Empowering Disabled Children in the Kyrgyz Republic

A small group of disabled children found themselves at the center of high-level attention at a ceremony in Bishkek on December 8, 2011.  "You are building a bridge of friendship between two great powers, the United States and Russia," former Kyrgyz President Rosa Otunbayeva told them, as she presented each of them with a new, high quality wheelchair, part of a delivery of 180 wheelchairs donated jointly by USAID and Russia through a project which Ms. Otunbayeva initiated over a year ago.   Following her request for assistance, USAID provided funding for 90 wheelchairs, which were purchased by an American NGO, the Frank Foundation.  USAID's Russia mission worked closely with Senator Vladimir Rushailo, special envoy of the Russian President to the Kyrgyz republic, who leveraged financial support from two Russian private companies, Polyus Gold and Russneft, for the purchase of the other 90 wheelchairs. Senator Rushailo also coordinated the shipment and delivery of the wheelchairs, which was paid for by the Russian Government.  "These wheelchairs mean a lot for the kids," said Ermek Kadyrov, director of a dance group of disabled children that performed at the ceremony. "For them, it's as important as feet for ordinary people." A total of twenty children received wheelchairs at the event; the remaining 160 wheelchairs will be distributed by the Kyrgyz Ministry of Social Welfare.  Attendees at the Bishkek ceremony included Ms. Otunbayeva, Senator Rushailo, U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Pamela L. Spratlen, Russian Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Valentin Vlasov, Minister of Social Welfare of the Kyrgyz Republic Aigul Ryskulova, USAID/ Russia Mission Director Charles North, USAID/Kyrgyz Republic Mission Director Carey N. Gordon, and President of the Frank Foundation Nina Kostina.  The Kyrgyz Republic has over 23,000 disabled children, many confined to their homes because the state subsidy they receive ($64 per month) is not enough to pay for indoor/outdoor wheelchairs. 

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