Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a country in Central Asia, which used to be part of the Soviet Union and gained its independence in 1991.
Landlocked and mountainous, it is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east. The population is around 5 1/2 million.
Oasis began working in Kyrgyzstan in 2008. Currently, we are working with over 150 young people in various state-run penal institutions. We are also raising awareness about the dangers of human trafficking to at-risk youth, in schools and poor communities. Oasis Kyrgyzstan is a partner in the worldwide coalition Stop the Traffik.
Ronny's Story
Ronny* is a teenager, who has gone through the typical "career" of a street child. His mother is an alcoholic and does not want to take care of him. His father was in prison for many years and shortly after he was released he died from tuberculosis. Ronny started living on the streets when he was seven years old.
The last five years he has been at a state-run reform school. He is currently in the last (ninth) grade and hopes to go to a technical school next year. Our goal is to support Ronny in various ways: helping him adapt to a normal life after his release, placing him into a transitional home while receiving vocational training in a secure environment and providing assistance during the employment process.
*Ronny's name has been changed