Winter Canning Project Osh

Project description and objectives

This project assisted families who lost their homes in the June 2010 events by providing them with the opportunity to preserve some food for the winter. The objectives were to provide canned food to needy families and to provide for stress relief to people traumatized by the June events. This project ran from 4 August, 2010 to 21 October, 2010 in Osh City. CDI worked in cooperation with leadership committees from 13 neighborhoods in Osh. The project was conducted in cooperation with public charitable fund Operation Mercy Kyrgyzstan.

Major Activities Completed and Results

Participants were identified in cooperation with the neighborhood committees. They were principally from household that had been damaged during the June 2010, violence. CDI provided all the fruit and vegetable produce, glass jars, and cooking facilities. The women themselves, in groups of 20 to 35, prepared and canned the produce.

In addition to providing canned products, the project was designed to provide stress relief. Thus, the location of the project was a peaceful apple orchard where the women could have some psychological relief from the effects of dealing with their burned houses. Furthermore, volunteers were on hand specifically to listen to the participant’s stories and to provide encouragement. Also, second hand clothes, material for making dresses, and “tushaks” (cotton mattresses) were given out in various combinations. A good lunch was also served.

The women participating frequently expressed gratitude for the provision for canning for the winter. One woman told us, “My house was set on fire when my two sons were inside. Neighbors saved them by getting water from a nearby canal. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to get out of the rubble of my house and have a day out in a beautiful shady garden where I can work hard and provide for my family. It has really lifted my spirits.”

A total of 1561 families were represented, and each family took home an average of 32 liters of vegetables and fruit.

Table 1 - Total Beneficiaries

Table 2 - Totals of vegetable and fruit provided

Table 3 - Clothes, dress material and tushaks provided