDEO: But you don't have to take MY word for it!

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Topics: Microfinance, Economic Development, Conflict & War

The decision process that goes into making a charitable contribution is different for each person. Still, most responsible donors have one thing in common — they want to know that their money is being used to help the intended recipients and that the programmes being provided are beneficial.

Organisations can talk up a good storm about the scientific studies projects are based on, or the philosophical theory behind specific programmes. However, concerns often come down to one simple question, “But, is it working?”

The same question can (and should) be asked of the equity grants that Mercy Corps is issuing to micro-entrepreneurs who lost their businesses due to the recent violence in southern Kyrgyzstan. “Provide start-up capital to help people get back to work” — sounds great, real catchy. But, is it working?

When I first arrived in Kyrgyzstan, I was eager to put my Mercy Corps elevator speech to the test. Today, I can say I have seen our work first hand and can answer the question posed above with confidence. Today, I want to personally vouch for the people who desperately want to be in control of their lives and for the programme I believe will help them do this.

Yes, it’s working.

How do we know? Mercy Corps is conducting follow up progress assessments with equity grant recipients. For example, Mamashakir is an equity grant recipient whose magazin (a corner store business) and home were badly damaged in June due to burning and looting.

In his interview he was asked, “What are the first few purchases you’ll make with the money?” He responded that he would buy a refrigerator and inventory. When a follow-up assessment was conducted less than two weeks later, Mamashakir had done exactly what he had planned to and was back in business.

I was inspired to create a fundraising page to support people like Mamashakir. However, I realize my “street cred” only extends so far. As LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow always said, “But you don’t have to take MY word for it!”

This short video explains how equity grants work logistically and demonstrates what Mamashakir was able to do with the help of Mercy Corps and Kompanion.

Blog Post:  Posted August 10, 2010, 7:52 am by Patrick Eckford

Getting entrepreneurs back on their feet

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Topics: Microfinance, Emergencies

Yesterday was a really good day. We approved over 130 “equity grants” (cash disbursements) to micro-entrepreneurs who suffered direct losses. Mostly their businesses or inventories had been burned or looted.

In more than half the cases their homes had also been burned. Our grants are up to £450, and while that amount will not nearly cover their actual losses it is still a significant amount of money here and will help many begin to reestablish an income stream to restart their micro business (like baking, sewing, carpentry and mini-shops).

Mercy Corps’ microfinance institution, Kompanion is also actively forgiving or restructuring loans for victims of the violence. It is really heartening to see how a little bit of good news lifts people’s spirits in spite of the horrific times they’ve been through.

Mercy Corps’ and Kompanion’s staff have also been under tremendous stress as they try to respond to the immense need. That we are now actually dispensing aid and disbursing money is a huge morale boost for them, too.

Blog Post:  Posted August 1, 2010, 8:12 pm by Brad Myers

A day spent assessing the damage in Osh

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Topics: Emergencies, Conflict & War

Tanzilia Iliasova fills out a grant application with the help of a Kompanion loan officer on the burnt remains of her oven, which is now used to dry tomatoes. Photo: Brad Myers/Mercy Corps

I was feeling the heat by mid-morning in Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second largest city. I took refuge from the sun under a slice of metal roofing. Less than a minute passed before a firm grip on my forearm gently escorted me away from my prized spot of shade.

Manzura Rasulova guided me back into the sun toward what she wanted me to see. She gestured to structural damage caused by the fire which destroyed her home. Her business and home account for two of an estimated 2,500 buildings destroyed during the June 11th clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan.

By lunchtime, we had visited half a dozen families — including Manzura's — who filled out grant applications with Mercy Corps, which is the first step in obtaining funding to rebuild homes and/or businesses. I was spending the day with Mercy Corps and Kompanion staff as they continue to compile names of potential equity grant recipients. Although undertones of fear and distrust remain in many neighborhoods, those we met expressed an eagerness to rebuild their communities.

