Felt, felt, felt...

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We then visited another house in Ivanovka to meet a group of unemployed women who were part of a local self-help group set up by the Network. Various members welcomed us into the warmth of a colourful cosy front room which they were using just for the winter because their usual craft room had no heating.

This is one of the several self-help groups in the area which makes handicrafts using felt, fur and fabrics which they buy with micro-credit loans. They sell their crafts (which include toys, bags, bridal blankets and cushions) in markets, and at conferences making between 200 – 1,000 soms (US$5 - US$25) per family per month. This amount varies dramatically from month to month because they do not have regular access to markets or shops. 60% of the profit goes back into the group’s activities, whilst 40% is given to the member who made the goods to help buy basic foodstuffs like tea, sugar and flour. Unfortunately it cannot hope to meet the 300 soms needed every month for electricity especially in the winter when they need heaters. 

Jenia (54) told us that they decided to set up the self-help group because they liked the idea of doing something together which she compared in Kyrg culture to bread making –traditionally done by women. “Some women are better at doing some things than others so we all do it together so that we utilise all our talents.”

Jenia worked in a pencil factory for 19 years until the Soviet collapse brought about its closure. For a year she received a pension from the factory but now she has to depend on the State pension which is only 500 – 600 soms per month (approx $12). She has a large family including 5 children. Apart from her two daughters who are married, her husband and the rest of her children live at home and are unemployed. She says since being in the self-help group, life has become a little easier. “It’s not just the material assistance it gives me but the spiritual assistance as well – we all help each other morally -the AgeNet network has taught us how to survive”.

All the women felt that improved access to markets would increase their chances of developing the self-help group and their aim is to set up small cluster groups and create their own network. When we asked what her family felt about her involvement, Jenia said that they were only positive in seeing her so happy and joyful.

This photo shows the group with Amanda (red jumper, arm on Jenia's shoulder) and Frances (front centre, green fleece).   Don't be fooled by the seemingly well-fed faces, we know that these are not traditional images of poverty.   These women scrape a living for thier families in freezing conditions.