Because we love the Kyrgyz people as much as their nature and landscapes, we support locals wherever we can. One of our friends, Dostan, launched a wonderful youth development program, about which he wrote a little article worth to read.
text and images by dostan | JUNE 2022
Karakol is famous for its unspoiled mountains. It is the number 1 tourist destination in Kyrgyzstan and attracts people from all over the world.
I have been a mountain guide in Karakol for 20 years and now I want to pass on my knowledge and love for the mountains to the next generation.
With our 5 year programme in sports-tourism, we want to educate children from age 11 to 18 in hiking, cross-country skiing, rock climbing and mountaineering. They also learn how to read maps, how to prepare for a summer or winter hike in the mountains, how to deal with difficult or dangerous situations and how to administer first aid. The main thing in the whole programme is to have respect for nature, enjoy being outdoors and have fun.
As these children are the future for tourism in this country, I hope this training will give them, the boys as well as the girls, an opportunity to develop themselves and maybe become a mountain guide or sports instructor.
We currently have plans to build a climbing wall, to initiate the children into ice climbing techniques and to organize mountain bike tours.
However, we are still looking for equipment and sponsors to be able to realize this. Any help would be highly appreciated!
Support it now - it's not about money
Of course, an even better way is by bringing the gear to Kyrgyzstan in your own baggage. So make sure to check out our program! By the way: ski bags are free of charge with Turkish Airline, even when travelling in summer - and we'd be happy to lend one out to you for a good cause.