The Kyrgyz Republic
Country Overview
Since declaring independence from Soviet rule in 1991, the country's economy is struggling and the Kyrgyz Republic remains one of the poorest in the former Soviet Union. Corruption is rife and political instability has been a major problem. The new Kyrgyz Government faces unprecedented challenges to prevent further civil unrest and reduce widespread poverty and corruption.
Families are typically large (commonly up to eight children); this, coupled with the current economic climate and high unemployment, means that children are under tremendous risk of being separated from their families. Social services are limited and the only real support parents receive from the state is the option to place their child in a residential institution.
The impact of unemployment and poverty is exacerbating social problems and family breakdown is becoming more common. Parents are forced to leave the country in search of work and children are often left in the care of elderly relatives.
The alternative, which is becoming increasingly visible, is a life living and working on the streets.
A child on the streets or in an institution is at great risk of abuse, neglect and developmental delay. The continued absence of support services for families means that these problems will only get worse.
What are the key issues?
- Poverty
- Family breakdown
- Children living and working on the street
- High prevalence of placement of children in institutional care
What is EveryChild's main focus?
- Developing community-based support services for vulnerable children and families
- Reform of existing childcare policy and legislation
- Developing alternative forms of care for children at risk of being separated from their family
Read the Kyrgyzstan country strategy
How is EveryChild helping?
To help keep children out of institutions, we strengthen child and family support services throughout the country in close partnership with the Government. We train community-based social workers to support vulnerable families at risk of breaking up – often the practical support and advice they give is the lifeline a struggling family needs to cope.
For children already in institutions, we work with government and local partners to promote and implement minimum standards of care. This includes staff training, supporting the reintegration of children with their birth families, and helping develop viable and culturally appropriate family-based alternatives, such as foster and extended family care.
We are also developing local initiatives which tackle the increasing numbers of children living and working on the street. We are working with the authorities in Osh to provide new outreach support services to street children. By strengthening social work structures in this way, we can better identify and support vulnerable families at risk of breakdown and prevent their children from being sent to work on the street or placed in an institution.
View an image slideshow of the children we work with in Kyrgyzstan