Alpine Update #2
Thanks to the support of the employees of Midwest Mountaineering in Minnesota the Alpine Fund held a one week winter camp in the mountains of Ala Archa National Park for 20 youth from the Voenna Antonovka children’s home. By any measure it was a great success. In addition to mountain hikes and evening fires the 20 youth were given seminars and art projects to fill their time. Part of the project included having graduates of the children’s home act as guides and counselors.
The Osh Alpine Fund is up and running. We previously had a great summer with hikes and a summer camp for street kids working in the bazaar and from Uch Korgon orphanage. The Alpine Fund found a new office in the center of Osh and held a New Years celebration for the children at the Uch Korgon children’s home south of the city. Mostly what is holding back new programs in Osh is a lack of financial resources, but we are working on creative solutions to this situation.
The Website has seen a lot of progress over the past month. With Ryan at the helm the site has new energy and there are new additions daily. Ryan has also given the site new focus, that of ‘Mountain Sports’ in Kyrgyzstan in all their glory, from climbing to skiing to information for travelers. Look to see continued growth in the future. We created the Alpine Zone to encourage tourism, which will one day hopefully help the youth we work with.
Alpine Youth Guides
The Alpine Youth Guides will continue to train each Sunday afternoon at the climbing wall in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. If you live in Bishkek you are welcome to stop by and climb with us, all equipment and training is provided. For information call the Alpine Fund office in Bishkek at 22-76-98, or write to info@alpinefund.org
Awards Ceremony
As part of the evaluation of the Alpine Fund's programs for the year 2002 the Alpine Fund held an Awards Ceremony for the participants of the ‘Clouds at Their Feet’ and ‘Alpine Guides’ programs. Outstanding participants were awarded jeans and Alpine Fund T-shirts. All participants received some souvenirs or belts. This was done to motivate children to work hard and attend all the trainings in the future. The prizes had been donated by various organizations and individuals.
Initiative
On January 19th Farida Abdulhafizova, Alpine Fund employee and alumni of the ACIE/ FLEX (American Councils for International Education/Future Leaders Exchange) program, raised over 3000 soms (75$). Along with other Alumni she went to Children's Home in Petrovka and gave children books, toys and cleaning supplies (soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and paste). The money for this event was provided by the Urban Institute.
Student Intern
This January and February the Alpine Fund is hosting Erling Rosenstrom a student/volunteer from Norway. Erling is studying the positive effect of programs such as the Alpine Fund for at-risk children. In February the Alpine Fund is planning a three day hike with ‘Clouds at Their Feet’ and ‘Alpine Guides’ participants. Erling has volunteered at the children’s home will get a chance to see first hand the way the kids transform and come alive when in the mountains.
Fundraising and annual work plan
Money of course is always a challenge for the Alpine Fund, there is just not a lot of money in helping vulnerable children in Kyrgyzstan. . For two years we have survived with support from UNICEF, the Swiss Agency for Development and the generosity of individuals. Previously our annual budget has been about $25,000. This year we are setting our fundraising goals at $50,000. We hope to expand all of our programs, especially in Osh and we need to replace much of the camping gear that has been worn out. If you can contribute, or know of any foundations that might be interested in the work we do, please contact us.
Contact information for the Alpine Fund:
Emails:
info@alpinefund.org – For all questions and comments
zone@alpinefund.org – For mountain and tourism related questions
osh@alpinefund.org – For the office in Osh
garth@alpinefund.org – President of the Fund and editor of the update
Regular mail:
In the USA
Alpine Fund
PO BOX 583192
MPLS. MN
55458-3192
In Kyrgyzstan
The Alpine fund
2 Erkindik Blvd. #262
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
720000
996 (312) 66-55-67, 22-76-98
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The visit the Alpine Fund Update archive, go to www.alpinefund.org/updates
Thanks for you interest and we hope to see you in the mountains!
Garth Willis
Editor – Alpine Update