JICA Kyrgyz Channel, December 2009
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For a better tomorrow for all Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the Kyrgyz Republic Newsletter № 46 (December, 2009 - January, 2010) 1. Our Events To Support Kyrgyz Roads On January 25, 2010, minutes of discussion on a preparatory stage of a new Grant Aid Project to pro- vide road maintenance equipment was signed in the Ministry of Transportation and Communications by JICA, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. Within the framework of this Project, there are plans to supply 144 units of equipment for road repair operations (in- cluding holes patching and asphalt-concrete pavement overhaul), snow clearing, disaster clean-up operations and transportation of goods, for the total value of around 10 million US dollars and intended to service From left to right: Mr.K Mamaev, State Secretary, the MTC of the KR, roads in the Issyk-Kul and Chui Oblasts. Also, it is Mrs.D.Shaidieva, State Secretary, the MF of the KR, and Mr.Maruyama Hideaki, Resident Representative of JICA in the KR planned to set up 2 asphalt plants in the Issyk-Kul Oblast (near Barskoon village) and the Chui Oblast (near Tokmok city). The overall length of the road sections that this equipment will be used to service will comprise 662 km. By the way, in 2007 the Government of Japan already implemented one Grant Aid Project to pro- vide road maintenance equipment for the Naryn Oblast that included an asphalt plant and a stone- crushing plant for the Bishkek – Naryn – Torugart road. To finalize the signing of the Grant Aid Project, Japan’s Cabinet of Ministers’ consent is required, and this should happen no later than March, 2010. We are just hoping for a positive outcome! (ALELEKOVA Svetlana) “School Forest – A Valley of Happiness!” On January 22, 2010, a new billboard depicting a twig and white doves that symbolized global environment and friend- ship was established at the entrance to the pilot area of the Joint Forestry Management in the village of Jany-Pakhta, the Sokuluk District. Oksana Schwabauer, an 11th Grade stu- dent of the Jany-Pakhta Secondary School and the author of the picture’s original idea, was smiling shyly as she ob- served the large poster with her picture being erected in the open air. All pupils of the school had taken part in the com- petition that was held in the end of the expiring year. The Oksana is proud of her picture competition, organized by the Project for the Support of Joint Forest Management in the Kyrgyz Republic (SJFM) aimed at raising the schoolchildren’s aware- ness of practices in greenery planting in their native village, as well as in taking care of the school garden that they set up with their own hands last October. JICA Kyrgyz Channel, December, 2009 – January, 2010 1 As the winner in the competition, Oksana received, along with a Large Antique History Encyclopedia, the title of the billboard’s “Designer in Chief”. JICA’s SJFM Project has been active in the village of Jany-Pakhta to demonstrate and disseminate Joint Forest Management methods in this District. The school forest is one of the main components of this pilot project. Pursuant to the three-party Agreement on Joint Forest Management that was signed in the end of 2009, the Frunze District For- estry Administration, the Jany-Pakhta Ayil Okmotu, and the Jany-Pakhta Secondary School have been jointly responsible for proper management over the school for- Schoolchildren took an active part in the competition est, and will be allocating forest produce profits in the future. The SJFM Project will continue to play a signifi- cant role as a mediator and coordinator aiming at strengthening the close relationship among the three parties. (MACHIDA Ryota, ALELEKOVA Svetlana) Towards realization of Barrier Free Society for Persons with Disabilities and All On 2nd of December, the eve of International Day of Per- sons with Disabilities which is commemorated on 3rd of De- cember every year, Symposium entitled: ‘Towards realization of Barrier Free Society for Persons with Disabilities and All’, was held at the Applied Art Museum Hall in Bishkek. It was organized by The State Agency on Social Security under the Government of Kyrgyz Republic and Japan International Cooperation Agency as part of the activity of the Project for Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities into the Society in Kyrgyz Republic. Over 70 persons participated in the event and listened to the 8 speakers including representatives of Disabled Peoples’ Organizations, government officials. They shared their good practices on re- moving different kinds of barriers existing in the society that person with disabilities faces in their everyday life. It was realized by the speakers and audience that there are many kinds of barriers in the society for persons with disabilities to fulfill their needs and rights which is ensured