*** An Alpine Fund Christmas in Kyrgyzstan ***
This year with the help of volunteers and sponsors the Alpine Fund brought smiles and gifts to over 400 kids living in orphanages near Bishkek.
I think it is worth a couple of minutes to read the stories below, they are from the people that spent a weekend in Kyrgyzstan buying presents and delivering them to children. You can feel by their words how much the day meant to the children, and how it changed the volunteers that helped out that day.
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From Marga - Santa's little helper
Last year the
Alpine Fund had a “Christmas on a tight budget” event. There were only 2 of us,
Dasha our volunteer, and myself involved. It was a challenge as we had little
money and our Father Christmas cancelled in the last minute and we had some problems with the car. But
nothing was going to stop us as we already called the center saying we will be
there that afternoon and knew the kids would be disappointed. Thankfully Dasha
managed to find another Father Christmas, a blue one, but really nice, and he made
a special price when he heard this was for going to an orphanage.
One question that we had to answer time and time again was, "Why on earth do we have a blue father Christmas"? Our answer half serious half joking was always because we could not afford a red one. That year we had small but nice presents for the children
This year we
were ready. We started preparing ahead selling Christmas cards. Then some people
that knew of our Christmas saga last year offered some help. Jose Tabuenca, from Spain, spoke about us to a friend who owns a toy factory in Spain
and thanks to their generosity and to the Spanish air forces early this month we
received loads of boxes with brand new toys and more boxes with other types of
humanitarian aid. Then Vicente Ortega, also Spanish, coordinated for more things
to be sent to us and by the end of last week our office looked more like a
storage room than a real office. There were boxes all over the place and it was
almost impossible to resist the temptation to open them all at the same time. We
had great fun and were using instant messenger to let our president, Garth who
is working now in Tajikistan, know what our discoveries were.
We also got
some money donated by Steve Chipman and by his mom, when Steve went back home he
gave his mom one of our Christmas cards and Ms. Chipman soon was looking at our
website and sending us some money to contribute to this year’s Christmas action.
We were happy; we are doing so well this year and decided to visit one center on
Sunday. Our target based on our budget was 150 kids and we were dedicating the
whole Saturday to buy everything. On Friday we met to discuss the plan and
Oxana (who used to be one of the kids of our programs and it is now a very
successful young adult) came along, she gave us a very big surprise, she spoke
at work about us and our Christmas action and the company she works for. ELTA
Electric, decided to donate a very generous amount. It was like a Christmas
miracle; soon we realized that instead of helping 150 kids we could reach over
400!!! Thanks to all this help we had a wonderful shopping list, winter socks,
gloves for kids, toothbrushes and toothpaste and of course some candy, chocolate
and biscuits to give the kids a good excuse to brush their teeth. We also
brought toys and games and plenty of clothes to each center.
Saturday was manic, organizing humanitarian aid according to the needs of each center, going to buy all the presents, calling the centers to let them know we are coming and preparing everything. It was a long, cold, exciting and exhausting day. But most of the time (when we were not trying to bargain prices down in the markets), we felt like kids ourselves especially when we came back to the office with loads of bags and presents and the office was a real mess with bags, boxes and things all over the place. It just felt so wonderful despite of being almost frozen and not feeling our toes it did really feel like Christmas!
Sunday, we
bought the last things and soon we had more people that we were expecting to
help us. Instead of having a nice, relaxing and lazy Sunday our friends decided
to spend the day squeezed in a small minibus driving very slowly and carefully
over frozen roads, rehearsing the Christmas play that Asel, Dasha and Oxana
prepared, and observing the beautiful snowed covered landscape along the way.
The first
center was the most difficult one, kids with disabilities, wonderful kids, many
of them probably if born under different circumstances they could be normal by
now, it is hard to see this disabilities caused by malnutrition in the early
years, by poverty or ignorance by lack of basic care or by traumas. Of course,
some of them are disabled and would be so despite of where they were born but in
some of the cases with surgery, some treatment or therapy these kids would not
be in such an institution but integrated into society. Kids were very happy to
see us; most wanted some physical contact, affection and did not stop grabbing
our hands, hugging us, that was as important to them as getting as many presents
or candy as possible. Others cannot move much and stay in bed most of the time.
