In this issue:

EDUCATION

• Adult Training Providers start a dialogue
• Collaboration Agreement signed.

HEALTHCARE

• UNDP Kyrgyzstan AIDS Prevention project shares its experience with other countries in region
• The National Workshop on Safe Motherhood Needs Assessment
• The Round Table to develop the strategy on Youth Reproductive Health
• National Health Communication Network is to create in Kyrgyzstan

MASS MEDIA

• Journalists, clergy representatives and government officials met to discuss aspects of collaboration

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

• Update on Counterpart Consortium/USAID/UN/EU-Supported NGO activities

EDUCATION

Adult Training Providers start a dialogue. Adult Training Center (funded by Danida) initiated a dialogue between Adult Training providers in Kyrgyzstan by organizing Network Conference on June 26 in hotel “Dostuk”. It was dedicated to Adult Training in Kyrgyzstan and collaboration of NGOs, State institutions and International organizations in this field. Seminar discussion was conducted in three working groups:

• Problems of Adult Training in Kyrgyzstan
• Visions of Adult Training in Kyrgyzstan
• Participation and Collaboration

The Conference gathered about fifty representatives of International organizations, state institutions and Non-governmental organizations, working in the field of Adult Training. Mr. Ole Askvig, Director of Workers Educational Association of Denmark shared his country experience in Adult Training and Civic Education in particular. The participants exchanged their own experience in the field of Adult Training and made a number of proposals on its further development. The Conference is the first step towards strengthening Adult Training providers network in Kyrgyzstan as well as developing a dialogue between them.

Collaboration Agreement signed. Collaboration Agreement between Federation of Trade Unions of Kyrgyzstan and Worker’s Educational Association of Give, Denmark was signed on Thursday, June, 28. According to the Agreement, Adult Training Center activities in Kyrgyzstan will be funded three more years by Danida. Adult Training Center was established in 1997 by Federation of Trade Unions of Kyrgyztan (FTUK) and Worker’s Educational Association of Give, Denmark (AOF). It is providing Civic and Vocational training for adults in four oblasts of Kyrgyzstan. The agreement was signed by Mr. Bozgunbaev S., FTUK Chairman and Mr.Albrechtsen K., AOF-Give Board Chairman.

Contact: Didenko Yuri, ATC National Director, 27 Molodaya Gvardia, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Tel: +996 (312) 24-36-10, 65-12-14. Fax: +996 (312) 65-20-77. E-mail: ,

HEALTHCARE

UNDP Kyrgyzstan AIDS Prevention project shares its experience with other countries in region. On June 18-21, 2001, UNDP AIDS Project Manager Ms. Larisa Bashmakova participated in Uzbek National Seminar dedicated to Strategic Planning of National Response to HIV/AIDS in the Republic of Uzbekistan, organized by UNAIDS. Kyrgyzstan is leading country in area of strategic development in CIS countries. Strategic Plan of the Kyrgyz Republic was completed in 2000. Moldova has created the strategic plan in 2001 and such countries as Belarus, and Ukraine are still in the process of completion. Turkmenistan and Russia have not started the process yet. Also with direct support of national experts from Kyrgyzstan a draft of Strategic Plan was prepared in Tajikistan recently. It is worth to notice that the development of Strategic Plan of National Response to HIV/AIDS is quite important for the resource mobilization activity. In Kyrgyzstan, the issues of strategic planning were twice reviewed at the meetings of UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS, and were a basis for the donor meeting at President’s Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic in November 2000.

Contact: Mrs. Larissa Bashmakova, National Project Manager, tel./fax: (996 312) 66-36-91, tel.: (996 312) 22-03-84, e-mail:

The National Workshop on Safe Motherhood Needs Assessment. In order to strengthen the strategy of mother and child health WHO/EURO with the Ministry of Health conducted the National Workshop for the national experts on Safe Motherhood Needs Assessment on the base of the National Center of Human Reproduction on 25-26 June 2001.The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Kasonde, WHO expert on reproductive health. The Kyrgyzstan national programme on reproductive health throughout the life course includes monitoring of antenatal, perinatal and postnatal care. To facilitate the monitoring process it is planned to assess the quality of work of the existing maternity system in the country, including the antenatal and postnatal care of pregnant women and neonates. The level of, and potential for, utilization should be assessed with a view to identifying the weaknesses and strengths of the maternity system at all levels. The ultimate goal is to reduce the maternal and perinatal mortality rates in the country by applying the WHO recommendations resulting from the assessment exercise. The main purposes of the workshop were to review the aims and expected outcome of the assessment, to train survey participants in the method of collecting data and to draw up a work-plan for the survey. The whole survey is expected to take up to three months, including analysis of data. Dissemination of survey results and implementation of recommendations will follow.

