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We’ve had some chilly weeks here in Bishkek. The snow is beautiful and makes for stunning photos. However, this is an especially challenging time for the homeless, as the cold weather makes it harder to find a warm and safe place to stay.

You can see a picture illustrating the effects of frostbite. We’ve blurred it behind a slider, as it is not pleasant to look at, but it reflects a harsh reality. If you have clean, good-quality clothes that you no longer use, please consider donating them to Fountain of Life so we can pass them on. We are particularly in need of men’s clothing, though women’s clothing is also welcome.

Some items which are especially useful:

• warm winter jackets
• warm sweaters and shirts for layered wearing
• socks and warm shoes

Clothes can be dropped of at:
Vasileva (Васильева) 163, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Tel: +99 555 371 645
Open every Tuesday, Thursday and  Saturday between 10:30 and 16.30 (except January 2nd)

We now also support donations through our MBank account! This option is ideal for Kyrgyz residents, as MBank allows easy payments from almost all Kyrgyz digital wallets and bank accounts. Please scan the QR code to make a donation. See also our donation page

This month, Fountain of Life welcomed guests from abroad. Margaret hosted a group of six women from the UK and the Netherlands, giving them the opportunity to experience all the facets of Fountain of Life.

The women helped sort clothes, cleaned at the hospice, and dressed wounds for visitors in the clinic. They shared “stroopwafels” (a Dutch cookie) and enjoyed the local dish “plov,” which some volunteers prepared for the homeless. They also accompanied a few Fountain of Life employees on outreach missions to the streets, checking on the homeless to ensure they were alright or needed care.

Two things stood out to them:

1. The care that everyone at Fountain of Life shows to the men and women they meet. There is always time to sit down and talk, buy a sandwich and some water if needed, and inform them about the possibility of visiting the day center three times a week.

2. The dedication of the team was notable. Many have worked together for a long time and take care of newer workers who have just started and are in their twenties.

The group returned home with a suitcase full of stories, pictures, and experiences to share. Margaret might have a new group to host in the future!

The pictures were taken during the outreach to the homeless on the street.

Today we gave away some presents from a donor to the children living around the hospice!

Construction has been finished! The new room has been opened is now being used to serve food to the homeless.

Construction started a month ago for a roof over the courtyard with a second floor on top. When this is done, our customers can eat indoors in the winter and no longer have to eat in the freezing cold during the winter. Construction is progressing well, but there is still a lot to do. Please have a look at the photos to get an idea of the progress made.

On Saturday, December 24th, Christmas was celebrated at Fountain of Life!

In the morning patients in the hospice were visited by volunteers and gifts were given to them.

There also was a festive lunch at the day center. A small choir sang some Christmas carols, which was enthusiastically received by the crowd. Also there was a lunch with special food. At the end, also a bag with useful items and even some shoes where given to each visitor.

Fountain of Life would like to thank the donors, who kindly provided the gifts and shoes!

Also this winter we received so many clothes from you for the homeless. Next to that someone anonymously donated us potatoes from his own field. OBF “Help the children – SKD” kindly donated medicine and hair shampoo. We would also like to express our gratitude to Mubarak-Ezhe for the kindly donated products: Flour, butter, sugar, potatoes, noodles, apples, detergents, etc.