June 2011
Malan Wilkinson, a journalist with Golwg360 (a Welsh language news site), has been travelling with Christian Aid in Tajikistan.
She has been looking at some of the challenges facing Tajikistan's people, in the fields of HIV, climate change, livelihoods and access to rights.
Malan said: 'We know a lot about the work of organisations like Christian Aid in Africa and other countries recovering from disasters… but often we aren't aware of the work they do in countries like Tajikistan, which also faces major problems.'
Christian Aid in Tajikistan
'Often we aren't aware of the work (Christian Aid) do in countries like Tajikistan, which also faces major problems.'
Christian Aid has worked in Tajikistan since 1997. Many of the country’s problems have their roots in the traumas that followed the break up of the Soviet Union including social and economic collapse and a bitter five year civil war. The war claimed 60,000 lives and displaced 500,000 people.
Within a decade, standards of living had dropped back 20 years and Tajikistan had become one of the 30 poorest countries in the world. Currently around 70% of the population is living on less than $2 a day (source: IMF) and nearly 30% (mainly males) have left to find casual employment in countries like Russia and Kazakhstan.
Visiting partners in Tajikistan
Davatlignor, a member of a local women's committee
Malan, accompanied by Branwen Niclas from Christian Aid Wales, has been visiting some of the Public Chambers set up by Christian Aid partner Rights and Prosperity.
The chambers, like citizens' advice bureaus, offer people information about their rights - ranging from land and water, divorce, domestic abuse, welfare, disability, pensions and education. They play a major part in promoting women’s rights.
Davlatbi, 28, went to her local Public Chamber in Rudaki district after unsuccessfully petitioning her ex-husband to pay child maintenance. Thanks to the legal support she received through the Chamber, the Courts quickly ordered her ex- husband to pay alimony.
'If the Public Chamber hadn't been there, frankly I don’t know what I would have done. Now I tell other people about how helpful it is.'
Malan feels that the service the chambers give, 'offer hope and promise to the poor. They offer more choices to people whose choices are limited because of their circumstances.'
Gallwch ddilyn blog Cymraeg Malan ar Golwg360 >
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