Meerim Nuru, an oasis of peace for Kyrgyzstan’s disabled children
Rome (AsiaNews) – On the beaches and the hills around Ysykköl, a huge salt lake in Kyrgyzstan, disabled children and teenagers have found a small oasis of peace and fun. The credit goes to a Catholic NGO, Meerim Nuru, which has opened a rehabilitation centre on the lakeshore run by Jesuit priests.
"This is a very nice place,” said Fr Remigiusz Kalski SJ, head of the association. Here “we provide more comprehensive care to people with physical and mental disabilities.
The Jesuit clergyman spoke to AsiaNews in Rome, where he is taking part in 20th General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis.
Meerim Nuru is not yet part of the network of the international Catholic charity, but “we hope to become Caritas Kyrgyzstan in the future,” Fr Kalski said.
Parish priest in Jalal-Abad (southern Kyrgyzstan), he noted that prejudices about people with disabilities are not widespread in the Central Asian country. However, "the health system is very poor. No one is able to provide proper care.”
He bemoans the fact that “The disabled are left on their own. Children who remain with their families never go out of the house; those who are in hospital wait to reach legal age to move to hospitals for adults. In practice, they spend their lives stuck in a bed."
This is where the NGO comes in. Through its centre on Lake Ysykköl, it organises summer camps for children, which are an opportunity for them to socialise, play and make day trips in the area.
The facility can accommodate up to 90 people. “Almost everyone who comes is Muslim,” he said. In addition, “We invite patients from other facilities or hospitals".
This fall, the country will hold elections. The Jesuit admits that "there could be unrest, because this often happens during voting, and the country may move towards a more Islamic path. However, nothing is certain; we have to wait and see. "
Although Kyrgyzstan is a predominantly Muslim country, "as Catholic NGO we never had any problems,” Fr Kalski said.
“Of course we have to be very careful and very transparent from a financial perspective. We are subject to various types of controls, but it is possible to operate. Our projects are also well received by the community."
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15/09/2015
