Supporting Care Leavers and Vulnerable Youth in Kyrgyzstan
Empowering care leavers, at-risk adolescents, and youth in conflict with the law to build independent, dignified lives through education, skills, and social support.
About Our Vulnerable Youth Programme in Kyrgyzstan
In 2008, Oasis Foundation launched the Vulnerable Youth Support Programme to provide comprehensive, sustained support to at-risk youth and children in Kyrgyzstan. The programme addresses a structural gap in the Kyrgyz social protection system: young people who leave state institutions – orphanages, boarding schools, and specialised facilities – are expected to transition to independent life at 18, often without family support, adequate documentation, or knowledge of their legal rights.
Since its founding, the programme has delivered more than 30 human rights schools, rehabilitation camps, and sports activities for over 1,500 at-risk young people across Kyrgyzstan. Oasis conducts all activities in accordance with the Human Rights Education Programme, the “Oasis 9 Habits” programme, “Sports for Life,” and the “Line Up, Live Up” programme – evidence-based frameworks aimed at improving social and personal skills, and preventing violent extremism and radicalisation.
The programme is formally recognised by the Ministry of Labour, Social Welfare and Migration and the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Care Leaver Crisis in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan operates a network of state children’s institutions – including orphanages (детские дома), boarding schools (интернаты), and specialized facilities – housing thousands of children, the majority of whom have at least one living parent but come from families in crisis. When young people age out of these institutions at 18, they receive a one-time benefit and minimal preparation for independent life.
Oasis Foundation’s research shows that more than 40% of children in conflict with the law are social orphans or care leavers from vulnerable communities who have been left without parental care or adequate social protection. Without a registered address – a legal prerequisite for employment, healthcare enrolment, and access to social benefits in Kyrgyzstan – many care leavers fall into a cycle of exclusion that increases their risk of poverty, exploitation, trafficking, and involvement in the justice system.
Young women leaving care face disproportionate risk of gender-based violence and trafficking. Young men face a heightened risk of criminalization. Children with disabilities face compounding barriers to education and employment. Oasis intervenes at the point of transition and beyond, providing sustained support through the critical first years after leaving care.
Programme Impact
- 1,500+ young people across Kyrgyzstan have participated in Oasis rehabilitation camps, human rights schools, and life-skills programmes since 2008.
- 30+ programmes delivered including human rights schools, rehabilitation camps, and sports activities across Kyrgyzstan.
- 40%+ of youth in conflict with the law in Kyrgyzstan are social orphans or care leavers, according to Oasis Foundation research – highlighting the direct link between institutional care and justice system involvement.
- 91% of care leavers face acute economic vulnerability upon leaving state institutions in Kyrgyzstan, according to Oasis Foundation analysis.
- Formally recognised by the Ministry of Labour, Social Welfare and Migration and the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic.
How We Support Young People in Kyrgyzstan
Education Access
Life Skills Training
Rehabilitation Camps
Social Protection Navigation
Vocational & Employment
Legal Rights Education
Our Programmes for Vulnerable Youth in Kyrgyzstan
Oasis Foundation operates dedicated programmes for care leavers and at-risk youth in Kyrgyzstan — including Bilim Belek, a crowdfunding platform for education access, and partnerships with government ministries and international organisations to strengthen youth protection across the country.
Founded by Oasis Foundation in 2017, Bilim Belek ("education as a gift" in Kyrgyz) is a crowdfunding platform that raises funds for the education and development of care leavers, social orphans, and at-risk youth across Kyrgyzstan. Donors can support a specific young person's educational journey — from school supplies and transport to vocational training and university entrance.
