Though Kyrgyzstan successfully passed through a change of leadership, its economy is in ruins, poverty is rampant.  Most of the population is unemployed.  Elderly pensioners receive about $2 a month.  After paying for utilities, they have less than $2 and cannot afford to purchase sufficient food, medicine or clothing.

Kyrgyzstan is also struggling to cope with Islamic fundamentalists whose terrorist activities continue to destabilize its southern regions.

JDC is working with Kyrgyzstan’s small Jewish community to provide welfare services to elderly Jews and other impoverished members of the community.  We also are helping the community rediscover its Jewish heritage and rebuild Jewish communal life.