Issyk-Kul Branch of the Public Association “Reproductive Health Alliance”

   History of our Branch has started from a small initiative group of young and adult people, inspired by the idea of reproductive health preservation of the population. Ideological encourager was Mrs. Galina Chirkina, who could realize her dream and establish Public Institute, which is focused on creation and implementation of projects on the reproductive and sexual health in the Issyk-Kul oblast and on the National level. As a result, the Public Association “Reproductive Health Alliance” was established. Initiators were the representatives from all regions of our Republic, including Issyk-Kul residents.

   In 2002 our Issyk-Kul Branch was registered as a legal entity.

   For such a short period of time we became more sustainable. Our regulative body is the Branch Board. In our Branch we have Youth Committee, two teams of trainers – youth and adult and also, small theatrical company. All members and volunteers of our Branch, as well as our partners, can realize their plans through the projects and programs of the Branch, using the following facilities of our office: information and methodological database on the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Internet access, video library. Our office is located in the center of picturesque town Karakol.

   All programs and projects are executed by virtue of the energy, creative approach, optimism of the members and volunteers.

   Members of the Branch take an active part in realization and implementation of various projects. One of such projects was “Information provision on moral and sexual education a peer-to-peer basis”. In the frame of this project we developed and issued manual for young trainers for work with teenagers and youngsters. Even today we receive positive comments from the users of this manual who underline an effectiveness of methods of work, described in this manual.

   Mentioned-above “Manual” received positive responses and high appreciation at the National NGO Fair, which was held in Osh City, in July of 2002. It is very popular among secondary school teachers of biology and anatomy. Our manual was also appreciated by colleagues from America, who work in the field of moral and sexual education of the young people. Young members and volunteers from Issyk-Kul Branch successfully implement project “Radio waves of health for the youngsters” (HAFI). The purpose of this project is promotion of the healthy life-style of the teenagers and young people by means broadcasting by radio. The partner of the project is the independent radio station “LW” – it provides technical support of the radio programmes.

   In the frame of this project young members and volunteers of the Issyk-Kul Branch of the “Reproductive Health Alliance” prepared for the broadcasting 27 radio programs regarding sexual maturation of the teenagers, preventive treatment of the sexual diseases, HIV/AIDS, drug addiction, alcohol addiction and smoking, unwanted pregnancy and abortions. Problems of adolescent depression, teenage fashion and arrangement of leisure-time activities were discussed during radio broadcastings. Very interesting discussions related to the issues of inter-sexual relations, adolescent hygiene etc.

   Together with the Center of Medical Initiatives “Medinai” our Branch implemented project “Primary dependence prevention from the psychoactive substances”. The goal of the project was the decrease of the consumption level of the psychoactive substances among teenagers and young people in Aksuu village of the Issyk-Kul oblast. The project was focused on the foundation of local community Council on drugs consumption prevention. Trainers of the Issyk-Kul Branch formed 2 teams of trainers on the issues of surface-active substances consumption prevention. The teams consisted of students (15 people) and teachers (12 people). In the course of the project, the members of these teams together with the trainers of the Issyk-Kul Branch arranged similar trainings for the target groups of the project. Therefore, they attained basic knowledge on arranging of interactive trainings.

   On the basis of our Branch, we realized trial project – “Center for protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights of the young people and violence prevention in the youth environment”. By arranging of the “Hot Line”, we focused on the provision of the advisory and specialized assistance by the specialists, such as gynecologist, psychologist, lawyer and social teacher (counselor). In the frame of the project, we arranged trainings for various groups of young people, parents, directors and deputy principals of schools. Social survey of young people and teenagers was carried out on the issues of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and violence.

   Implementing Youth component, since 2005 our Branch participates in the Country partnership project of the UN Human Population Fund in Kyrgyzstan – “Increase of service quality in the sphere of reproductive and sexual health, by extension of rights and opportunities of the consumers/clients”.

   Work on the project is carrying out mainly in rural area in Kyrgyz language, specifically in Tyup region of the Issyk-Kul oblast. In the frame of this component, our instructors provide trainings on peer/equal education. Our psychologist and sociologist hold focus groups with parents and teachers on formation of groups of followers/supporters in the sphere of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. During the project implementation process a new form of problem detection, regarding sexual health of teenagers was officially approved – it was accomplished by means of spectacular theatrical procession. Young volunteers from the Issyk-Kul Branch of “RHA” were acting as artists in this theatrical procession. At the present time, we do preparatory work on adaptation of the new manual named “Step By Step”, which relates to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights issues.

   Due to participation of our trainers and members in this project, they received an opportunity to improve their professional skills, when working with young people from the rural area on the issues, related to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. They could also evaluate needs/demands and problems of the young people from rural areas and review their approaches and methods of work.

Osh Branch of the Public Association “Reproductive Health Alliance”

   General meeting regarding the establishment of Osh Branch of “RHA” was held in November 12, 2002. At the same day, 38 people were registered as members and on the 28th of November, 2002 we received certificate on official registration of the “Reproductive Health Alliance” Branch in Osh. This day we consider as official birthday of the Osh Branch.

   The main goal of Osh Branch is enhancement of access to the qualitative information on the reproductive health and rights for the entire Osh oblast population. Since the moment when the Branch was founded, we carried out a number of seminars for urban population and also tried to cover remote rural areas of Osh oblast, such as: Alai, Aravan, Nookat, Karasuu, Uzgen.

