"Women of Ferghana Valley" (by Rena Effendi) http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/4672 Daily life of women in Ferghana Valley on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, along the major drug trafficking route from Central Asia to Europe. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/3355/photo_Rena_Effendi_small.jpg Women of Ferghana Valley | Rena Effendi http://www.lightstalkers.org/Rena Effendi Gula, a 22 year old Uzbek woman left her husband because he took a second wife. She now sells icecream in Osh park. Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142957/001_small.jpg' /><br />Gula, a 22 year old Uzbek woman left her husband because he took a second wife. She now sells icecream in Osh park. Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007 <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142957'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142957 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:24:11 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142957 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142957/001_small.jpg' /><br />Gula, a 22 year old Uzbek woman left her husband because he took a second wife. She now sells icecream in Osh park. Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007 <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142957'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Women attending a waterfall that local residents believe to be holly in Arslanbob, a predominantly Uzbek city in Ferghana Valley, Kyrgyzstan. August 2007 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142960/002_small.jpg' /><br />Women attending a waterfall that local residents believe to be holly in Arslanbob, a predominantly Uzbek city in Ferghana Valley, Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142960'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142960 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:22:00 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142960 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142960/002_small.jpg' /><br />Women attending a waterfall that local residents believe to be holly in Arslanbob, a predominantly Uzbek city in Ferghana Valley, Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142960'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Wife working for her husband's shooting gallery. Ferghana valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142963/003_small.jpg' /><br />Wife working for her husband's shooting gallery. Ferghana valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142963'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142963 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:27:46 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142963 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142963/003_small.jpg' /><br />Wife working for her husband's shooting gallery. Ferghana valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142963'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Sisters in law at a wedding. Osh, Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142966/004_small.jpg' /><br />Sisters in law at a wedding. Osh, Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142966'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142966 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:28:59 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142966 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142966/004_small.jpg' /><br />Sisters in law at a wedding. Osh, Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142966'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Drunk woman in Osh park cafe. Ferghana valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142969/005_small.jpg' /><br />Drunk woman in Osh park cafe. Ferghana valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142969'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142969 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:30:00 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142969 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142969/005_small.jpg' /><br />Drunk woman in Osh park cafe. Ferghana valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142969'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Photographer, she decorated her own photo stand in Osh park. Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142986/006_small.jpg' /><br />Photographer, she decorated her own photo stand in Osh park. Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142986'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142986 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:31:13 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142986 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142986/006_small.jpg' /><br />Photographer, she decorated her own photo stand in Osh park. Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142986'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Uzbek groom posing for his wedding picture. Osh, Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142996/007_small.jpg' /><br />Uzbek groom posing for his wedding picture. Osh, Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142996'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142996 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:33:08 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142996 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/142996/007_small.jpg' /><br />Uzbek groom posing for his wedding picture. Osh, Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/142996'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Family attending a wedding party in Osh. Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143005/008_small.jpg' /><br />Family attending a wedding party in Osh. Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143005'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143005 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:34:51 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143005 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143005/008_small.jpg' /><br />Family attending a wedding party in Osh. Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143005'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Owner of wedding dress store. Osh, Ferghana valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143008/009_small.jpg' /><br />Owner of wedding dress store. Osh, Ferghana valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143008'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143008 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:36:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143008 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143008/009_small.jpg' /><br />Owner of wedding dress store. Osh, Ferghana valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143008'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Elmira, age 22 inside her room at the Dormitory No 9 brothel <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143011/011_small.jpg' /><br />Elmira, age 22 inside her room at the Dormitory No 9 brothel<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143011'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143011 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:37:06 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143011 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143011/011_small.jpg' /><br />Elmira, age 22 inside her room at the Dormitory No 9 brothel<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143011'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Newborn on his mother's belly in Osh maternity hospital. Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143014/010_small.jpg' /><br />Newborn on his mother's belly in Osh maternity hospital. Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143014'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143014 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:37:44 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143014 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143014/010_small.jpg' /><br />Newborn on his mother's belly in Osh maternity hospital. Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan. August 2007<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143014'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Liza and Vitya shooting up heroin at home. Liza shares a room with an HIV positive tatoo artist and heroin addict Vitya. Their landlord Sima is 22 years old and an alcoholic <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143017/012_small.jpg' /><br />Liza and Vitya shooting up heroin at home. Liza shares a room with an HIV positive tatoo artist and heroin addict Vitya. Their landlord Sima is 22 years old and an alcoholic<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143017'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143017 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:38:51 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143017 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143017/012_small.jpg' /><br />Liza and Vitya shooting up heroin at home. Liza shares a room with an HIV positive tatoo artist and heroin addict Vitya. Their landlord Sima is 22 years old and an alcoholic<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143017'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Liza, age 29, served three years in a Bishkek prison for being caught with a dose of heroin that she had tried to hide in her hair. Liza is a former sex worker, but has not worked the road for a year, since bring run over by a car at night. Liza's husband introduced her to heroin as a painkiller, as she suffered from complications resulting from an abortion. Her husband also trafficked her to Dubai but they were caught in the airport with fake passports and returned home to Osh <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143020/013_small.jpg' /><br />Liza, age 29, served three years in a Bishkek prison for being caught with a dose of heroin that she had tried to hide in her hair. Liza is a former sex worker, but has not worked the road for a year, since bring run over by a car at night. Liza's husband introduced her to heroin as a painkiller, as she suffered from complications resulting from an abortion. Her husband also trafficked her to Dubai but they were caught in the airport with fake passports and returned home to Osh<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143020'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143020 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:39:30 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143020 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143020/013_small.jpg' /><br />Liza, age 29, served three years in a Bishkek prison for being caught with a dose of heroin that she had tried to hide in her hair. Liza is a former sex worker, but has not worked the road for a year, since bring run over by a car at night. Liza's husband introduced her to heroin as a painkiller, as she suffered from complications resulting from an abortion. Her husband also trafficked her to Dubai but they were caught in the airport with fake passports and returned home to Osh<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143020'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Liza's scar from injecting heroin into an infected blood vessel that burst open as a result <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143023/014_small.jpg' /><br />Liza's scar from injecting heroin into an infected blood vessel that burst open as a result<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143023'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143023 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:40:20 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143023 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143023/014_small.jpg' /><br />Liza's scar from injecting heroin into an infected blood vessel that burst open as a result<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143023'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Aselya at home in her work clothes. Age 36, Aselya started injecting heroin sixteen years ago right after she married and realized her husband started going off with other women; her neighbor introduced Aselya to heroin as a way of consolation. Aselya's husband left her and two years ago her parents departed to Russia together with Aselya's fifteen year old daughter. Aselya has been a female sex worker servicing clients on call for $15 an hour ever since her parents left with her daughter <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143026/015_small.jpg' /><br />Aselya at home in her work clothes. Age 36, Aselya started injecting heroin sixteen years ago right after she married and realized her husband started going off with other women; her neighbor introduced Aselya to heroin as a way of consolation. Aselya's husband left her and two years ago her parents departed to Russia together with Aselya's fifteen year old daughter. Aselya has been a female sex worker servicing clients on call for $15 an hour ever since her parents left with her daughter<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143026'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143026 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:41:00 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143026 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143026/015_small.jpg' /><br />Aselya at home in her work clothes. Age 36, Aselya started injecting heroin sixteen years ago right after she married and realized her husband started going off with other women; her neighbor introduced Aselya to heroin as a way of consolation. Aselya's husband left her and two years ago her parents departed to Russia together with Aselya's fifteen year old daughter. Aselya has been a female sex worker servicing clients on call for $15 an hour ever since her parents left with her daughter<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143026'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Tanya is forty years old and has been a heroin addict for half of her life. She lives with her mother, brother and adopted son Sasha in a metal container in the middle of an apple orchard on the outskirts of Osh. The family lives off the apples they sell from the orchard <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143032/016_small.jpg' /><br />Tanya is forty years old and has been a heroin addict for half of her life. She lives with her mother, brother and adopted son Sasha in a metal container in the middle of an apple orchard on the outskirts of Osh. The family lives off the apples they sell from the orchard<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143032'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143032 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:42:10 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143032 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143032/016_small.jpg' /><br />Tanya is forty years old and has been a heroin addict for half of her life. She lives with her mother, brother and adopted son Sasha in a metal container in the middle of an apple orchard on the outskirts of Osh. The family lives off the apples they sell from the orchard<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143032'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Three sisters Gulnara 22 (left), Dilara 21 (middle) and Nigora 13 (right) pose with the "Azan" clock that rings with the call to prayer instead of a regular bell. They are originally from Uzbekistan and crossed the border to find work in Osh. They live and work in Dormitory No 9 brothel. The usual charge for sex services at the Dormitory No 9 is slightly more than $1. Out of five sisters that live here, Gulnara is the only one that holds a Kyrgyz passport <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143035/017_small.jpg' /><br />Three sisters Gulnara 22 (left), Dilara 21 (middle) and Nigora 13 (right) pose with the "Azan" clock that rings with the call to prayer instead of a regular bell. They are originally from Uzbekistan and crossed the border to find work in Osh. They live and work in Dormitory No 9 brothel. The usual charge for sex services at the Dormitory No 9 is slightly more than $1. Out of five sisters that live here, Gulnara is the only one that holds a Kyrgyz passport<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143035'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143035 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:42:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143035 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143035/017_small.jpg' /><br />Three sisters Gulnara 22 (left), Dilara 21 (middle) and Nigora 13 (right) pose with the "Azan" clock that rings with the call to prayer instead of a regular bell. They are originally from Uzbekistan and crossed the border to find work in Osh. They live and work in Dormitory No 9 brothel. The usual charge for sex services at the Dormitory No 9 is slightly more than $1. Out of five sisters that live here, Gulnara is the only one that holds a Kyrgyz passport<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143035'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi Liza's landlord Sima's bed. Sima is 22 and alcoholic <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143038/018_small.jpg' /><br />Liza's landlord Sima's bed. Sima is 22 and alcoholic<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143038'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143038 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:43:33 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143038 <img src='http://s3.amazonaws.com/lightstalkers/images/143038/018_small.jpg' /><br />Liza's landlord Sima's bed. Sima is 22 and alcoholic<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/143038'>view full-size image</a> Rena Effendi