Ophthalmological examination: within the framework of the support project for ethnic Koreans
With age, regular diagnostics become vital, yet full medical check-ups in modern clinics are not always accessible to older people and pensioners due to high costs.
A significant number of elderly ethnic Koreans whose children have gone abroad to work reside in Bishkek and the Chuy region. According to a Good Neighbors study (2026), 77.9% of them suffer from vision problems, and 89.4% cannot afford private ophthalmologist services. Without timely treatment, people gradually lose their sight and end up isolated.
To remove this financial barrier, Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic, together with the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) and the Koryo-in Diaspora Association, launched a project for the free diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. The main outcome of such support is the timely detection of dangerous health conditions: during the exam, doctors identified a cataract in one of the participants for the first time and promptly referred her for surgery.
From an interview with a check-up participant:
Kim Lyudmila, representative of the Korean diaspora:
"Without this sponsored support, I would not have been able to visit such a modern clinic. I was examined, diagnosed with a cataract, and advised to undergo surgery. It is difficult for pensioners to pay for diagnostics, so we are deeply grateful for the care, attentive doctors, and excellent organization without any queues!"
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On August 25, 2026, Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic organized a practical experience-sharing workshop on "Organization of Healthy Nutrition in Schools" at K. Chokoev School in Kotormo village under the "Green Schools for Healthy Nutrition" project. School principals from the Uch-Terek and Bel-Aldy areas participated in the event.
The primary goal of the workshop was to demonstrate how the effective use of school grounds allows for growing fresh fruits and vegetables for the school cafeteria, thereby enriching students' daily diets with nutritious hot meals. 🍲🍛
During the field visit, the team of K. Chokoev School shared their unique experience:
- Crop diversity: apples, cucumbers, potatoes, strawberries, as well as lemons and bananas are successfully grown on the school grounds.
- High yield: the school harvests crops twice per season.
- Reliable storage: participants were shown a self-constructed basement storage facility that keeps the produce fresh throughout the entire school year.
Participants showed great interest in the practical details, discussing irrigation, crop cultivation, food storage, and adapting these approaches in their own schools. In addition, the school leaders addressed key challenges of mountainous regions, particularly the short agricultural season and limited access to irrigation water.
The workshop served as clear proof that school-based farming is an accessible and effective tool for enhancing hot meal programs and improving children's health. 💚
On August 20–21, 2026, Good Neighbors Kyrgyz Republic held a two-day strategic workshop titled "Community Movement: Moving Together, Creating Change."
The event was aimed at reviewing the progress of the first half of 2026, aligning strategic priorities, strengthening interdepartmental collaboration, and developing a clear action plan for the second half of the year.
During the two-day program, staff completed a series of intensive sessions focused on analytical work, professional development, and team building. Participants reviewed the five-year PPF 2026–2030 strategy, the development of the Community Movement initiative, improvement strategies for SST projects, and the WFP HGSF program. Special emphasis was placed on co-funding projects in Bel-Aldy village aimed at empowering and actively involving the local population to strengthen community capacity.
The program also included training on time management, safeguarding standards (PSE & Safeguarding), and the operational role of administration as a strategic partner.
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In school age, children face serious internal and external changes. Against this background, conflicts often arise, and bullying can go into the shadows — adults either identify it too late or do not notice it at all.
Director of secondary school No. 30 named after A. Aliev (Osh) Sulaimanova Nuskaiym Amanbaevna shares why traditional preventive measures are no longer enough. To truly protect teenagers, educators need new methodologies, instructions, and, most importantly, the right approach to communication.
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