Babushka Adoption Foundation - Babushka Adoption Foundation Staff

Babushka Adoption Foundation Staff

Bishkek Head Office Staff:

Aidai Kadyrova, Director

E-mail: aidai@babuhskaadoption.org

When I first started working in the Foundation in December 2000 I was shocked to find out how vulnerable and helpless the elderly in the Kyrgyz Republic were. All the people who applied for support to Babushka Adoption Foundation had rich professional backgrounds, having worked for 30-40 years for the welfare of Kyrgyzstan. After retirement they were awarded small pensions, which lost their value considerably after the change of the Soviet Ruble to Kyrgyz Som. The state could not and still is not able to provide relevant social protection to its seniors. That’s why most of the elderly (according to official statistics 80%) face poverty, malnutrition and social seclusion.

Unfortunately, the situation of the elderly has not changed for the better and is even getting worse, considering the increase of prices for electricity and other public utilities as of January 2010.

In such times, the activity of charities like Babushka Adoption Foundation is very appreciated and needed. I am very happy that I am working in an organization which gives if not much, all the best individually to each of its beneficiaries to relieve their sufferings and give a ray of light.

Svetlana Mezentseva, Financial Manager

E-mail: svetlana@babushkaadoption.org

Dinara Ryskulova, Deputy Director

E-mail: dina@babushkaadoption.org

I have been working for Babushka Adoption Foundation since January 2003. At that time I was a student and I did not realize all problems of our lonely and poor elderly people. By working for Babushka Adoption Foundation I have leant about the life our elderly people, about their problems and not only about their financial, but also their social, psychological and other problems. It is a very specific field of work and we have to be very careful and attentive with our elderly because a lot of them do not have anybody else expect us. We are like grandchildren for them and theirs sponsors like their relatives or close friends. It is a big pleasure for me to take part in this charity activity.

Saltanat Saparbekova, Program Coordinator

E-mail: saltanat@babushkaadoption.org

When I first heard about Babushka Adoption Foundation, I thought what a wonderful organization that does this amazing work. I have always been interested in community work and now, I am lucky to have this opportunity to make my own contribution to solve the problems of elderly people in my country. While working with elderly people, I have noticed that many of them are happy not only because they get a financial help from our sponsors, but also they found close friends and relatives, who care about them, thus relieving their feelings of loneliness. I believe that BA is a very important link that brings people together, despite of the long distance and different cultural background. Knowing that there are still many elderly people waiting for our support, I hope that BA will further develop and enlarge its capacities to support more babushkas and dedushkas.

Raihan Maldybaeva, Sponsor Coordinator

E-mail: raihan@babushkaadoption.org

“Caring about other’s happiness – you find your own one” once I read somewhere…and since then this expression has become the motto of me. I have worked for different companies and organizations, but having become a part of Babushka Adoption Team, I found my real destination. Sometimes the destiny is so unfair, because people, who are in old age now, did a lot and made such efforts in order to build such a nice future for us. But at last, people, who finally got this happy and comfortable life, do not appreciate and just forget about valuable babushkas and dedushkas. Thanks to our charity foundation, we have chance to somehow show our gratitude and appreciation towards elderly, especially to lonely ones. Lonely ones, who experience a powerful surge of emptiness and solitude, feeling themselves empty, unwanted, and unnecessary. But considerable care, financial as well as moral support from the BA Team and sponsors, conversational and correspondence contact with them make our babushkas and dedushkas much happier.

Timur Imanaliev, Logistics Assistant

Patygul Engerbaeva, Social Worker

I really enjoy working with elderly people and I feel like that it is my mission to help them. I have been working with elderly people for a long time, before I started working with BA. I worked as a social worker in the social protection department for 9 years that is why I know how to treat elderly people. Some pensioners can be capricious, with difficult temper because they have had a hard life. Almost all of the pensioners worked during the World War II at the age of 15-16 and they have seen all the hardships in their lives. I enjoy working as a social worker, because I can help elderly people, who are not able to do their household works. The elderly people are always thankful for our services and with tears they say that they are happy to have someone to care about them and whom they can talk to. They are thankful to BA and their sponsors for caring about and helping them.

Ainura Kozukeeva, Social Worker

Altynai Isaeva, Social Worker

I like working with elderly people and help them. They are lonely therefore need someone’s help and care. I find this job hard but noble. Some babushkas are capricious and with difficult tempers. But I try to find a common language with them, knowing that they have seen many hardships in their lives. I help them around the house, go for shopping and just try to talk to them. It’s very pleasant to hear them say nice words and blessings. I’m very glad that we have such a great organization that cares about our elders.