Mercy Corps and Kompanion teams visit those who have had their businesses and/or homes destroyed by the clashes on June 11th. This gentleman holds up metal covering for a senior loan officer who was documenting the damage. Photo: Brad Myers/Mercy Corps

Late afternoon sunlight stretched across this once-thriving Silk Road stopover as we collected more applications. Powerful sights and sounds took hold with each damage assessment. The snap of debris underfoot, the leaden handshakes, tears absorbed by subtle dabs from a headscarf, and the lasting image of goodbye — a hand reverently placed over the heart.

At the dinner table sat an all-star collection of Mercy Corps and Kompanion staff. A small table was dominated by a platter piled high with plov, a traditional Central Asian rice dish. Armed with giant spoons, we dedicated ourselves to reaching the bottom but managed to exchange plenty of stories, ideas and concerns about our day between spoonfuls.

By nightfall, silence and a cool breeze greeted the 10:00 p.m. citywide curfew. It was the end of a full day crisscrossing a town in turmoil. Many residents were grateful to learn about Mercy Corps’ equity grants but balanced their optimism with concerns about the coming months. The slow encroachment of winter’s return only adds to the growing sense of urgency to restore livelihoods as soon as possible.

A group of Uzbek women standing with curiosity at the sight that was created when Kompanion and Mercy Corps staff arrived on the scene and began their assessments. Photo: Brad Myers/Mercy Corps

Blog Post:  Posted July 30, 2010, 5:39 am by Mary Tam

VIDEO: Bleeding hearts and pragmatic minds

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Topics: Displacement, Conflict & War

Ainash Mamatova and her husband had just finished remodeling their home earlier this year; it had taken them many years to save up enough money to do this. Ainash had worked at the bazaar for 16 years, mainly selling shoes. In June — when violence broke out in southern Kyrgyzstan — the two containers that served as both her warehouse and place of business were looted and one was badly burned, and her home was completely destroyed.

Ainash broke into soft sobs as she explained that her children are now staying at two different locations, and she rotates between friends and family so as not to inconvenience anyone for too long. Ainash’s husband described how, at first, they did not want to run away and thought it was best to stay in their apartment. The second day of the violence, they witnessed their seven-year-old neighbour get shot in the chest from her balcony. It was then that he and Ainash decided they needed to leave, for the safety of their children.

In their absence, some sort of grenade or bomb was thrown in through their window. The entire apartment was decimated. We had to take careful steps to avoid wreckage and broken glass as they showed us the remains of their home, which was charred from floor to ceiling. Bullet holes decorated the walls. It smelled of cinders and sadness. Almost symbolically, the sound of a slow, ghostly drip came from what used to be the bathroom — a broken home’s tears creating dull splatters before being absorbed into ash.

Ainash wiped away her tears, saying she has many loyal customers who have come to her for years. But how does one restart a business with no resources? She has applied for a Mercy Corps equity grant so that she can purchase inventory and pay for a new space. With the money, she plans to buy goods from the wholesale market and sell from a location she has found at a different bazaar.

Some people are even worse off than Ainash’s family — those that were beaten or violated during the violence, or were left with dead or missing relatives. It is a disturbing moment when you realize those who have lost their home, business and life savings can be considered lucky by some standard. My throat and nose stung a bit as I held back tears leaving Ainash and her husband. I didn’t want to be one of those “soft” development workers who can’t keep it together out in the field — and besides, they were not my tears to shed.

What I have to remind myself is that although we cannot help everyone, that doesn’t mean I should dismiss those we can help. Right now Mercy Corps has limited funds to issue these equity grants. There are thousands of people here who are out of work following the recent clashes. Not because they are lazy. Not because they are inept. Simply because they have lost everything and lack the resources to resume business operations.

What we need are more people with bleeding hearts and pragmatic minds. Those who will recognize the value and functionality of the equity grant programme. Those who do not need to be thanked, but will be happy enough knowing their contribution will make a meaningful difference for some stranger they will never meet.

Here's a short video I made during my visit with Ainash:

Blog Post:  Posted July 15, 2010, 6:26 am by Brad Myers

A fund in Kyrgyzstan to rebuild micro-enterprises

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Topics: Microfinance, Emergencies, Economic Development, Conflict & War

In a quiet Osh neighborhood there stands a torched shop with no roof. The hot afternoon sun shines over what little remains of Nadira Abdusatarova’s once-thriving seamstress business.

