This has contributed to underdeveloped infrastructure: Chimyon lacks food shops, pharmacies and communal services. The situation is even more difficult as the community doesn’t have access to good quality drinking water. The only source of water for the 299 families in Chimyon are the springs located far from inhabited places. But because of frequent mudflows, these springs are often polluted.

Chimyon is proud of its history. Legend has it that more than 1000 years ago people from faraway places came to Chimiyon because of the healing power of the local springs. One of the first settlers was a woman seeking a cure for her illness. After a miraculous recovery she decided to stay close to the life-giving water. It is said that she came riding on a beautiful spotted horse – Ala Baital, in the local language. From that day the community is also known as Alabaital.

When it comes to help themselves Chimyon has a history of taking matters in their own hands. In 2005 during a cold December the community, together with the Department for Emergency Situations, built a bridge to link Chimyon and neighboring communities to the local market, the school, the first-aid centre and a bus stop. More than 2000 people daily cut their long journeys short by crossing the bridge. Sadly, the same year heavy mudflows raveged the region and destroyed the bridge, leaving Chimyon again without access to vital infrastructure.

Under the guidance of the spirited and ingenious local elder – Husanhodji Qurbanov, the community found the strength and resources to rebuild the bridge. Young and old, men and women everyone who could, volunteered for the bridge reconstruction. Who was there back in 2006 could see what ordinary people can do when rightly motivated.

In 2006, Chimyon met the Enhancement of Living Standards in Fergana region (ELS), a European Union funded project that has been working since 2005 to help communities to rehabilitate basic social infrastructure for a better access to water, health, sanitation and education. A project proposal was discussed, elaborated and finally presented to the ELS for co-financing. Again, it was the same Husanhodji who lead the efforts, talked to people, and explained the importance of coming together at the various seminars, training and workshops organized by the ELS project. The project was convinced. Chimyon deserved support.

‘Knowledge is wisdom’ – says Husanhodji, ‘our community can achieve a lot, and together we can give a better home and future to our children’. Thanks to the ELS and its own hard work, Chimyon will have a better access to clean drinking water. Chimyon people have rolled up their sleeves once again and 1,5km trench had been dug for pipes to be laid. Yes, there will be soon clean and safe water right at home for the 5,000 people and nearby communities.

Thanks to the skills acquired during ELS training and workshops on ‘Sustainable Community Development’, now the community knows how to write and manage a project from A to Z. With its own community development plan until 2010, the community would like that the regional authorities allocate additional resources to address outstanding problems. Meanwhile to keep themselves busy they started two small independent projects to manage subterranean water levels and promote small irrigation. Both projects are now completed. Thanks to the irrigation canal now more than 150 households can grow fruits and vegetables in their own backyards.

Full of confidence in their abilities, the community has submitted to the ELS a second project proposal to improve its access to gas. Currently, the project proposal together with others submitted by communities in four project districts is under review. Together with the EU and UNDP, Chimiyon community is taking an active part in its own development.