Guest Columnist: Dina Galieva

Dina Galyeva is the organizational counterpart for Andrew Holets, and deputy director of the HIV/AIDS and drug abuse NGO, Public Foundation “Challenge”. This is part one of a tentatively-scheduled four-part series of guest columns from Ms. Galyeva detailing her interactions with Andrew, the experience of non-government health sector work, and her life in general. Each article is written in her strongest language, Russian, and translated by Andrew, weakly. Russian will appear first, and the English translation afterward.

Помню, как первый раз увидела Эндрю, это было в Алмате, ну или почти, там есть поселок городского типа Талгар. Нас пригласил Корпус Мира на семинар и встречу с новыми волонтерами.
В первый день, в первой половине дня, занятия проходили отдельно от волонтеров, только кураторы, и нас еще не знакомили с нашими…Только показали нарисованную карту РК, где были наклеены фото волонтеров, но на наш город было аж три человека, и кто именно будет работать у нас в «Challenge», я не знала, даже не знала кто это будет девушка или парень…, было даже немного страшновато, ведь работать целых два года…

После обеда нас решили представить друг-другу, ну я как всегда опоздала, стояла в очереди за пирожками J, прихожу и вижу картину…, все кураторы уже довольно мило общаются со своими волонтерами, а что делать мне, и где мой «чувак» или «чувиха», фиг его знает…Ну все думаю, «капец», разобрали всех симпотных и умных, а мне где???

Только вижу, стоит посреди холла, какой то красавчик похожий на латино - американца или на испанца, совершенно один, но я и подумать не могла, что это ОН…, наш волонтер, что может так повезти. Уф…! Да это был Andrew, мы стали с ним знакомиться, я даже боялась что либо на английском сказать, с языком то у меня не очень, думаю…, вдруг подумает, что я совсем полный «тупик», ну ни чё, разговорились, он оказался не только очень красивым, но и умным, сообразительным, коммуникабельным, еще и с чувством юмора, короче, «клЁвый» такой…

Сразу позвонила шефушке, mss. Бондаревой (этА наш директор ОФ «Challenge», Елена Владимировна) и сразу же обрадовала ее, что задание выполнено, везу умного и красивого, ну там тоже радости не было предела…

После завершения семинара, все стали разъезжаться по городам, кто куда и наше время пришло, Павлодар, домой…!!!

Вот так мы и познакомились впервые.

Уже полтора года, мы работаем вместе и мы отличная компания, отличные друзья!


I remember the first time I saw Andrew; it was in Almaty, well almost, it was there in a village-type urban setting named Talgar. We were invited by the Peace Corps to the seminar and to meet with new volunteers. On the first day, in the morning, classes were held separately from the volunteers –counterparts only—and we were not yet familiar with our volunteers… Only pictures were shown on a map of Kazakhstan, where the glued photos showed the volunteers, but in our city were three people, and whoever will work with us in the "Challenge" Foundation, I did not know…I did not even know whether it will be a girl or guy…, it was even slightly frightening, to think of this as someone for two years to work with…

After lunch, we decided to present ourselves to one another, and as usual, I was late, standing in the line with a little cake in hand J, in order to see the picture on the map… all the other counterparts were quite nice and could communicate with their volunteers and what can I do, and where is my "Dude" or "Dudette", God knows who or where… Well, all I think, "That's it!", all around me are goodlooking and smart people, but what do I get? Only then do I see in the middle of the hall, someone similar to that handsome Latino - American or Spaniard looking person on that photo on the map. This is the one, but I could not think that this HIM…, our volunteer, which may very well be my luck. Uf…! Yes, it was Andrew, and as I became acquainted with him, I was nervous of my speech in English, the language I have not, and I think…suddenly that I am in quite the full "standstill", nor speaking, for he was not only very beautiful but also intelligent, cultured, sociable, and even humorous…basically, "awesome" as it may… Immediately I called the boss, Ms. Bondareva (aka our director of Public Foundation "Challenge", Elena) and immediately rejoiced to her that the job is done, and that he’s very smart and beautiful, and well, there was joy without any limit… Upon completion of the seminar, all steel away to our city, to where and with whom our time has come, to Pavlodar, home!!!


That is how we first met.


Already a year and a half, we work together and we have a great company, and are excellent friends!

Volunteers: prone to diatribes and beards

Last week marked the international “Day of Remembrance” for those that have passed away due to AIDS, recognized every third Sunday in May. Many organizations around the world gather to hold awareness or candle vigil events, and Public Foundation Challenge of Pavlodar, Kazakhstan (my primary workplace) was no different.