We spend some time with them, opening the chocolates, playing and just sharing
some smiles and body language. The last group had kids that cannot walk, but
that are very interactive and very communicative.
A couple of
kids mentioned their dream: they wanted to be able to go outside and play in the
snow. It seems difficult to believe that this is a dream, looking out of the
window one sees plenty of snow everywhere but for kids that cannot move by
themselves, playing in the snow is impossible.
Now we are plotting to go to
these center and see if we could help to take some of these kids outside, it is
not that difficult and we can bring some of our mountain clothes so that they do
not catch a cold but in a country where people do not give their kids ice-cream
in summer because they may get sick it may be hard work to convince them to let
us take a group of disable kids outside so that they can experience the snow,
feel it and maybe play with it. Now we are thinking of all the objection we may
encounter and preparing smart answers, but in any case what we could do for now
is to go a visit them and bring with us a bucket of snow, at least this way they
could feel it.
After this
center we went to another one where kids behaved very orderly and properly, I
was joking with some of the friends that were helping us out are part of the
Spanish air forces by saying “Look, this kids are almost as obedient as you army
people”.
The 3rd orphanage was my favorite as it is a sanatorium with
kids from several different children’s homes. They are sent there under the
excuse that they need to get treatment or therapy but they get nothing. Some of
the kids that were attending my English classes were sent there and many others
from the Voenna-Antonovka Children’s Home that I know quite well also. I was so
happy to see them again; I miss them as they have been here almost 2 months
already. They were even happier to see our blue Father Christmas and to have
visitors and the chance to play, sing, get presents and have fun. Before leaving
we were having a group photo taken under a tree covered in snow then some of the
kids decided it would be funny to kick it and suddenly the world became white
around us, an avalanche of snow was the perfect culmination for our trip. We all
laughed and then had snowballs fights. It was great fun. Too bad that it was
already getting dark, the kids had to go back indoors and we went back into our
minibus, all happy and feeling that this was a very special day that we will
remember forever. And only then we realized that we haven’t eaten anything since
breakfast and it was almost 5pm!
And the good
news is that we could not give everything away in one day, we tried our best but
so this week we are distributing more things to different centers; this morning
the director of another center for kids with disabilities in Bishkek came to our
office to collect 8 boxes of presents and humanitarian aid. Tomorrow 6 huge
boxes with toys and clothing will be collected to be delivered to village far
from Bishkek, for a center for deaf and handicap kids, then we have still some
other boxes for a little family run children’s home. We are having a magnificent
Christmas this year! It almost feels like a dream.
I wanted to say big thank to everyone that make possible all the smiles we saw on Sunday.
Thanks to the
sponsors of this event and to the people that helped by sending things: ELTA
Electric, Steve Chipman, Ms Chipman, Jose Tabuenca and his friend who donated
all the brand new toys.
Vicente Ortega and Asociacion Zona Sur, Spanish Air
Forces- Mizar Detachment for sending the humanitarian aid and for buying so many
postcards and T-shirts from Alpine Fund, Luis Salazar and Pedro de La Flor.
Also to all the people that shared this wonderful Sunday with us: Dasha, Asel, Oxana, Julia, Larry, Mayo, Chus, Natasha, Rafa, Asel’s dad who drove us all the way there and back safely despite the horribly icy road conditions, and Dima and Viktor for being Father Christmas “little helpers” and sledge almost literally the minibus full of presents all the way. And finally to the most important one, our Blue Father Christmas, thanks once again for making our Christmas special.
And thanks also to Garth, our president, we kept him jealous with our emails about Christmas preparations and even more with all the photos and tales of such an amazing day. We know you wanted to be here with us but maybe next time. Greetings and best wishes from all the kids here to you.
Thanks also to all of you that in a way or another support Alpine Fund, and our programs.
