deh is a humanitarian organization independent of political, religious and economical influence.

deh  is working for social inclusion, to create better options for all people to be part of (local)- community –whether it is access to learning, education or job.

Lise From forelæser om socialt arbejde for og med ældre,  Bishkek november 2011

LISE FROM is deh coordinator for the activities in Kyrgyz

Main parter is the Association of Social Workers in the Kyrgyz Republic

Visit the vice socialministet

together with Usenova, who is er chairman for association of social workers in Kyrgyz

Vera Usenova, chairman for ASWKR and Chadka, and translater for the association as well as layer - andVera's grandchild

Vera Usenova has presented a speach about social work in Kyrgyz. Read more here

Tradition and social grass root work in Bishkek at Bunga and the ladies

The political situation
Since the unrest began in April 2010, displacing and replacing the president and again in June when the clashes took place between the two largest ethnic groups-the Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in Osh, we were a little unsure of what and how to build further cooperation up with the Association of Social Workers in the KyrgyzRepublic. Because we predicted that the main focus now will be on refugees and displaced Uzbeks.
 
But in accordance with the Kyrgyz spirit of "go on" despite the enormous problems we have as partners decided to proceed with the cooperation. Also when we found that the relevance of our efforts on the most vulnerable groups via increasing social workers competence and prestige became even greater now that a vulnerable group such as young people with special needs will be at greater risk of being trampled on by the general problems of Kyrgyz society.

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Millennium Development Goals progress
In the second periodic report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Kyrgyz Republic (2009) it is concluded that KR has achieved significant progress in implementing the commitments set out in the Millennium Declaration. There has been considerable success in reducing poverty - extreme poverty, in particular. The economy shows steady growth. While KR enjoying economic growth, progress in bringing the benefits of economic growth for poor people must be accelerated. Yet nearly half of children live in poverty (48.5 percent) and more than one child out of ten suffers from extreme poverty and deprivation. Children growing up in poverty are less likely to do well in school, enjoy good health or get a good job later. By taking an element of social exclusion and marginalization from below, it will have an overall positive effect for other marginalized groups at risk as new inclusive practice, along side an increase in social capital in the KR.

Vulnerable groups of Kyrgyz society
Young people with special needs are among the most vulnerable groups of Kyrgyz society, because they usually are both subject to the general poverty, with the least prospects in life lacks training, job opportunities and positive family relationships. They stand between institutionalization and are neglected (especially in rural areas) and will therefore be excluded and marginalized for life. Despite the Education for All program in the KR, which promotes an inclusive education (no child should be excluded from education), which promotes a high degree of initial enrollment, low levels of repetition and drop-outs, according to an OECD report the 2009^th. But there are an increasing number of children with special needs and disabilities who are separated; from 2003 to 2006 the number had nearly doubled from 1.834 to 3.055 newly registered children less than 18 years. It is estimated that these figures underestimate the actual number of children with special needs by 5-10%. These disabled children are not identified or known to services - due to many reasons.

New Kyrgyz social strategy to address the most vulnerable groups
The Kyrgyz government has in 2011 adopted a new social strategy, which emphasizes the need to establish services for the most vulnerable groups, and recognizing that there is a great need for implementation assistance. The strategy emphasizes the need for involvement of all stakeholders (representatives of civil society, governments and institutions in municipalities) if successful, this approach change is a result of lessons learned from the KR Government's first implementation trial: 'If all layers of the structures and populations are not involved in implementation, the strategy will fail! '. Highlighted challenges are, next to all the players involved:
• Establishment of professional services of social workers by improving their skills;
• Raise the status of social workers by raising and advocacy approaches;
• Support to remove the lack of research approaches and the absence of monitoring systems as such and with respect to the results of the NGOs, social work, with support from international donors;
• Transfer of experience and know-how from abroad.

Coordination of actions of all stakeholders on the achievement of the strategy will be delivered by KR vice Prime Minister for Social Protection (pp. 3, 12, 27.39, 40,42,44,46 in the KR approach to the development of social protection).
 
deh is now starting to find opportunities to further develop the good partnership with ASWKR on various enrollment activities to increase skills and opportunities for and with various vulnerable people - who are in the new social strategy. We believe it is civil society development, which can actually lead to improvements for people who otherwise risk falling by the wayside.

the Ladies with the big hearts

deh's vice chairman Henning Sletved in Bishkek November 2011 -  with Bunga

More info in HusInfo 4/2011 (only Danish)

The deh team together with Vera Usenova

 and Bunga and Henning Sletved,

behind Henrik Haubro and  Lise From.

Children from institutions for disabled