A trip is never immortalized solely through the souvenirs and photos we bring back, but also through the magnificent encounters and exchanges that shape our stay. In Kyrgyzstan, you will be struck by the generosity and kindness of your hosts and curious locals who stop to chat with you. You may well feel the desire to return this kindness, so here are a few ideas for helping local communities during your trip to Kyrgyzstan :

Bring Them a Souvenir

If you want to delight your hosts, consider bringing them a small gift from your home country : a fridge magnet, a keychain, a postcard... You'll see how delighted they'll be ! The families you stay with often have young children, so you can also bring them toys or, simply, sweets from your part of the world.

On the photography front, you might consider bringing an instant camera : this will allow you to give them a few photos of you together or of their children, for example. Bring some photos of your family and your life to show your hosts, as Kyrgyz people are very curious and will ask you many questions ! 

Choose Family Accommodation and Meals

If you wish to travel responsibly, to contribute to the country's and villages' development, try to eat and sleep with families, rather than in restaurants or large establishments. For many locals, tourism has become their primary source of income. For example, the picturesque village of Jyrgalan near Karakol was almost empty before tourism development ; locals had no way to work and live in their valley. Many families also offer tourists the opportunity to eat at their home, even if you don't spend the night in their house. In any case, sharing a meal and spending the night with a family will help them financially, and it's the best way for you to discover local life and culture. The same applies when hiring a guide, porter or driver during your trip, as you would be helping their families directly.

Small exception at Karakol, where you can eat at the « Fat Cat Café » : the owner uses profits to help families in need and women victims of violence.

Make a Donation to a Charitable Organization

There are many organizations that help disadvantaged families and sick people by giving them money, clothing, medicines... The cost of cancer treatment, for example, is far too high for locals, who therefore resort to crowdfunding systems to finance medicines, operations, etc. You can help by donating to an organization, or even by bringing good-condition clothing or toys for children in orphanages or disadvantaged families.  To mention just two organizations in Bishkek :

• « помогать легко » (read « pomogat lehko » and translates as « it's easy to help ») works with children suffering from cancer. All funds given to them are then donated to families to help them fund their children's treatments

• « оф прав защиты детей сирот » (read « obshetveny fond prav zashiti detei sirot » and translates as « association for the rights of orphaned children's protection ») works with children in Kyrgyz orphanages to provide them with clothing, toys, toiletries, educate them and help them enter university or find work

You'll find these two organizations, and others, on Facebook for more information.

Volunteer

If you have free time during your trip to Kyrgyzstan, make the most of it ! You could help, for example, by teaching English classes in village schools, or by offering activities for children in hospitals or orphanages (sewing, painting, games, sports, photography....)

Buy a Souvenir from a Charitable Organization

You'll certainly want to bring back souvenirs from Kyrgyzstan, but rather than buying them in shopping centers or bazaars, why not combine business with pleasure by purchasing them from organizations ?

In Kochkor for example, you can buy felt souvenirs from a women's organization in the region : everything is handmade, and profits go to elderly women or those in difficult circumstances in villages near Kochkor.

In Karakol, try the One Village, One Product brand, which distributes a large portion of profits to local manufacturers.

In Bishkek, you can do even better by purchasing beautiful handbags from a women's organization of cancer patients (there are two: « Kurdash Workshop » and « Мастерская онкопациентов "Вместе ради Жизни" » on Facebook). Sale proceeds are used solely to buy medicines and fund treatment for the women. In Bishkek too, the mother of a sick child sells knitted plushies at the Coffee café (Togolok Moldo 40/1) so she can care for her son and be with him at all times.