With the assistance of Challenge’s dedicated youth volunteers (Annya, Arina, Timorhan, Nastya, Julia, et al) and my trusty counterpart Dina, people gathered along the sandy beach of the Irytish River to hold a candlelight memorial. To be true, the event was hastily planned. I knew the date was coming, and that it would be a perfect time to hold an awareness event that directly correlated with the Challenge mission. My colleagues, however, were drawn dispassionate to work in general due a recent spate of unsuccessful requests for financial support from local and international donors.

I cannot say that I am any less prone to being discouraged by the state of non-government financing affairs either – the following represents a certain admitted cynicism – but the number of donors willing to support HIV/AIDS organizations that are either not a) in Africa, or b) handing out syringes in CIS countries, are scarce. And though many HIV/AIDS donation programs include aims to decrease discrimination and increase awareness of the pandemic, their selection of organizations and programs to target such goals is becoming narrower and shorter-sighted than ever.

Let us cite some recent public health history. In America during the 1980’s, AIDS was coined as the “gay disease”. People became squeamish of gays and that sort of lifestyle, and took on the ‘it’s a problem but not for me’ attitude until more people practicing unsafe heterosexual relations started becoming infected in higher numbers. It was only then that measures were taken to teach about safe sex in a broader manner, to trust in partners and testing procedures for people of all sexual choices. Add drug issues into the fold and you can see why America’s difficulty with AIDS could be pointed to a noted lack of foresight in prevention methods and appropriate target grouping.

The same could be said for Kazakhstan and other republics in the CIS. When you talk about HIV/AIDS here, you get a sorrowful headshake, a gesture of a syringe into the arm and a tsssk-tssk’ing “it’s those drug users” remark. For sure, statistics show that nearly 60 percent of registered HIV-positive people in Kazakhstan were infected through intra-venous drug usage, but that most likely reflects the statistical gathering process. Every drug user arrested must be tested for HIV, while sex workers and people caught patronizing their special services are not required to do as such. These statistics are then used as the main source for nationwide research and fact. These statistics are further sighted by many international donors, and people come to believe that the main reason (read stigmatized) for HIV/AIDS is from drug usage, and not much else. When asked about the potential for HIV infection, the most typical response I get from people is, “I don’t do heroine.” Promoting regular HIV analysis is seen as something barely short of walking around town with a giant red A emblazed on your chest.

Along the Irytish river, a ribbon of candles in remembrance of those passed away from AIDS.

Try looking for funding that supports youth education on safe sex, anti-drug awareness campaigns and healthy lifestyles in Central Asia, and you find a short list. Your program best be about teaching sex workers about condom usage and providing drug users with needle exchange. That approach is incomplete, and sometimes ineffective. Not to rattle too many cages here, but there are roughly 3,000 sterile syringes, courtesy of The Global Fund, sitting in a closet in my office which are the responsibility of another HIV/AIDS ‘organization’, and they aren’t going anywhere or to anyone. What does this mean?

Convincing donors of high drug use + closet space to keep syringes safe, unused and useless = Salaries!

Taking a walk in the spring time is one of those simple pleasures that, despite its annual occurrences, always jolt a surprise. Walking around Pavlodar, I humbly and securely admit to noticing the gorgeous feminine beauty around me. There is not a lack of sex appeal going on here, or at least in MTV overdrive, short skirt, see-through blouse aspect of it. Perhaps it is an effect of the region’s historically suppressive past (see: “There is no sex in the USSR”), but public images of sex are now quite prominent and find their way into the most seemingly innocuous places. Billboards selling washing machines show an older man, no less than forty years old and cardigan-sporting, cradling his younger wife, no more than twenty-five years old and showing the perfect amount of cleavage and just the right hint of red lace lingerie underneath to pique certain thoughts. It breathes of creepiness; the creepy kind relating material purchasing power and sexual attraction, vitality. The young woman’s age and appearance, particularly the observable lingerie, had to be calculated by the advertising company or photographer. Now perhaps it is my self-imposed restraint coming into the fray, but this is still an advertisement for a washing machine. (Personal side note: I opt to wash my clothes by hand.) Playboys and other ‘newspapers’ with bare-assed chicks are displayed at children’s eye level in supermarkets and street kiosks. Condom wrappers with naked women are sold in shops everywhere (maybe not a bad thing actually), and I have to take off my shoes to count how many times I’ve been invited to go for a banya steam and get some prostitutes to really round out the cleansing process afterwards.

