Nurayim and her grandchildren
Many family members migrate for work, leaving their children in Kyrgyzstan with relatives or friends. This is mostly due to lack of opportunities in Kyrgyzstan. In Kyrgyzstan, 377,000 children have one or both parents working outside the country.
The road to Tarylga village. To reach this village, you have to cross the Papan Reservoir and drive up the mountain for about two hours. The village is located in a gorge.
Grandmothers and grandchildren.
There are no shops or hospitals in Tarylga village. To get food or to see a doctor the villagers have to go to the village of Papan, which is located 13 kilometres away.
Nurayim Kozhonalieva, a resident of Tarylga village takes care of four of her grandchildren because her son and daughter have gone to Russia to find work.
Nurayim Kojonalieva's grandchildren, the eldest Uulkyz, is four years old and the youngest Sezimai is not yet one years old.
Six-month-old Aisezim's father went to Russia to look for work before she was born. Aisezim has not yet met his daughter.
Cell phone connection in the village is available only from this window of Nurayim Kojonalieva's house. If the phone moves even a little the connection is lost.
There is no doctor in the village of Tarylga where Nurayim Kojonalieva lives. In winter, when the road is closed due to heavy snow, some babies are not able to be vaccinated.
Nurayim Kozhanalieva washes her grandchildren's clothes by hand.
Nurayim Kojonalieva's daughter Minura (left) and her friend are carrying water. There is a shortage of clean water in Tarylga. Villagers bring water from a spring on the outskirts of the village by donkeys or on foot with buckets.
To provide support to the Government of Kyrgyzstan in strengthening the protection of the rights of children affected by migration, UNICEF partnered with the European Union under the project “Protecting children affected by migration in Southeast, South, and Central Asia” and worked with national and international partners.
When parents leave their children in the care of others, they should ensure the child’s well-being and protection.
How?
- Keep the bond: When parents leave their child in the care of relatives, it is important that parents keep in close contact and stay involved in the child’s everyday life (such as school issues and health) despite the distance by being in touch often via internet and taking an interest in the child’s life to maintain the vital parent-child relationship. Especially in the early years of a child’s life, parents (and caregivers) play a critical role and help the brain development through care, love, talking, playing, reading and singing.
- Leave your child protected: When children are (temporarily) left under the care of relatives, it is important that the child has a legal representative (guardian) who will be responsible for the upbringing and development of the child until the parents return. Having an officially registered guardianship will protect the child, for example in cases of emergencies, when the signature of the parents or legal representative is required.
- Seek support, if needed: Children, parents or caregivers facing difficulties can seek help under the Child Hotline 111 or at one of the Child Support Centres. Adults who have questions about migration can contact the hotline of the Information Consultation Centre of the State Migration Service at 1899.