by the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on the Rights and Guarantees of Persons with Disabilities. Yet there have been many steps taken to break through those barriers not only by governments but also persons with disabilities themselves as well as civil society. Persons with Disabilities were encouraged to further cooperate with the Agency of Social Security and other government agencies as well as civil society for successful removal of those The Symposium participants discussed urgent subjects. existing barriers we have for today. (HIRAMOTO Minoru, JICA Expert) Reflection from a resource person of the day A symposium took place on December 2 2009 at the Applied Art Museum in Bishkek on the eve of "International Day of Persons with Disabilities". The event turned out to be a kind of review of posi- tive results achieved by joint efforts of government agencies and non-government sector. Throughout the year 2009, non-governmental organizations of person with disabilities made many good deeds to remove barriers in our society to realize their equal participation. JICA Kyrgyz Channel, December, 2009 – January, 2010 2 It should be noted during the event, the speakers have clearly presented their achievements. For example the Chairperson of the Public Association “Ravenstvo” Ms. G. Kazakunova noted that they built ramp at the entrance of the building of oblast administration (akimiat) in Karakol city. Mr. M. Asangariev, the Chairperson of the Public Association “Movement of Young Disabled Persons” told the participants the importance of making public building accessible through dialogue with City administration of Bishkek. There were many other such examples, too. For us, it is encouraging that state officials are to meet Disabled Peoples’ Organizations. I also shared an example that the State Committee on Employment and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic for approving Business project that train 8 visually impaired persons to be engaged in massage business. At the symposium, excerpts from a documentary video were also shown to show the barriers that persons with disabilities face in their everyday life. In response to the com- ments by persons with disabilities, the representative from Bishkek Mayor’s office noted that their office would pay more attention to the physical access to such facilities for persons with disabilities in future. Many things were discussed during the symposium. Now whether those remain only in words or be realized will depend on us - the persons with disabilities and leaders. I believe on whole, we, participants from non-government sector and government bodies, showed through this symposium that we are committed to build ac- cessible society for PWDs and all. As you know in Kyr- gyzstan we have the law “On rights of and guarantees for persons with disabilities” and other standard acts protect- ing and representing the rights and interests of persons with disabilities. To my mind these laws serve as a “foundation” to build equal society for per- sons with disabilities. It would be impossible to achieve equality in the society without legislation. Now, I think we need to work one more step – proper execution of all these laws for the sake of the persons with disabilities. (SULTANALIEV Iskendar, President of Public Fund "Phe- Our leaders! nomenon") 2. Japan’s Volunteers Sport Event in Bokonbaevo! Here now the six months have passed since I was sent to Bokonbaevo village, the Issyk-Kul Oblast, as a volunteer for children with disabilities at the NGO “Beipil”. There are many kids here with various types of ailments such as po- liomyelitis, Down’s syndrome, and quite a few children with bodily deviations and backward mentality. Recently, two of my senior comrades came to Bokonbaevo and together we went to visit several houses where our kids lived. It was in November. For us to somehow liven up the dullness of the days we decided together with the NGO Oi Satomi – JICA Volunteer and a girl “Beipil” to or- ganize a sports tournament on December 15. Notwith- standing the difficulty of getting in touch with staff members and the kids, we finally managed to assem- ble ourselves, 18 people in number – four kids, four staff members, seven relatives, and the three of us volunteers. Naturally, at first we were worried that people would not come together on time, but as the tournament went on, we were amazed of how we had managed to create an atmosphere full of glee. JICA Kyrgyz Channel, December, 2009 – January, 2010 All participants received self-made medals 3 I could see so many joyful faces thanks to my two senior comrades who had considerably contributed to this business of ours. It would be most remarkable, if the local staff continued to or- ganize such kind of events to exhilarate the kids and make them attracted to physical action. One more wish is that the Director and the relatives could associate more often.