Winter Canning Project Jalalabad

Location: Jalalabad city

Project description and objectives

This project was started as a response to the events that took place in June 2010. During an initial needs assessment it became clear that many families were worried about the approach of winter and felt powerless to do anything in preparation. Usually summer is a time for women to prepare jars of jam and salad for winter but most were unable to do so as their kitchens and equipment had been burnt or looted. The aim of this project was to provide each affected household with 13 liters of jam or salad to prepare for winter.

Partners

The project was carried out in partnership with the public charitable fund Operation Mercy Kyrgyzstan. Local community leaders were also involved in identifying recipients.

Major Activities Completed and Results

The first phase of the project focused on the neighborhoods in Jalalabad that were affected by the June violence. Each day an average of twenty women from affected households came to our canning station and worked with foreign volunteers and local staff to produce three 3-liter jars of vegetable salad and two 2-liter jars of jam per household.

Jars, produce and kitchen equipment were provided by CDI and Operation Mercy, but it was the women themselves who provided the labor. Our aim was to empower them by giving them the opportunity to help themselves through rewarding hard work, and by acknowledging and respecting local culture and culinary tastes in the types of jams and salads produced. A total of 150 women participated producing a total of 750 liters of canned food.

All participants were grateful for the relief they were given. “It is so good for us to leave our ruined homes behind for a day and to do something constructive. All day we sit in our tents and worry about winter. You have given us something we can actually do about it. Thanks you!” This comment from Fatima, 47, was often repeated by other participants.

“Your project has been so helpful for the women in our mahallah,” explained one community leader. “Look at them smiling as they get on the bus. You’ve turned hard work into an excursion for them and this will help with stress levels. Already we have had some women die of heart attacks due to the stress of losing their homes. Thank you for coming and for caring about us and letting us make the kind of food we like and know how to make. You help us feel human again.”

The second phase of the project targeted families who lost homes in the village of Bazar Korgan. Because the canning station had been set up in Jalalabad, CDI and OMK hired women from violence-affected areas in Jalalabad to can vegetables and jam to be distributed in Bazar Korgon. Some 925 jars were canned in September. In December CDI staff distributed these to 274 households in Bazar Korgon. Note that during the time the jars were stored prior to distribution in Bazar Korgon, 141 jars spoiled. In November we cleaned these jars thoroughly and caned new produce again in order to have enough jars to distribute to Bazar Korgon.

Summary of Jars Distributed