Gender Equality Sweden Project #30892

Partnering to build hope, capacity, and community

by Operation Mercy

Project Report | Sep 2, 2025
Evaluation and planning with Central Asian Teams

By Andrea Vogt | International Director Operation Mercy

Central Asian food - looking forward to this!

Dear friends of Operation Mercy,

In some ways, this report deadline comes three weeks too early, because starting tomorrow I will be on my way to visit our teams in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. I will meet leaders, project managers, and project participants, hold planning sessions for the 2026 projects, discuss our vision and values with new staff, and many other things.

In Tajikistan, a large three-year project cycle in cooperation with the Swedish International Development Agency is coming to an end. My visit will therefore include part of the evaluation of the impact of our work with children with disabilities, their families, schools, and social workers.

Like other countries, Sweden is reducing its international aid, so we are currently looking for new supporters for this important work. We have some strong leads with a German foundation, but every gift given helps us to continue building our capacity—both in the international office and on the ground—so that we can relate to donors and local communities at the highest standards.

For me, this trip also feels a little like coming home. I spent 20 years of my life working in Operation Mercy projects, especially in Community-Based Rehabilitation, in Central Asia. I look forward to reconnecting with former colleagues and friends, practicing my somewhat rusty Turkish and Persian language skills, and—while drawing on past experience—supporting my teams to shape the future of these nations and the lives of individual people.

I will get back to you all at the end of September with a full report of my trip, including learnings and pictures. Until then, thank you for standing with us in building hope, capacity, and community.

Yours,
Andrea

my last visit to the local disability team

fantastic work done in the local centre

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