“Now, my children talk to me about their dreams and fears, just like they do with their mother.”
In the Kyrgyz Republic, pervasive stereotypes and gender norms mean that childcare is often considered exclusively a woman’s responsibility. A national survey reported that only 10 percent of fathers were meaningfully engaged in their child’s development.
Parents and caregivers are the architects of a child’s development, shaping the experiences that set the course for their future well-being and success. Engaged and meaningful parental involvement is linked to a myriad of positive outcomes, including educational achievement, lifelong health, economic productivity, and social and emotional well-being.
In Naryn, a region characterized by sparsely-populated and mountainous communities, AKF partnered with two local civil society organizations to empower men to take on a greater share of parenting and household responsibilities. This project was implemented as part of the Foundations for Health and Empowerment program, supported by the Government of Canada.
The two-year initiative came to a close in June 2024, with an event that brought together program participants, government officials, and other community members to celebrate lessons learned and discuss ways forward.
Aripov Kalnazar, a father of four from Uchkun village, learned about the benefits of providing emotional support and being actively involved in his children’s lives. Before participating in the training, he thought his role in the family was to provide financial support and to be a strict and tough parent.
“Now, my children talk to me about their dreams and fears, just like they do with their mother,” he said.
When men take on a greater share of household responsibilities, women have more capacity to improve their social, economic, physical, and mental well-being.
Globally, women spend 3.2 times more than men on unpaid care work, restricting opportunities for education, employment, political and social engagement, and leisure.
A young woman at the event expressed that the sharing of childcare and household chores meant that she had more time for personal development and participation in community activities.
“Before, I felt overwhelmed and isolated,” she said. “Now, my husband and I share responsibilities, and our home is a happier place.”
From supporting community centre renovations to including playgrounds in local development plans, local governments and community leaders were key partners to ensured that activities were embedded into village life.
Creative approaches like competitions on who could style their child’s hair the best also helped motivate families to take part. Partnering with community influencers like Kiyalbek Akmatov, a teacher and author, also helped build trust and encourage people to engage with gender issues.
By challenging gender stereotypes through early childhood development, communities and families are helping to break intergenerational cycles of inequality and unlock the potential of the next generation. The communities in Naryn are also determined to continue promoting gender equality and the active engagement of fathers.
“Projects come and go but the achievements and learnings must persist,” said Azamat Alagoz Uulu, the ROI project coordinator, at the event.
“We will continue to share the insights gained and ensure that the positive changes we’ve seen here in Naryn spread to other regions.”
This project is part of the Advancing Gender Equality through Civil Society (AGECS) component of the Foundations for Health and Empowerment program. AGECS aims to partner with local civil society organizations to address sociocultural barriers to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