What this represents is generally a good thing for society in Central Asia – an opening and outing of sexual mores – but what about the health consequences of such public displays and casual suggestions? That whole 1960’s sexual revolution thing in the USA produced plenty of people that had kids and instilled a generation probably more comfortable with themselves than any before, and talking about sex wasn’t a big deal. Despite the lack of social friction in its content, safe sex didn’t always occur (and probably never will) and more people were okay with having it (maybe, I have no factual knowledge of this, just anecdotal). People had more casual sex, didn’t think of diseases so much, associated HIV with gay stuff and flim-flam! you have a high number of HIV cases infected through heterosexual relations. Only then did you see an increase in awareness events and prevention programs…prevention programs for something that should have been prevented years before.

It’s just a different take on it now in Kazakhstan and Central Asia in general: HIV/AIDS is assumed to be a sex worker and drug user problem. People are given more freedoms due to the fall of the Soviet Union (in most areas), and an entire generation is raised and comes of age under a society free from a communist form of suppression. Kazakhstan declared independence in 1991, and there is now a group of 16 and 17 year olds hitting that stride of life prone to trial and error that has not known the rigors of Soviet life and behavioral expectation.

And this is my working hypothesis: Due to the growth of the first adult generation to live under independent societies and an eventual improvement in statistical gathering procedures, regions in the CIS will experience a counterfeit success on the decrease of intravenous drug HIV infections at the expense of increased infection through unsafe sexual relations.

Basically, preventive behavior awareness will be focused upon – and funded – only when it becomes a problem that could have been prevented.

But back to the actual awareness event…

There we were, gathered at the beach and scenic city park along the Irytish River. Passersby were asked to participate in the lighting and subsequent remembrance ceremony, and many joined in to see what all the hubbub and burning was about. Even with all the flashing lights and attention sucking cell phones out there, fire still draws a crowd.

168 candles were lit to represent the number of people that have died of AIDS in the Pavlodar oblast thus far in 2008 (statistics provided by the Pavlodar Oblast AIDS Center). It seems like a low number when compared to the compelling and unfortunate millions in Africa. But why does a number have to be grand to garner acknowledgement and attention to the way a person dies if it could have been prevented? I am not calling for a full swing of resources from Africa. Absolutely not. But there is a chance to help prevent a greater spread of a terrible global virus in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Just take a look in Central Asia from time to time, okay Bono?

Pavlodar is known for its high winds that come whistling off the flatland steppe surrounding it, and the lack of breeze was noticeable and welcome. The amount of mosquitoes was unwelcome and noticeable. Lesson learned: when writing any grant for candlelight vigils near bodies of water in the Spring/Summer time, request funding for insect repellant. Some people simply could not bare the attacks long enough to stay for the whole vigil, and we lost some good people out there, their bodies swollen and scratchy.

Despite the previous mention of acute professional melancholy and the onslaught of winged vampires, the event proved a visual sign of solidarity, respect and remembrance to those passed on in a way that was nothing less than uplifting. Kudos to those people that don’t care about financing and monitoring and sustainability and expected results and partnership programs in order to simply do the good.

C-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-i-o-n

May 16th marked the second best day in the month of May: my birthday. The best day, obviously, goes to May 28th, the day of the National Spelling Bee Finals. My colleagues at Public Foundation Challenge organized me a day in the forest marked with roasted chickens, vegetables, beer, guitars, potatoes, chocolates, fires, footballs and friends. It was nice that my colleagues and local volunteer friends could come out, and was delighted that fellow friends and Americans Nicholas the Jersey Greek Pappas and Adam the Mad Henricksen could attend. Free food and beer is always a good persuasion. With no oil in tow, Henricksen cleanses my feet with his saliva.

Astounded at the glory.

It was calm, relaxed and outdoors. Appropriate. For my 23rd birthday last year, the entire day took place during a train ride in a cramped coupee with a two vodka-bottles-deep, pissed pants professor and a pair of withholding prostitutes that were relocating from Pavlodar to Almaty for better business prospects. The 24th year rang in markedly better in the forest, thank you.

Celebration.

The Walkings and Talkings of Gingerbread Bear

The following is a series of photographs taken over the course of one day in the life of Gingerbread Bear, an altruistic pastry that lives and works in the city of Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. This is a humble attempt to share his daily routines and actions, so that other people can gain a greater mental image and/or understanding of what happens in a regular day.

Gingerbread Bear is an American citizen, has no legs, has a penchant for indie rock, and enjoys debating the finer points of global diplomatic politics. Also, he fears milk and pigeons.