And just in case you didn’t hear, the New Year will bring a new Alpine Fund office in Dushanbe (Tajikistan). This is wonderful news, more kids in Central Asia can participate in Alpine Fund programs and activities, we can make new friends, share more mountain adventures, smiles and great moments like this one.
Happy New Year for every one of you!
And Happy New Year and Bolshoi Sposibo from all the kids
Marga
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Oksana - Giving back
This year
Christmas is very special for me. You know I used to be in a Children’s Home for
many years.
There I met Alpine Fund and after I finish in the Children’s Home
(we have to leave once we finish the 9th grade) with the support of
Alpine Fund I decided that I wanted to be an accountant and enrolled in the
Technical School. I also became an Alpine Fund intern, I learned many things
about mountains, camping, office skills, using computers, English, etc. And I
also learned how to be a good person; so many people helped and supported me
that I wanted also to help others. It is a difficult transition in life but I
managed to do well, this June I graduated from my technical school with honors
and after so many hours of learning and practicing English with all the Alpine
Fund volunteers and Garth I was able to find a good job as an English-Russian
interpreter.
Now, here is
where our Christmas story starts, I knew that Alpine Fund was preparing a
Christmas action and I know that even with little money they managed to put
something together. I wanted to help but my work doesn’t leave me much free
time.
I decided to talk to my bosses and explain that if they wanted to sponsor
part of this action. They said yes, they want to do something for the kids and
finally they donated some money. I was cheeky and said that if they were to give
a little bit more than more kids could benefit and they were very generous at
the end. I knew the Christmas action was planned for Sunday and on Friday night
I met with Dasha, Marga, Asel in a café and handed out the money. They were
amazed, especially Marga who told me several times how proud she is of me, she
was very proud before when I got this job but now even more she said. We are
good friends since she came to this country to volunteer for Alpine Fund and she
tells me her mind, the good but also the bad!
Soon we were making loads of
noise in the café discussing what to buy, we all agreed that warm socks, gloves,
huts and toiletries were priority. I know this well myself as I used to live in
one of the centers. I also thought it was a good idea to go to centers outside
Bishkek as these places normally get less support because it takes a long time
to get there, especially in winter. People from Spain sent loads of clothing and
toys. Giving the presents was the best, I felt like I was Santa Clause, and
knowing that I helped made it even better. At the end of the day we were really
tired but we had a great experience.
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Everything
started last Saturday morning, December 18th. Three of us, Marga, Julia and I
gathered at the office to sort out the clothes and presents from the Spain.
All
of us were so excited because we were opening these boxes and we had this
Christmas feeling coming. In a way it was a Christmas Eve for us. All these
trucks and dolls and puzzles were new, their colors were so bright. At the same
time we had to sort the things out but sometimes it was almost impossible,
because we wanted to open a new box and another new box. At the end we had a
huge pile of toys and clothes. We worked out a plan what clothes to send to what
place because we know what the needs are of the kids in each orphanage.
We realized
that it was already 2:30pm and we had to go, to run, to Osh market to buy more
presents for the kids. It was a little bit late for shopping at the market but
we had no choice. We started buying all the necessary things from our shopping
list. Markets are very interesting places where you can bargain down the price
of the goods you are buying, we became experts. We tried to talk to the sellers
saying that it is a charity Christmas action and these things will go to the
kids with disabilities and to the kids from orphanages. Some sellers gave us a
discount as a donation and we were glad.
It was already 4pm, it was dark, snowing and freezing cold. But we were on a “Christmas mission” and no matter what we had to get those presents. Even in such a rush we were able to get a good deal and we bought many warm socks and gloves and by then our shopping bags were so full and heavy. It was 6pm when we came back to the office. We were so cold and our feet were almost frozen, this was funny because we were carrying plenty of warm socks in our bags! We were so happy to be back with all the presents for the kids. It was great to see our office so full and with so many things waiting to be delivered to so many kids.
