11.12.2015   15:15

Rahila Zhusupova, chairwoman of the women's NGO "Erayim": "It is possible to develop the economy through self-help groups"

The glory of the women's NGO "Erayim" this time is well known throughout Kyrgyzstan. Because the organization have been made a significant contribution to the internal development of the country by cooperation with many international organizations to address a range of social issues, have been demonstrating a good example of the involvement of foreign investment. This organization was founded by the “ashar” method (“ashar” - assistance (service) each other on a voluntary basis) is now involving millions of investment, carrying its own contribution to the development of country's economy and improving the social life of the people. On this subject, we conducted a conversation with the head of the organization Rakhila Zhusupova.

- Mrs Rakhila, is there a difference between self-help groups and the Group of mutual assistance?

- That's right, many people consider these two different types of groups like the same thing. For example, after the collapse of the Soviet Union when it was started privatization of properties it were formed groups of mutual assistance on a special state program. The aim of these groups was to raise the standard of living in the villages. If you look at it from outside, these groups are similar to our self-help groups. But our goal is to unite the volunteers for their business undertakings. They collect money from their own funds and determine the activity themselves. They do not rely on anyone except themselves. We have set up self-help groups of adults and children. They analyze the issues of local importance and contribute to their solutions. Such groups have run since 2000. Currently covering all region of Kyrgyzstan there are more than 400 self-help groups. Stable and successful groups formed Union "Birimdik" and thus increasing its foundation and working effectively. In the villages there are problems of infrastructure and a shortage of kindergartens. Self-help groups of pupils’ raise questions of secondary schools. They do not try to emphasize the negatives but spend an interesting time for the development of friendship and solidarity, and act properly in academic and social life of the school and initiate new ideas.

- Where did the idea of a self-help group come?

- Yes, they ask it a lot. Currently in many developed and developing countries self-help groups conduct their activities making their contribution to the development of the state. I'll tell you a story about a resident of Seoul, South Korea. This is a girl marrying a rural guy. The village from where the guy was very remote region and the quality of life was low. Urban girl saw their lives and felt unpleasant. The people of the village were lazy and poor. She realizes that to live this way is impossible, gather young girls and women and suggest them her idea of uniting to solve their problems. Some supported it, and there were also those who were against her sentence. Those who accepted her proposal gathered their jewels and expensive clothes and sold them at the market. From the proceeds of items sold they created a primary capital fund for future use and started giving a loan under a very small percentage to who have problems requiring urgent solutions, so they keep the way to a bright life. This case was the beginning of nowadays self-help groups’ activities. The number of members of self-help groups started to increase, and the population of this poor village begins to live better and better. Neighbors were surprised and interested in the cause of this phenomenon. Their experience was spread rapidly in the near lying villages, affecting the improvement of living standards of the region. We also require this method. There are people who aware of this and ones who are indifferent to it. You'll see there will be the future of this method to improve the lives of villagers.

- Currently, in what other countries it is conducted SHG activities, do you have any information about this?

- A member of our organization Mamatkazy Kaparov visited India where the standard of living is not so high, the people here also trying to improve the quality of life by their own efforts by creating self-help groups. He examined their experience. We also know Bangladesh experience on self-help groups. In addition, even developed European countries also support the experience of self-help groups.

- What’s the altitude to SHG of the parties who work in cooperation with your organization?

- There are governmental and other organizations in six regions of Kyrgyzstan cooperating with our organization. They already understand the role of the SHG in the regions. Even the first heads of regional administrations of Osh, Jalal-Abad, Issyk-Kul, Naryn, Talas, Chui regions and the heads of district administrations of these areas as well as activists of villages support the activities of SHG. There are many suggestions from them to us on cooperating. The only thing required from us is properly explain to people what is the SHG, what is its destination and distribute experience of successfully working self-help groups.

- Thank you for the interview.

Interviewed by Baktykan Azhymamatova