Before the violent and destructive events of June 11th reduced her business to charred ruins, Nadira employed five apprentices and one staff member. With a solemn look of disbelief, she stood motionless, seemingly lost in a flood of opposing images.

She has memories of beautifully-mended clothes stacked neatly next to spools of thread, apprentices sharing light-hearted conversation and the faint hum of sewing machines in motion. But now, her memories are a painful contrast to the lifeless layer of rubble scattered across the floor.

Having already received a loan from Kompanion to expand her business before it was destroyed, Nadira now struggles to imagine how she will afford to rebuild her primary source of income. She also worries about her devoted apprentices and what they will do without employment.

But a new equity fund created by Mercy Corps has been established to do just that — get Nadira, and many other microentrepreneurs, back to business. The Fund for Rebuilding Communities through Microenterprise (FRCM) will provide small amounts of start-up capital, necessary to rebuild the countless micro businesses destroyed by the clashes in Osh and Jalal-Abad.

Mercy Corps is in a unique position to help small business owners rebuild because its microfinance company Kompanion has a large network of offices and staff already in place. With this new fund, microentrepreneurs like Nadira are one step closer to rebuilding their businesses and regaining their livelihoods.

Blog Post:  Posted July 10, 2010, 9:56 am by Mary Tam

There vs. Here

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Topics: Conflict & War

There: I rode the N-Judah to work, which could take anywhere from 20-50 minutes depending on SF Muni's mood.

Here: My flatmate and I walk to work, playing “Frogger” as we cross the streets (jaywalking is standard here, but that doesn't mean drivers slow down).

There: I was cold. Cold getting out of bed, cold waiting for the N, cold in restaurants. I know, San Francisco is not the Arctic and you'd think after living in the Bay Area for nearly seven years I would have become acclimated. Not so.

Here: I am on sensory overload, in the best of ways. I'm constantly absorbing the city layout, while periodically hopping or sidestepping to avoid substantial potholes. It is warm and the air is dense. Some trees emit the scent of over-ripe, tropical fruit although they bear none.

There: I would read about civil conflict and atrocities occurring in far off places and wonder how accurate the information was.

Here: I solicit input from those around me regarding the recent conflict – curious about their perspective on the situation and how they are personally affected by it. I ask about the referendum and whether or not they voted. I have not yet had the chance to visit Osh or Jalalabad to see and hear with my own eyes and ears how people are feeling and reacting to the situation. When and if the opportunity presents itself, I will jump.

There: I've been meaning to put together an emergency kit – water, flash light, non-perishable food and all that jazz – in the event of a natural disaster. This would serve to hold me over until the assistance I assume would come, came.

Here: I try to imagine what I would do if my neighborhood were attacked by armed groups. If my friends, family and I were forced to flee rather than risk death, rape or other injury. Would I take refuge in a school? A church? A trusted community removed from the violence?

There: I was (ok, still am) rather self-righteous and sensitive to situations that seem unfair. Perhaps this has something to do with being a Libra and a middle child? I recall how angry I was when USPS didn't process my Change of Address request, which meant I didn't receive my monthly bus pass on time and was forced to purchase another one. After a month of stalking the post office and providing documentation of the situation, USPS finally cut me a check for £27

Here: I’m left feeling angry at the injustice of it all. But I cannot simply write a letter and expect to receive just compensation.

There: Unfortunately, now that the supply of bloody and fiery photos has subsided, so has the media coverage on Kyrgyzstan.

Here: Despite the fact that Kyrgyzstan is quickly falling off the world's radar, Mercy Corps, Kompanion and other organisations are undertaking the arduous and complex challenge of assisting those who have been deeply affected by the violence in the south. Sadly, the topic of recovery activity, here and elsewhere, deserves so much more attention than it will ever receive.