Sunday morning
was beautiful, it snowed loads during the night, it was very white and pretty
and it really felt like a real Christmas morning. It was also cold but we were
far too busy to take much notice of it. By 9am we met in the Osh market to
collect a big box containing almost 200 toothpastes and toothbrushes. Then we
went to buy 50m of soft clothing from the fabric area of the bazaar so that the
people in the Belavodskaye neurological center could make blankets and nappies
for the kids that cannot leave the beds. And as we had some money left over we
bought some more candy, cookies, etc. Once again we felt like Father Christmas
bringing heavy bags and loads of presents back to our office. By 12 o’clock we
were already a team of 15 people ready to start our mission and after filling
one minibus with presents we all got into the other minibus.
The road was so
icy that it took us a long time to arrive at the Belavodskoye center. We made it
there only after 1:30 pm.
We all distributed the candies and the cookies and
toys to the kids and we gave the blankets and clothes to the doctor. Unfortunately we all felt quite sad, seeing the condition of the kids, because
most of them were not able to walk and had heavy physiological problems. But the
children were so happy to receive the presents and to have us there that it was
moving. And I think that the main present was that they had a chance to
communicate with people from outside. Because those kids do not actually have a
chance to see other people often as it is not a place where many people choose
to go, it is difficult emotionally.
Their eyes were so bright and innocent and
they were trying to say something, but sometimes we could not understand them.
Though I think that most of the people o our team were communicating through
their hearts, because half of out team do not speak Russian. It was very hard to
stay there because your mind starts to think why those kids can’t walk and live
just like a normal kid, whose fault is that, why it is so unfair? All these
questions were storming my mind. After we left Belovodskoe Orphanage everybody
was sad and silent.
In Petrovka it
was completely different. We dressed up as a pirates and bad guys and of course,
what Christmas celebration would be such without a Father Frost (Ded Moroz-
Father Christmas) and Snow Princess.(Sniegurochka).
The scenario was next:
pirates stole the New Year and all the presents and kidnapped the Ded Moroz. And
kids with their songs had to change the pirates heart and turn bad guys into
good ones. So Sniegurochka and her assistant met the kids, described the
situation and then everything depended on the kids, they have to make their
Christmas a success themselves, only they could change the events. Suddenly, the
bad gang and me (I played the boss of the “baddies” team - a very bad pirate)
ran in and scared the kids; we walked around saying that we have the Ded Moroz
and the New Year. Kids started singing songs, and telling us short New Year
poems. They made our hearts so soft that we decided to give back all he presents
and Ded Moroz. Kids were so happy to see the Ded Moroz. We distributed the
presents and candies to each kid. They were so cute and sincere, receiving their
presents. They were thanking us and telling how happy they are. At the end our
group took a picture and we left the place.
The next point
was Rodnichek sanatorium. When we went there some kids were playing outside and
they saw Marga. And they were saying “Hello Marga, how are you?” It felt like
she was their very good friend, they were staying around her and it looked so
cute.
We went in and started our story from the beginning again following the
same scenario. Kids were laughing and smiling, which made me think that they
liked the show. Our award was their smiles and to make each kid feel special
even if just for just a little while. Each kid got a present and had a chance to
say the New Year poems. Some kids forgot the words, or were a bit nervous but it
didn’t matter to us, they all did fantastically well.
And the last moment, which made me feel so happy and needed and at the same time so sad, was when one small, 4 or 5 year old girl came to me and hugged me and kissed saying “thank you very, very much”. I did not know how to react at that point. I hugged her and said happy New Year and please be happy and safe my little dear one. I felt like something was stuck in my throat and I could not breathe for a moment. But I know for sure that I never had feelings like that. It was an unexplainable moment in my life.
These two days
were very hard in every sense. We were tired physically and morally. But, at the
end I completely forgot about my condition, I was thinking and analyzing my day.
I was thinking how little it takes to make those kids happy. What they need we
can’t measure in money or in clothes or in presents. I think it is more on a
psychological level, they need attention, they need care, they need love. And I
am so happy that I had a chance to make so many kids happy in one day.
The New Year is coming. And I want to wish everybody to forgive, to forget all the sad moments in your lives. Life is such an unpredictable thing that you never know what will happen next, therefore please be patient and know that future is so much nicer and brighter than yesterday. May this coming year of 2005 bring only happiness, joy, wellness and hope, hope for those kids to have the best future that they can imagine.