Oasis Foundation Kyrgyzstan is part of the Oasis Global network — an international family of organisations working in more than 20 countries to serve communities affected by poverty, exclusion, and exploitation.
oasisuk.orgOur rehabilitation and reintegration programme for juvenile probation clients and care leavers has been formally recognised by the Ministry of Labour, Social Welfare and Migration and the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Kyrgyz Republic · Since 2008Oasis Foundation's Vulnerable Youth Support Programme has operated in Kyrgyzstan since 2008, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, Social Welfare and Migration, the Ministry of Justice, and the Children's Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic. For partnership or referral enquiries, contact info@oasiskg.org or visit bilimbelek.kg to support a young person's education directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
About care leavers, vulnerable youth, and support services in Kyrgyzstan. Enquiries: info@oasiskg.org · +996 772 554 508
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Young people leaving state orphanages and institutions in Kyrgyzstan receive a one-time resettlement benefit upon turning 18 and are expected to transition to independent life with minimal support. Oasis Foundation research shows that 91% face acute economic vulnerability after leaving the system. Many lack a registered address — a legal requirement for accessing employment, healthcare, and social benefits in Kyrgyzstan. Without family networks or institutional advocates, care leavers are at disproportionate risk of poverty, exploitation, and involvement in the criminal justice system. Oasis Foundation has provided direct support at this critical transition point since 2008.
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Bilim Belek — meaning "education as a gift" in Kyrgyz — is an educational crowdfunding programme launched by Oasis Foundation in 2017. It raises funds for the education and development of care leavers, social orphans, youth in conflict with the law, and girls from vulnerable communities across Kyrgyzstan. The programme addresses key barriers to education including poverty, disability, child labour, forced marriage, and financial constraints such as the inability to afford school supplies, transport, or tuition. Donors can support specific young people's educational journeys at bilimbelek.kg.
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A social orphan is a child who has one or both living parents but has been placed in state institutional care because their parents are unable to care for them — due to poverty, addiction, imprisonment, disability, or family crisis. Social orphans make up the majority of children in Kyrgyzstan's state care system. Oasis Foundation research found that more than 40% of youth in conflict with the law in Kyrgyzstan are social orphans or care leavers, highlighting the direct link between inadequate family support and justice system involvement.
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Kyrgyzstan's juvenile justice system handles cases involving adolescents under 18. Young people in or exiting this system face significant risks of reoffending and social exclusion without targeted rehabilitation. Oasis Foundation developed a formal programme for the rehabilitation and reintegration of juvenile probation clients, care leavers, and youth with disabilities — recognised by both the Ministry of Labour, Social Welfare and Migration and the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic. This programme provides rights education, case management, and community reintegration support.
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Oasis Foundation works in close cooperation with social services under the Ministry of Labour, Social Welfare and Migration and with the Children's Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic to ensure coordinated identification, referral, and support for at-risk youth. Our rehabilitation and reintegration programme for juvenile probation clients and care leavers has been formally recognised by the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Justice. We also work at the policy level to develop legislative changes on post-institutional support, juvenile justice reform, and social protection of vulnerable youth in Kyrgyzstan.
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The groups most at risk include care leavers from orphanages and state institutions, social orphans left without parental care, youth in conflict with the law, girls from vulnerable communities facing forced marriage or labour exploitation, young people with disabilities, and children from families in extreme poverty. These groups face overlapping barriers to education, employment, and legal protection — and are disproportionately represented in statistics on trafficking, homelessness, and criminal justice involvement in Kyrgyzstan.
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You can support vulnerable youth in Kyrgyzstan directly through Bilim Belek, Oasis Foundation's crowdfunding platform, where donors can fund a specific young person's education — covering school supplies, transport, vocational training, or university entrance costs. You can also donate to Oasis Foundation's Vulnerable Youth Support Programme at oasis.kg, which has delivered life-skills training, rehabilitation camps, legal rights education, and social protection navigation for care leavers and at-risk youth across Kyrgyzstan since 2008.
Stand With Young People in Kyrgyzstan
Every donation enables Oasis Foundation to reach more vulnerable young people in Kyrgyzstan, expand our life-skills and education programmes, and help more care leavers build independent and meaningful lives. You can also support a specific young person’s education directly through Bilim Belek, our crowdfunding platform for vulnerable youth in Kyrgyzstan. Learn more about our research on care leavers and vulnerable youth, or explore our resources and guides.