Biškek, Ayas Kyz's surprise for disabled children

A solidarity initiative that brings together Kyrgyz versions of Cinderella and Father Christmas sends gifts to young disabled people from all over the country. Everyone donates what they can; the only condition is to create a bond that lasts over time.

Biškek (AsiaNews) - As the year ends in Kyrgyzstan, "Ayas Kyz surprise" drive is underway, which sends gifts to children with disabilities from unknown people from all over the country. Ayas Kyz is the Kyrgyz version of Cinderella, which is often accompanied by Ayas Ata, Father Christmas ('Grandfather Frost') of Slavic-Asian tradition.

Every year, 9-year-old Aruuke Abdraimova prepares an album full of drawings of Christmas trees and the two heroes of the Christmas season, which she adores and looks forward to: "I want them to bring me a 3-D pen, which draws and then dries," says the girl, who has never been able to walk due to a genetic disease. For four years now, Aruuke's mother has been calling on the "Ayas Kyz surprise", whereby unknown magicians visit children at home, bringing them parcels of sweets.

This year the initiative has reached more than 200 disabled children, whose requests are posted on various social channels, and anyone can make one of the children's wishes come true. Little Roman, also nine years old, is particularly fond of musical toys, although he does not disdain any other gift. "He sings and dances all the time, and we have to hold him so that he doesn't fall on the floor all the time," says his mother Alla Brandt. "It makes him happy just to see new faces - he is always at home with his parents and grandparents.

Elena Baryševa has been taking part in the Kyrgyz Cinderella solidarity drive for years, and although it is possible to send presents by post, she likes to visit the children at home as much as possible: "One mother wrote to me that her son is keen on traffic signs, so I bought several toy signs for him to use with cars, and the child was delighted... As soon as I brought them to him, he forgot about us and started playing, as he should. They're hardly worth anything, but to him they were real treasures.

A medical student, Bakyt Džunušev, who wants to be a paediatrician and is part of a youth group that gathers to send Christmas wizards to homes, arrived at Aruuke's house. "It was the first time for me, and I'm really happy that the gift made the child happy: I saw her smile, and I must say that it was really worth it," says Bakyt.

The Ayas Kyz initiative does not aim to help the children's families financially, but only to create a bridge of human solidarity to bring a little joy. Everyone buys the gifts to be brought according to their economic possibilities, on the only condition that they never forget the child to whom they gave the gift, and who will wait for the Christmas wizard not only from year to year, but from day to day.