The Round Table to develop the strategy on Youth Reproductive Health. On 27 June Round Table to develop the strategy on reproductive health of youth took place on the base of the National Center of Human Reproduction. The representatives of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and NGO’s have participated in the meeting. During the Round Table several issues as the current situation on reproductive health of youth, the achieved results and the main priorities were discussed. The important and essential activities on improving the reproductive health of youth were submitted by participants. By the results of the discussions the working group on the developing of the reproductive health strategy was established.

National Health Communication Network is to create in Kyrgyzstan. In the frame of the WHO Communication Activity, the two days workshop to establish the National Health Communication Network took place in 18-19 June at “Dostuk” Hotel. The meeting learned the lessons from the WHO European Health Communication Network and the National Health Communication Network in Moldova for establishing and further developing of the Health Communication Network in Kyrgyzstan. The last one aims to create a health communication platform based on evidence and ethics and provide the general population with accessible reliable health information in ways that they will find interesting, engaging and attractive. It aims to ignite action for health by people at all levels; thus filling the empty niche of health promotion and addressing the need for sustainable health education and information. It aims to stand up to the hazard merchants and advocate for policies that will even the playing field. The workshop brought together rural and Bishkek journalists, public health professionals, international agencies, representatives of NGO’s, all those who are involved in the process of producing and delivering health messages to the general public; explored and demonstrated some new tools for networking, communication and involvement; and focused on developing specific national health communication capacities around network coordination, communication training and research/evaluation. The draft Memorandum on establishing of the Network was developed and adopted by participants of the workshop.

Contact: Ms. Cholpon Asanbaeva, NPO, WHO. 62 Toktogul Street, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Tel.: (996 312) 29-87-98, 29-87-91. Fax: (996 312) 68-09-40. Email:

MASS MEDIA

Journalists, clergy representatives and government officials met to discuss aspects of collaboration. Osh Media Resource Centre conducted a roundtable conference for representatives of local media outlets, government, religious circles and faith based organisations of the region on June 20, 2001. The goal of the event was to identify existing misunderstandings, problems and to foster dialogue, collaboration and better understanding between journalists, authorities and clergy representatives. Participants represented various religious organisations and denominations registered in the Kyrgyz Republic: the Supreme Kaziat of Muslims of Osh Province, Imam-khatib of Osh mosque, the church of Adventists of the Seventh Day, Association "Intimak", New Life, the church of Jesus Christ, Evangelic-Lutheran church of Osh, NGO "Omur Bulagi", association "Blagaya Vest", human rights organization "Pravosudie", which offers legal representation to Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the International Crisis Group and the Osh Province State Administration.

Participants engaged in following discussions:

• Religious confessions in the region: overview of the past and the present;
• Participation and positive contribution of faith based organisations to the communities of the region;
• Unsanctioned religious activity: Extremism or Desperation?
• Mass media and religions: aspects of collaboration

The conference started with the overview of all existing religious confessions, faith based organisations in the region. Each representative gave a short introduction and outlined major activities of his/her organisation. Journalists were able to find out about various communities outreach programs and projects of faith based institutions. Examples of help to community included food and clothing distribution programs, comprehensive assistance to orphanages, asylums, hospitals, local neighbourhoods, educational institutions and social aid offices. Faith based organisations are also prominent in providing educational training and employment opportunities for many unemployed youth. Journalists were very interested to learn about some successful stories in the work of some organisations with drug addicts, alcoholics and other groups.

While discussing the theme "Unsanctioned religious activity: Extremism or Desperation?” participants representing both media and religious organisations have indicated various problems and difficulties preventing them from fruitful collaboration and understanding. Journalists referred to many examples of suspicious sources of funding for many religious activities, including unsanctioned distribution of leaflets and materials containing religious propaganda and inciting religious intolerance. "Hizb-ut-Tahrir" was mentioned frequently, and while participants agreed that its activities were violating the law, representatives of clergy have called upon journalists to use proper terminology and avoid demonising Muslims.

Issues connected with the usage of appropriate terminology and practice of professional ethics appeared frequently in the discussion of the theme "Mass media and religions: Aspects of collaboration". Clergy members and journalists looked at various terms, such as "religious extremists", "terrorists”, "bandits", "vahhabists", which the regional mass media frequently employed to denote some unsanctioned religious activity, especially that connected with Islam. Clergy members asserted that such terms caused harm to the feelings of many believers and underscored growing sensitiveness about these issues in the society.