Blog Post:  Posted July 7, 2010, 10:30 am by Pete O'Farrell

On the Streets of Osh

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Topics: Emergencies

Gul Luba stood in front of her burnt-out home. It was also her burnt-out business. She sold food items and cold drinks out of her store front facing a main road in the heart of Osh city. She stands stout, has a round face that expresses experience, and sun hardened skin. As she told her us the story of her current situation, she cried. Her business, and attached home, were just one of a block of buildings that were burned, looted, and completely destroyed in the unrest that occurred on June 11. Gul Luba recently took out a loan to help pay for two new refrigerators to make sure the sodas and ice cream bars she sold were the coldest and would stay fresh longer. She lost everything.

This is my first trip to Central Asia and it was unplanned. With hundreds dead and tens of thousands displaced, Mercy Corps knew it needed to respond. I was sent here to support our team. Basically, my job is to write proposals and take care of administrative needs, allowing Mercy Corps’ highly experienced international and national staff to respond to the crisis. And they have -- before anyone asked, before there was any public appeal, before anyone sent out a fundraising notice, Mercy Corps Kyrgyzstan and employees of our wholly owned microfinance bank, Kompanion, used their own money to send trucks of food, soap, toothbrushes, bandages, blankets, and toys to those that had lost everything.

I am currently in Osh to see for myself the aftermath of the recent violence. I learned that Gul Luba’s story is not isolated. Khalil and his family hid in the basement until eventually escaping through the roof to a neighbour’s home for safety. His house was looted then burned. His neighbour was shot through the ankle but is afraid to go to the hospital. I spoke to him as he was watering his tomato plants in the front yard that inexplicably survived the complete gutting of his home. They live in UN-issued tents that sit in the middle of rubble – the family just would not leave its home, even when no house stood.

Those are just the physical scars. People here are angry, sad, distrustful and hurt. There is a curfew in Osh, and colleagues say that people are just now beginning to slowly open up their markets and businesses. The central Osh bazaar is vacant, with just a few people selling onions in front of the once bustling marketplace.

Mercy Corps and Kompanion will focus on a number of interventions to help support Kyrgyzstan and its people – each with his or her story, each story filled with fear and sadness. We work together for the distribution of essential non-food items, such as hygiene materials continues. Mercy Corps is giving household stipends that will allow families to buy food off the local market. Small grants to micro-businesses will help people repair broken windows, restock shelves and begin the process of rebuilding. These interventions will help people start the long process of rebuilding their lives.

Blog Post:  Posted July 2, 2010, 9:39 am by Mary Tam

VIDEO: How Kompanion is spurring development in Kyrgyzstan

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Topics: Microfinance

Kyrgyzstan continues to search for stable footing on ever shifting terrain. But there are some constants here, as well, that will likely never reach the news. Before the revolution in April, throughout the recent turmoil and long after the world turns its attention elsewhere, there were, are and will be important contributors to Kyrgyzstan’s progress.

Some of these contributors are Mercy Corps and Kompanion staff members, who work unstintingly to serve people in all seven oblasts (administrative divisions) of the country. Now, in addition to carrying out regular operations, staff from all departments are mobilizing to assist with emergency response efforts.

Mercy Corps has worked in Kyrgyzstan since 1994 -- three years after the country gained independence, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 1997 Mercy Corps implemented the first micro-lending programme in Kyrgyzstan. By February 2003, the programme was registered as a local microcredit NGO. Shortly after that, Mercy Corps and five affiliated NGOs consolidated to form a national community development financial institution called Kompanion. In 2004, Kompanion was registered with the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Today Kompanion has 109,917 active clients, a portfolio of £22 million, 90 offices and 892 employees throughout the country. No ordinary microfinance institution, Kompanion combines loan services with community development initiatives, such as agricultural and livestock trainings, in order to facilitate the strengthening of communities through sustainable development.

In this video, a few employees from the Bishkek office share their thoughts on Mercy Corps and Kompanion programmes in Kyrgyzstan. Bol-shoye spaseeba to the hundreds of dedicated staff who are working to increase stability and opportunity in Kyrgyzstan regardless of social, economic or political challenges.