Head of the Social Village Manas

Gulbarchyn Takyrbasheva, called Gulja, is a doctor and went blind several years ago. Her son, Bakyt, went to school in the children rehabilitation center Nadjeshda. There, together with other parents, the idea to build up the Social Village Manas was born. From the beginning, Gulja was the moving spirit of the Social Village Manas and she campaigned with great commitment to its construction.

She learned about curative education in different trainings and through stays in german social therapeutic institutions.

Project manager and assistant

Taalay Ismailbekov is the son of the project leader and supports the Social Village Manas since its foundation. Between 2009 and 2011 he studied curative and social education in a camphill in Scotland. After he came back to Kyrgyzstan, he studied economics (bachelor) and worked at the same time as an assistant at the Social Village Manas. His master program International Business Management he did in Germany. Since 2016 he is back to Kyrgyzstan and works part-time as project manager. He is active in different areas of the Social Village with the main goals to expand the working areas which can generate an income and to organize fundraisings to ensure humane living conditions for the residence of the Social Village.

As a communication assistant he translates emails and conversations and is in charge of the volunteers.

Accountant, secretary and companion

Kanykei ist the new accountant of the Social Village Manas. Without her, there is nothing to eat, nothing can be built and the Kyrgyz financial authorities have no record and we from the sponsoring association and other donors no accounts of their project funds. She always has an overview of the finances and an immaculate book-keeping in all accounts.

Furthermore, she works as a secretary and accompanies Gulja to appointments with authorities in Bishkek.

Social worker and associate of the workshop

In the beginning of 2018 Jyldyz joined the team as a social worker. After a baby break she works since February 2022 in the Social Village.

She supports the workshop director in promoting and supporting the residents during their work. Furthermore, she takes care of contacting different authorities and she accompanies the residents to the doctor and to other appointments.

Workshop director of the large workshop

With the new workshop director Jazgul the work in the workshop changed. Already for a long time she engages with art work  and brought new ideas and techniques to the workshop of the Social Village. Besides the processing of felt (seat cushion and toys) the residents weave baskets out of rolled paper under the guidance of Jazgul.

Workshop director of the small workshop

Rita is working in the smaller workshop, in which the residents work, which require more assistant than the other residents. Already for many years she is artistically active besides the family work and has adopted many handicraft techniques. The main focus of her work is the production of felt cusions for sale.

Workshop director of the external group

Nazgul is the new workshop director of the external group in the 3rd house. She works six days per week and is responsible for the milk processing and the bakery. Together with the residents of the 3rd house she creates products that can be sold in the shop in Bishkek.

Her attitude toward the work with the residents is wonderful: “In the 3rd house it is better than at home because we work together. At home I have to do all by myself”. She encourages the independence of the residents and shows them how to produce dough, how to shape pastry and how to produce milk products. Hopefully, she stays in the Social Village for a long time.

Responsible for agriculture, driver

Since the foundation of the Social Village, Altynbek is working there and helps with everything. He carries water from the mountains, shops groceries, drives residents to the doctor, picks up guests from the airport and so on. Furthermore, he is responsible for the agriculture, for everything concerning cows, calves and sheep.

Gardener

Burul works in the nursery in the Social Village, both, in Murake and in the external group. She is very proud of the repaired greenhouse.

She is involved already for many years in the work with the Social Village and has helped in different work fields. From time to time, she has helped the housekeepers if one person was ill and she has also already worked as a gardener many years ago.

Social worker 

Sapia Ryskulowa has been working in the Social Village Manas since 2014. She takes care of the residents and always has an open ear for their worries. Adittionally, Sapia is responsible for the storage of clothes and food products, the cultivation of the garden, the hygienes and medications.

Social worker 

Rosa has been working in the Social Village Manas since 2015. She is mainly responsible for the severely handicapped Adilbek and is an indispensable support in the team.

Jyldyz works since 2006 (with some interruptions) in different areas of the Social Village. Together with her husband Altynbek she was responsible for the housekeeping, has worked as a social education worker, was responsible for the garden and has worked as workshop director. Since 2021 she is the 3rd housekeeper. 

She knows all the residents and all different areas of the Social Village very good.