This year Soros Foundation—Kyrgyzstan (SFK) celebrates its 20th anniversary in the republic. In this connection the foundation held information campaigns, including in provinces of the country.
Representatives of government agencies, non-governmental and international organizations, embassies, the Foundation experts and employees of the organization who worked at various times within 20 years were invited at the commemorative event in Bishkek.
“The first steps of the Foundation were in line with the first citizens’ initiatives to implement the foundations of democracy in the society, the development of non-governmental organizations, which essentially became a school of democracy. The Foundation has made a significant contribution in the process of building a civil society. Over the years, various projects of the Foundation made it possible for thousands of citizens to receive assistance and support, solve important issues related to the social life in the village, province, and country. Many of the ideas were embodied in actual cases, the decisions of the authorities, adopted bills. Many people in the country got education, scholastic degrees with the support of the Foundation, and have become well-known people and work for the welfare of the motherland. Without the active assistance and work of our partners, the Foundation would not have achieved such remarkable success. Today, I want to express my deep gratitude to our partners for their work, for civic engagement, for the sensitivity and attention to the needs and problems of specific people”, — outlined during his speech at an official event Mr. Ulan Asanovich Ryskeldiev, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SFK.
“The distinctive activity of the Foundation in the entire world is a philosophy of commitment to an open society, proposed by Karl Popper. Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan for the last 20 years declares and confirms in practice the principles of an open society in action. We are pleased that, during the development of independent Kyrgyzstan, we have the opportunity to learn and see the promise of our future cooperation”, — mentioned in his congratulation the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Almazbek Atambaev.
Video clips with the participation of alumni of scholarship program of the Soros Foundation—Kyrgyzstan, youth projects, a documentary film with participation of the Foundation partners were presented during the program of the event.
In 1996 Aktan Arym Kubat, Kyrgyz filmmaker, within the Ethnic Development Program of Soros-Kyrgyzstan made a series of social videos. In November, 1996 the video «Yrys aldy yntymak» won the Grand Prix at the sixth Moscow international festival of advertizing and in 1997 it received the Bronze Lion of Cannes Film festival of the advertizing «Lions-97». In spite of the fact that already passed many years these short movies are still relevant. The image of twins from a video «Yrys aldy — yntymak» this year was reproduced on visual production within the 20 anniversary of Soros Foundation- Kyrgyzstan as answers ideas of cooperation, solidarity, mutual support which the foundation here for two decades advances within its mission — support of development of open society. This year SFK removed continuation of these video with participation of already matured twins – Asan Jumabekov and Usen Jumabekov. They became symbols of passed times.
http://media.soros.kg/play/40/217 — here is new version of the video
In addition in celebration of the anniversary an information caravan was held in the provinces of Kyrgyzstan. Programs of the Soros Foundation—Kyrgyzstan together with the management held meetings in Batken, Kyzyl- Kiya, Osh, Jalal -Abad, Talas, Naryn, Bokonbaevo, Karakol and Balykchi. The purpose of the caravan was to inform about current programs and obtain feedback from the participants. Information caravan was broadcasted in the province media.
Shamil Ibragimov, SFK executive director shares with his impressions: “The caravan to regions was helpful action as an informing about our activities, but more important is that was a possibility of personal acquaintance to the population and understanding of a situation and problems from within».
During the period from 2000 to 2013 2295 organizations received grants from the Foundation. More than 120 organizations in all provinces of the country were nominated for certificates of recognition. Certificates of recognition were presented for the fruitful cooperation and contribution to the development and strengthening of the principles of an open society.
Since 1993, Soros Foundation—Kyrgyzstan in series has supported and continues to support civic initiatives in various fields. To finance these initiatives for the last 20 years the Foundation has donated to the country more than $ 74 million.
The Foundation has made a significant contribution to support education of talented youth abroad, to support education in the regions. The Foundation together with the support of civil initiatives has drawn the attention of society and the authorities on the need to address critical issues related to the protection of the rights of citizens, the media and ethnic minorities, access to information, improvement of the judicial system, assistance to vulnerable segments of society, support education and the development of civil society.
