With the support of the CCP Synergy programme, working visits took place that marked the beginning of the joint work between the organisations KUNA e. V. and ‘Our Voice’. The aim of the cooperation is to develop a programme on ‘Education for Sustainable Development’ for girls and women from socially disadvantaged families in Kyrgyzstan.

Project period: June – October 2025.

The delegations from ‘Our Voice’ and KUNA e.V. visited organisations in Bishkek, Siegen and Bonn to learn about adult education methodology, study examples of its application and gain experience in the fields of education and ecology.

During the meetings, the partners discussed the structure of the future education programme, sought potential cooperation partners and developed a fundraising strategy. These visits were important steps in strengthening the partnership and created a clear vision for further project development.

Bishkek – Siegen

Representatives of the organisation Our Voice from Bishkek visited our association in Siegen and our partners in Bonn. The aim of the visit was to engage in professional exchange, learn about German education and integration projects, and reflect on their possible applicability in Kyrgyzstan.

The first item on the agenda was a visit to our SOFI project – Social Partnership for Integration. The guests got to know the association’s staff and engaged in intensive discussions about working methods in social work. Cultural aspects and customs in Kyrgyzstan were also discussed. Particularly noteworthy were the numerous similarities and new approaches to working with women and girls that were presented.

Afterwards, the representatives met with VAKS e.V., KUNA e.V.’s cooperation partner. They visited the Media Library Against Discrimination and the Sustainability and Fair Trade departments and gained insights into the ‘Girls in Need’ project.

The following days included meetings with AEF e.V. in Bonn. The focus here was on adult education in Germany and experiences in international exchange. The guests were particularly interested in the BAMF’s MiA courses and the IQ project, which are specifically designed to promote potential.

The guests then visited the Freudenberg Technology Museum, a cooperation partner of KUNA e.V., and learned about the extracurricular educational facility and the courses offered there for adults. The head of the MINT workshop, Gudrun Denker, presented the offerings in detail. Next on the agenda were educational venues for young people. Together, the group considered how the experience gained from KUNA e.V.’s projects could be applied in Kyrgyzstan. The visit to the Technology Museum was accompanied by KUNA e.V. board member Alena Dubino, who also volunteers as a leader of artistic workshops for women..

The visit impressively demonstrated how intercultural exchange, education and cooperation can contribute to the further development of social projects and opened up new perspectives for future cooperation between Germany and Kyrgyzstan.

Siegen – Bishkek

The return visit to Kyrgyzstan went very well, and the positive working atmosphere from Germany also rubbed off on the Kyrgyz partners. As a result, the programme became more extensive than expected, and many organisations showed great interest.

First, the representatives of KUNA e. V. were introduced to the difficult history of Kyrgyz independence. The visit to the historic Ata-Bejit memorial near Bishkek was important for gaining a better understanding of the spirit of the Kyrgyz freedom movement and the diversity of the local NGO scene. The German partners’ interest in Kyrgyz history was perceived as a sign of appreciation and marked a successful start to the trip.

Over the following days, our stay turned into a veritable marathon of visits and exchanges. First, we met with members of our partner organisation Our Voice, who told us about their projects – in particular their social projects with girls and women. We gained insights into the situation of women from socially disadvantaged families and gathered a wealth of information in conversations with social workers.

We were particularly impressed by the optimism of the association members, who maintain a positive attitude despite difficult circumstances and little government support, and convey this to their clients.

In the following days, several meetings with network partners took place in Bishkek. The discussions with DVV International in Bishkek, the Protestant adult education academy ‘Centre for Initiatives Suyuu Bulaga’ and the social organisation Isaan – Leilek were particularly productive. The discussions focused on educational programmes for young people and topics related to environmental education. The aim was to learn about different approaches to extracurricular education and identify possible forms of cooperation.

As part of the fact-finding mission, we also visited the ecological education centre in Ala-Archa National Park near Bishkek. There we explored the various interactive stations and learning opportunities. We were particularly impressed by how closely Kyrgyzstan’s cultural traditions are linked to nature experiences and environmental education at this centre. We saw several examples of how connections between nature, culture and local identity are integrated into the educational programmes. In the subsequent discussions with our partners, there was intensive debate about the extent to which such a holistic approach could also be applied in educational concepts for sustainable development in Germany. Another key topic of discussion was raising awareness of the cultural identity of the Kyrgyz people. This aspect was included as an indispensable part of the future joint project.

In conclusion, it can be said that the meetings in Bishkek provided valuable impetus for the further development of joint educational initiatives and significantly deepened mutual understanding of cultural and ecological interrelationships.

The organisations KUNA e.V. (Germany) and ‘Our Voice’ (Kyrgyzstan) have successfully completed their intensive exchange within the framework of the CCP Synergy programme. This forms a solid basis for effective joint projects.

Key results of the visit:

Concrete action plan: The mutual visits made it possible to move from general ideas to a clear implementation plan.

Needs analysis: Interviews and focus groups with regional partners clearly identified the priority areas of need:

• Regional sustainable development.
• Adult education programmes.
• Education for women and young people.

The KUNA team held important talks with high-ranking representatives of state and economic structures in the Kyrgyz Republic. These talks confirmed the high relevance of the planned projects and opened up the possibility of official support and integration into national programmes. Consultations took place with, among others:

• Deputy Ministers for Labour, Social Security and Migration, and for Education.
• A member of the Kyrgyz Parliament.
• The President of the Kyrgyz Chamber of Commerce and Industry.