   The Youth Committee was established on the Branch platform which is responsible for work with the young population of the oblast. The main activity of the Youth Committee is preventive treatment of HIV/AIDS and sexual diseases among young people. Members of the Youth Committee arrange seminars on the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights issues and family planning. The seminars were mainly hold in the Institutions of Higher Education, secondary school and vocational schools of Osh oblast. Very often, members of the Youth Committee arrange actions together with other NGO’s of Osh City.

   In April 2004, with the support of Canadian Government the shelter for victims of human beings traffic was settled in the south of Kyrgyzstan (Osh City). The shelter started its operation, after reconstruction of a private house, where the shelter was settled. In March 25, 2004 Public Association “Reproductive Health Alliance” and IOM in Kyrgyzstan signed bilateral agreement on joint-cooperation.

   Within the victim search process, the Branch entered into cooperation with other organizations, working on the issues of slave traffic, such as: Public Fund “Podruga”, Crisis Center “Aruulan” (Osh City), Crisis Center “Sezim” (Bishkek), IOM manager in the south of Kyrgyzstan – Karimov K.S.

   In search of victims of slave traffic, many trips were arranged to Karakuldja, Uzgen, Nookat and Karasuu rayons. Basically, we met victims of labor exploitation (abuse).

   During rehabilitation therapy in the shelter, 34 victims received psychological and medical treatment. A lot of work was done by medical technicians and psychologist of the shelter.

   Today, Osh Branch of “RHA” includes 54 members, 15 of which have voting power. Members of our organization are students, teachers, doctors, lawyers, psychologists, residents from the regions, school children and other specialists. All these people work as a close-knit team, actively participating in the daily operations of the Branch, and developing Alliance at a full-scale. .

Batken Branch of the Public Association “Reproductive Health Alliance”

   Batken Branch is the youngest among branches of the “RHA”. It was registered on June 25, 2003. As of today, Batken Branch consists of 52 members, where 19 of them are men and 33 women; 37 out of the total number are young people.

   Members of the Branch are involved in a bid number of various activities – where they hold seminars in the Institutions of Higher Education, secondary schools and vocational schools of Batken oblast; arrange events and actions dedicated to the World AIDS Day; initiate and support actions focused on preventive treatment of HIV/AIDS and sexual diseases, promotion of the healthy life-style, drug abuse, alcohol and tuberculosis prevention, condoms distribution (free of charge) to the young people and high-risk groups (commercial sex employees and uneducated youth); provide free anonymous and confidential consultancy on the reproductive and sexual health and family planning; hold training seminars for the members and volunteers of the “RHA” Batken Branch; and arrange annual summer camp for the members and volunteers of Batken Branch.

   Among our members there are certified trainers on moral and sexual education on a “peer-to-peer” basis. Every month our trainers hold seminars-trainings regarding sexual diseases and sexual maturation at secondary schools, Institutions of Higher Education and vocational schools. Our trainers were invited by local NGOs to arrange trainings in mini-camps on the sports and healthy lifestyle promotion issues, through activation and animation of school children.

   Our Branch cooperates with local NGOs, such as: Consortium NKO, Public Fund “Kanykei-Ene”, Public Fund “21 Kylymdyn Baldary”, Youth Committee under the Town Council of Kyzylkiya town, Information Center “Stringer”, Public Fund “Besh-Naiman”.

Talas Branch of the Public Association “Reproductive Health Alliance”

   Legal registration of the “RHA” Talas Branch took place in September 30, 2002. For the moment, there are about 46 members in this Branch, more than half of which are young people. The members of the Branch are: doctors and nurses, lawyers, students and school children, as well as regular citizens of Talas City, who are interested in the improvement of Reproductive Health situation.

   In spite of small number of members in the Branch, its activity is growing from year to year. “RHA” Talas Branch is one of the leaders in promotion of reproduction health issues in Talas oblast.

   Talas Branch has direct contacts with Government institutions, medical organizations, NGOs, mass media and educational sector.

   Talas Branch has the following partners: Oblast Committee on Youth Policy, sport and Tourism under the Talas oblast Governor, Regional Committee of Red Cross, Association of Family Doctors Groups, Department of Internal Affairs. Gradually, the Branch attracts new specialists – gynecologists, urologists, substance abuse professionals and enters into cooperation with religious concessions of the oblast.
   For the past years Talas Branch has developed and implemented more than 10 projects in the sphere of HIV/AIDS and sexual diseases, consultancy, engagement of the young people and teenagers’ attention to the problems of smoking, drug addiction, unsafe behavior.

   In 2006 the Branch has started work on promotion of a woman’s positive image in politics. Talas Branch established Youth Committee consisting of 5 members which was reelected in March 2007. Mr. Bakirdin Osmonaliev, fourth class student of the Talas State University, is the Chairman of the Youth Committee. He attracts young people to participate in the Branch activity, promoting Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, increasing Youth Committee members potential – all these encourages formation of the safe behavior skills in the youth environment.

   Team of trainers in Talas Branch consists both of young people and adults. Members of the team arrange trainings on moral and sexual development, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights issues, preventive treatment of HIV/AIDS and sexual diseases, institutional development. For the 5 years of its existence, the Branch trained more than 50 trainers on the “peer-to-peer” basis. The main achievement for the adult members of the Branch is that young people are learning how to make decision and how to make the right choice. Moreover, they help others to make the right choice – safe choice. The youngsters learn how to appreciate the value of every single moment, every spent minute and they are changing their position towards reproductive and sexual health.

    “RHA” Talas Branch is supported by the following donor organizations: International Planned Parenthood Association, UNFPA, МП ВООН. .

    We welcome every interested person, who is concerned with Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights issues. We are ready to help him to find oneself and realize available potential.

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