Gingerbread Bear stops at a local fruit and vegetable stand on his way to the Public Foundation Challenge office.

Everyday starts with a little sunshine! Gingerbread Bear greets his counterpart and colleague, Dina.

Sometimes, Gingerbread Bear gets yelled at by his primary organization director, Elena Bondareva, for no reason whatsoever. It is comical.

Despite having no thumbs, Gingerbread Bear types away on grant opportunities, strategic plan outlines, translations and other lesson plans.

Gingerbread Bear assists Dina in writing a program plan to help the people of Pavlodar combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and the abuse of drugs. What a pastry!

The nice weather calls to the inner depths of Gingerbread Bear's place where a heart should be, and he has to bust out of the office. Let's go for a walk to the city library and see what's happening.

Wow! Some of the books that Gingerbread Bear's friends and supporters have generously sent are now being prominently displayed in the New Books section of the library. Check em' out!

Gingerbread Bear can't resist a good literary description utilizing baseball, and goes directly to the Hemingway section.

Hey, how are you? Gingerbread Bear is greeted by the director of the International Language section. And yes, we will have tea together.

Back to the office...but look at that fountain! Gingerbread Bear gleefully -- yet carefully -- looks on.

Would you take a look at that! It's the fifth longest river in the world, the Irtyish! 'I can't wait to get my tan on', thinks Gingerbread Bear.

Gingerbread Bear passes through the WWII memorial park to check out the eternal flame. Gingerbread Bear notes that the flame seems to only be blazing on weekends and holidays.

Gingerbread Bear quietly observes the student preparations for May 9th (Victory Day).

Nobody is forgotten. Gingerbread Bear doesn't forget about the sacrifices of the men and women of the armed forces.

Gingerbread Bear gazes upon one of the numerous Nursultan Nazarbayev billboards in town with an ironic reverance. 'Huh, we could be twins!' exclaims Gingerbread Bear.

It's getting hot. 'Good thing I don't have any cream filling,' he muses.

Danger lurks around every corner. Gingerbread Bear narrowly avoids death by pigeon.

This is Gingerbread Bear's language class. 'They speak English gooder than I do', Gingerbread Bear claims.

'Hello, ladies!' Gingerbread Bear stops to greet the helpful secretaries of New Generation Language Center.

Gingerbread Bear unlocks his door with his key/eye gouger.

Time to greet Гриб (GRB), his trusty friend and pet. He is unafraid of him, for they are dear friends.

Time to study and improve those Russian language skills. 'This is futile', bemoans Gingerbread Bear (editor's note: yes, it is).

Gingerbread Bear checks out the fridge for dinner. 'Hmmm...Kvas could be good right about now...'

Turns out Gingerbread Bear only has potatoes for dinner. 'I never expected to eat like a king being a United Gingerbread Volunteer, but this inflation and lack of proper government support and funding due to silly in-fighting is killing me', Gingerbread Bear complains.

Gingerbread Bear talks to his dear friend, Baurzahn Ablyavich, and talks about life, philosophy, work and an astounding amount of odd topics. 'No, I didn't know that about the seven levels of sociological study, Baurzahn', replies Gingerbread Bear.

'Who needs a girlfriend to keep you warm at night, when you can rest well knowing you can wash your socks and undies by hand before going to bed?' says Gingerbread Bear to himself out loud, kinda depressingly. Either way, Gingerbread Bear turns in for the night, thinking and dreaming about the next day full of surprises and fun.

THE END

I was recently invited to be a guest speaker at one of the local universities to give a presentation on the US.

I was also invited to give a presentation on the electoral process in America. For some reason, I brought the flag of Pennsylvania, and students went nuts for it.

Workers of the world, unite!

Happy International Workers Day, or as it is officially known today "Kazakhstan Day of Unity". This holiday has a special place in the hearts of many former Soviet people, and it is celebrated by making the blood that pumps through said heart a little thinner.

In the city square of Pavlodar -- a central area boxed off by the Akimat (similar to a city hall), library and the Irytish river embankment -- was a solid balloon-banging, slogan-shouting, Nazarbayev-photo-carrying extravaganza. The city set up the place as it usual does for any holiday, with a stage for dancers of various cultural backgrounds, speeches galore and a ton of lipsynching. There was, of course, a parade. Leading the way were a myriad of oil companies, banks, local businesses and then finally caboosed by students.

The most interesting occurence, in my opinion, came on one of the side stages where a band of tuba players were stationed. Imagine a tuba. Now imagine an entire band of tubas, pushing 25 players. People were almost forced to march with all that oom-pa-pa.