As part of the Regional Support Mechanism for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Metamorphosis Foundation conducted a monitoring and advocacy support visit to our partner and CapHub, Oasis Public Charitable Foundation, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The visit brought together the Oasis team, representatives of the strategic grants recipients, and Metamorphosis project staff to review project progress, exchange experiences, identify implementation challenges, and jointly explore opportunities to strengthen advocacy efforts and long-term impact. Throughout the day, partners presented their achievements, reflected on lessons learned, and discussed strategies for enhancing collaboration and sustainability within the programme.
During the visit, we had the opportunity to closely explore Oasis’ flagship initiative, Oasis Data Lab, an innovative project that demonstrates how digital technologies can empower marginalized communities to actively participate in public decision-making. The project aims to strengthen inclusive citizenship by equipping young persons with disabilities with digital tools, advocacy skills, and participatory research methodologies that enable them to document accessibility barriers and contribute directly to policy development.
Through the project, participants are trained to use digital mapping technologies and a mobile application to collect georeferenced data on the accessibility of public buildings, schools, healthcare facilities, public services, and urban infrastructure. Rather than relying solely on institutional assessments, the initiative places data collection directly in the hands of those who experience accessibility barriers every day, transforming lived experiences into credible, evidence-based recommendations for policymakers.
The collected information feeds into the development of Kyrgyzstan’s first Digital Accessibility Map and an Inclusive Infrastructure Index, providing municipalities and government institutions with reliable data to prioritize infrastructure improvements and develop more inclusive public policies. Alongside digital mapping, the project supports digital storytelling, policy dialogue, and structured engagement between civil society, public institutions, and local authorities, ensuring that persons with disabilities become active contributors, not merely beneficiaries, in shaping their communities.
What makes this initiative particularly valuable is its strong rights-based and participatory approach. Guided by the principle Nothing About Us Without Us, Oasis ensures that persons with disabilities are involved throughout the entire process, from data collection and analysis to advocacy and policy dialogue. By combining civic technology, human rights advocacy, and citizen-generated evidence, the project contributes to greater transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance while strengthening the voice of communities that have traditionally been underrepresented in public decision-making.
Monitoring visits such as this go far beyond assessing project implementation. They provide an opportunity to strengthen partnerships, exchange knowledge, jointly address emerging challenges, and ensure that organizations receive the support needed to maximize the impact of their work. They also reinforce the regional cooperation that lies at the heart of the Regional Support Mechanism EECA, connecting organizations across Eastern Europe and Central Asia that are working to advance digital rights, civic participation, and democratic resilience.
