Kyrgyzstan's First Lady Leads by Example

by Tcholpon Akmataliyeva & photo by Tcholpon Akmataliyeva

One criterion for democratic development is active participation by women in public life. In the five years that the Kyrgyz Republic has been independent, more than 50 nongovernmental women's organizations have formed, a good indication that Kyrgyz women are playing an active role in their country's transition.

Mairam Akaeva, wife of president Askar Akaev, uses her influence as first lady to advocate for the country's children, in a style reminiscent of Hillary Clinton. In 1993, she created her own foundation, called the Meerim International Charitable Foundation, with the goal of supporting and protecting women and children, the most vulnerable people in society during the current transition period.

The foundation's social welfare program is targeted at reducing infant and maternal mortality, and providing charitable assistance to orphans, children's homes, handicapped children and needy families.

The foundation also provides various types of support to talented children and women, through stipends granted to young students of music, art, singing and the applied arts. Shows have been organized to display the works of these artists, and charitable events have been held to support various creative groups. The most popular event is the Young Talents International Festival held annually on the banks of Lake Issyk-Kul. Children from around the world come here, representing different peoples and cultures and different branches of the arts. For two weeks children participate in drawing, singing and dancing competitions. The children of Kyrgyzstan actively participate in the talent competitions, introducing the guests of the festival to our ancient culture and traditions.

The foundation is also working to introduce the world to Manas, the epic poem of Kyrgyzstan that is the longest poem in the world. The foundation published a book of photographs entitled Manas through the Eyes of Children. In 1995, the year that the epic's 1,000-year anniversary was celebrated, a version of Manas in prose, specially adapted for children, was published in Kyrgyz and Russian, as well as in Kazak, Uzbek and Tajik. The work is also being translated into English, German, Japanese, Turkish and other languages, with the hope that children of the world will learn about Kyrgyzstan's history and unique culture and traditions.

The idea for creating a children's museum in Kyrgyzstan came to Mairam Akaeva after visiting the children's museum in Washington, DC. The Children's Educational Museum Program was created in 1995 and is involved in two main areas, education and the arts. Different groups work under the program: children from three to 16 come here regularly to take classes in dancing, music, singing and applied arts. In computer classes, the children have the chance to make direct contact with children in other parts of the world through the Internet.

The Meerim Foundation has wide contacts and is successfully working with similar organizations and foundations from the CIS and other countries. By establishing a tradition of philanthropy in Kyrgyzstan, Mairam Akaeva is paving the way for other women and would-be philanthropists to follow.

Tcholpon Akmataliyeva is conducting research on the development of women's NGOs in Kyrgyzstan. Translated by Andrew Reese. Meerim International Charitable Foundation, 41 Druzby Street, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; phone: (3312) 44-92-99; fax: (3312) 22-755-51; e-mail: mey@meyerim.bishkek.su