With my best wishes,
Asel
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From Dasha – The Snow Princess
Christmas began
early for us this year. When I saw all the boxes with toys, presents from
Spanish volunteers for Kyrgyz orphans, I felt like kid myself, and I thought –
this Christmas action will be great!
And it was great! There were so many people
involved, volunteers, friends, even people who decided to help after hearing
about our last years Christmas – “the Christmas on a tight budget”- action.
That morning was a crazy one, we went to buy the last presents and sweets in the Osh bazaar then ran to the office to make the last preparations and wait for everyone to join us. Last year were only 4 of us but this year we were lucky, we got many people coming to help out and have fun. Soon our office was very crowded and hectic, people carrying boxes to the minibus, Father Christmas getting into his blue jacket and trousers, this by the way is not typical but anyway. I am wearing my Snow Princess dress (golden this time). Finally Father Christmas team is ready for a fantastic day. Two minibuses are waiting, one already full with presents and the other one ready to take Father Christmas and his team all the way to the far away centers, we all squeeze in and there is not much room available but it doesn’t matter to us. Let’s go!
Our first
destination was the Belavoskaye Neurological center. The kids were very happy to
see us, they are really communicative, hugging us as one hugs best friends.
The
kids that are able to walk and are allowed outside greeted us already by the
entrance gate. They accompanied us all the time, showing the way. The place is
really big, we visited 4 groups, kids everywhere were very happy to get all toys
and candies, some of them can not walk, some cannot even move, and stay in bed
most of the time but they smiled at us, they talked to us, gave their hands.
Some of them are really smart despite their disabilities, a few of the older
girls can sew and they will be making bed sheets and nappies with the 50 x 1.5
meters of material we brought them. That looks like loads of work! We wanted
to stay longer, but we had to hurry up – we had two more centers to visit before
the day was over and the roads were totally frozen so driving is a very slow
affair. Kids asked when we are coming back, and at that moment I wanted to come
back really soon. Not as Sniegoruchka, with a pretty golden costume, not with
many boxes of presents but just as myself to visit these children and to spend
some time with them.
The next place was the children’s home in Petrovka. There we played a little performance, the baddies, the Pirates Team (commanded by Asel, Oksana and the Spanish guys wearing animal masks) kidnapped Father Christmas and all the presents. Sniegoruchka - Snow Princess - (me) with my elves (Marga, Natasha, and Julia) and all kids had to organize a rescue operation singing songs and reciting poems very loud. Of course goodness and kindness win at the end and the kids get loads of presents at the end.
Last
destination – sanatorium “Rodnichok”. This was the last place, we took all the
boxes from the minibus with cargo as the drivers had to be somewhere at 6pm and
our agreement was that they will leave as soon as possible. After all it was a
long and icy way back to Bishkek. The drivers were free to go then but they
liked so much been Santa’s little helpers that they decided to stay a little
longer helping out distributing presents, singing the songs and playing with
kids. We were all a great team.
Coming back everybody was very tired, but happy. Our mission was completed. All kids got their presents, toys, sweets and some really useful things, like toothpaste, warm socks, and gloves. They will be able to go out and play on the snow with warm feet and play snow balls as they played with us using the gloves and they will remember Santa and friends or at least that’s what they promised.
This action
became possible thanks to Alpine Fund friends. It is so good that people can get
together and do something for kids. Everybody contributed somehow, some with
presents, others with money, or with transport, others dedicating their Sunday
to come with us helping out to make this Christmas a very special one for many
kids in Kyrgyzstan. Father Christmas had many helpers this time and all together
we could do a great job.
I hope that this action will become an Alpine Fund tradition and that next year the Blue Father Christmas will be spreading smiles and happiness to yet more kids in our country.
Marry Christmas and happy New Year for everybody!!!
Dasha
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Well I am impressed, I really have no words even. What they did and wrote is a real life fairy tale of what the holiday season means. I want to again thank them, and all the people that help us to make days like this possible.
Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, and a Happy New Year to all!
Garth Willis
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Parting pictures
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