Clergy members also gave examples of articles and publications in the local press, which created misleading conceptions and ideas about religious organisations. For instance, some participants expressed their concern about the recent article published in the newspaper "Delo N". The author of the article presented a recent concert of a famous American signer, winner of Grammy award, who was invited to Kyrgyzstan by some local faith based organisations, in a very negative light. The article maintained that such concerts with famous singers attempted to convert the minds of young locals and students to the religion other than that of the local community.

Journalists participating in the event also raised the issue of conversion of locals to other religions. They asserted that some faith-based organisations heavily rely on strong financial and material support from their western donors in attracting poor local families to their religion. This was a concern some Muslim representatives shared. However, the representative of Osh province state administration indicated that all the activities of these organisations have been in line with the existing Kyrgyzstan's legislation on religion.

The conference was concluded by concrete suggestions and propositions for future collaboration. Participants agreed that they needed a place to serve as a focal point for their interactions and information exchange. The Osh Media Resource Centre was unanimously chosen to be this place. Clergy members invited journalists to visit them and study some of the community outreach activities in real settings. They also agreed to provide journalists with necessary consultation and advice on sensitive themes connected with faith and religion. Some journalists expressed their willingness to write on particular successful stories when faith based organisations helped to eliminate dependency of drug addicts and alcoholics.

At the end, participants have expressed their gratitude to the organisers of the event for promoting religious cohesion, tolerance and understanding. They also have called upon donors and other organisations to conduct various consultation and information exchange meetings, seminars and workshops for clergy representatives, journalists and officials.

The Osh Media Resource Center is a civic association of regional journalists, and is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation. Osh Media Resource Centre also receives extensive support from CIMERA, a Swiss based organisation.

Contact: Mr. Alisher Khamidov, Executive director, OMRC. Tel: (996) 3222 2-08-58. Fax: (996) 3222 5-52-59. Email:

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

Update on Counterpart Consortium/USAID/UN/EU-Supported NGO activities – A meeting of stakeholders was held by the Talas Civil Society Support Center (CSSC) on June 16, 2001. It was the fourth meeting held by the CSSC and there were present 8 members of the Council. The leaders of four communities were invited to take part in the meeting too. During the meeting the four community leaders made presentations. At the meeting the stakeholders made a decision to exclude Jubandar community from a list of target communities since all site visits to the community were unsuccessful due to insignificant number of people at community-based meetings. The stakeholders also made a decision to make a presentation of a program in 2-3 villages.

One day training in NGO Financial Reporting was held in Kara-Balta. It was initiated by the Kara-Balta CSSC within Counterpart Consortium’s Program of Civil Society and NGO Development in Central Asia Region, which is funded through USAID, UNHCR and European Union. The workshop was attended by 19 participants representing the NGO community and refugee groups. The purpose of training was to provide the participants with knowledge and skills in budget planning, internal control and reporting to a grant-giving organization. Objectives of the workshop included: i) discussion the importance of budget planning; b) explanation the goal and meaning of an internal control and c) discussion and define the meaning of financial reporting to a grant giving organization. The participants discussed what it is important to consider while planning a budget, which resulted in a list of major components: organization major activity, tentative dates, outreach/region, steps, resources, sources, governance/management that are essential for project implementation, monitoring of activities, current and final reports. In the end of the workshop the participants worked in small groups and based on knowledge obtained they filled out 14 reporting forms in line with requirements and standards of Counterpart Consortium

On June 26-27 the Bishkek CSSC (operated under the International Center InterBilim) conducted a training workshop in NGO Management. There were 18 participants representing 16 NGOs (14 from Bishkek and 4 from the Chui region). This two-day workshop is designed to meet the needs of NGO leaders in management skills and it covers a broad range of management issues including the following:

• A holistic approach to NGO management
• Fundraising, marketing, social partnership and public relations for NGO development
• Project effectiveness and feasibility
• Board of Directors as a tool to promote the organization’s interests

Contact: Counterpart Consortium, Lilia Kuchenova, IU/AUK Program Coordinator, Information Coordinator of NGO, 107 Kievskaya str., 5th floor, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Phone: 996(312) 610 135, 610 022, 664 636 Fax: 996(312) 610 021 E-mail: Internet: http://www.cango.net.kg/.