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We are very keen to be involved in the local communities, to try and help raise awareness of the needs, and to be able to financially support them.
An appeal by Fr. Juan Carlos in Dushanbe for help to save a young boy's life
Organisation: Central Asian Development Agency (CADA)
E-mail:health@tajik.net
The dissolution of the Soviet Union and the subsequent 1992-97 civil war in Tajikistan led to a collapse of much of the country's infrastructure. Tajikistan's health care system stopped functioning. The Tajik people were suddenly left with full responsibility for their families' health and welfare, but ill equipped to take on this responsibility.
CADA's Community Development Project was initiated in May 1997 in response to this need. The project is focussed on Takob village, north of Dushanbe in the Hissor mountain range. Since 1999, the project has been managed by local Tajiks.
- To give the Takob villagers the knowledge, skills and confidence to help themselves.
- To help the community to become able and willing to take responsibility for themselves and to become less dependent on outside aid.
- To create long-term community ownership of the project by recuiting and training managers and volunteer workers.
The health education programme helps women and young girls through:
- Monthly neighborhood discussion groups on topics such as first aid, hygiene, immunisation, breast feeding and family planning.
- Monthly development checks for children under five years old, which encourages mothers to take an active interest and responsibility in their children's health.
- Publication of health information booklets and other teaching materials in the Tajik language.
CADA organises an annual summer camp in Takob's main school, providing lessons on health, geography and the culture of other countries. Children learn new skills by participating in games and other organised activities.
At the request of the village's local administration, CADA offers English classes to villagers as and when teachers are available.
The aim of the small business programme is to assist villagers in starting their own business ventures, so that they can become less dependent on humanitarian aid.
A donkey farm has been started in a village near Takob. (Donkeys are the main form of mountain transport in the mountainous regions). This programme not only generates income, but and benefits other villages in the region by providing cheaper donkeys.
Currently about 80 village women are involved in making handicrafts. The small business programme provides assistance in selling their crafts. The goal is to help villagers to diversify the type of business and train them to manage it by themselves.
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