During the ten-year conflict between separatists in Chechnya and the Russian military, thousands of Chechens fled the violence at home to live in the neighboring republic of Ingushetia, and Chechnya’s economy stuttered to a halt. Crops failed, animals died, and life in this marginalized republic of the North Caucasus became defined by poverty, decay and destruction.
Nearly seven years after the resolution of the conflict, both Chechnya and Ingushetia are still struggling to recover. Although many displaced Chechens have begun returning home, they are going back to a virtual wasteland: an anemic economy and a broken infrastructure. The situation in Ingushetia isn’t much better. During the war, as many as 300,000 Chechens flocked to Ingushetia, swelling the tiny republic’s population to almost twice its size—and its economy is still staggering beneath the burden.
International Medical Corps is helping to revitalize both Chechnya and Ingushetia through income-generation activities which create opportunities for individuals to earn a living, and stimulate economic activity that benefits the entire population. Working through key stakeholders in the community—religious leaders, school principals, doctors—International Medical Corps informally holds focus groups in communities to understand what is lacking, be it businesses, medical care, or social services. International Medical Corps then evaluates the proposals to determine which are the most viable for implementation, and trains project leaders and participants in procurement, business management, and other relevant topics to increase individuals’ capacities and ensure long-term sustainability of project activities.
Since 2004 when International Medical Corps’ income-generation activities (IGAs) began, we have helped kick-start cobblers, carpentries, brick-producing workshops, cattle farms, dairy projects, greenhouses, and bakeries. This spring, the town of Achkhoi Martan in Chechnya opened the first full-fledged grocery store with funding from an International Medical Corps income-generation grant from the European Commission. Residents of the town now have access to fresh meat, dairy, produce, and baked goods in one central location at affordable prices. Previously, these items had to be imported from neighboring regions, and the high prices made them inaccessible to most townspeople.
Like all of International Medical Corps’ income-generation activities, the idea for the store arose from the community, but it was championed by Petimat Berevea, a woman in her mid-forties who was born with achondroplasia, a genetic disorder that causes dwarfism. Petimat refused to let her disability be an obstacle to achieving her dreams. When the idea for the store was approved by International Medical Corps, Petimat attended a series of business training classes, funded with a grant from ECHO. She learned accounting and financial and personnel management, and she familiarized herself with the relevant tax laws.
Within a few months of the store’s opening, Petimat had turned it into a tremendous success. The people of Achkhoi Martan are thrilled to be able to get fresh food sold in a clean, well-lit shop at affordable prices, and they have become loyal customers. The store has far exceeded initial financial projections, with a daily revenue of $2,000, and Petimat is sharing the wealth with the whole community. Drawing on her understanding of nutrition, acquired through past work with relief organizations, Petimat prepares healthy meals for patients at the town hospital, free of charge. She also donates food from the store to a soccer team for young amputees. The team is made up of boys ages 10 through 17, who were injured by UXOs or landmines during the conflict or in its aftermath.
Petimat recounted the tragic story of a 14-year-old boy name Mikhael Saidov, who left his house one evening to get water from the nearest clean well a half-mile down the road. To expedite his trip, Mikhael cut through a field. He stepped on a landmine, which exploded, shattering his left leg. The shrapnel that lodged in the rest of his body and face left him permanently scarred. The tragedy hasn’t quashed Mikhael’s spirit, however; he seems to be perpetually smiling, whether he is on the field playing soccer or off the field cheering on his teammates. Mikhael explained that playing sports allows him to feel like a kid and to escape the harsh realities of living in a region that continues to be highly unstable.
International Medical Corps plans to continue supporting income-generation activities such as Petimat’s store, but is simultaneously focused on developing programs that address victims of war such as Mikhael. He and his teammates are in need of proper braces, prosthetics, wheel chairs, and, in some cases, surgery. By providing survivors of the conflict in the North Caucasus with the means to improve their lives—whether it be fresh food or rehabilitative services—International Medical Corps is helping the citizens of this volatile region re-establish lives of hope, prosperity and stability.