In 1991 on the shores of the Issyk-Kul Lake in Balykchy city arose one of the first non-governmental organizations of the Kyrgyz Republic “Ymyt-Balykchy” that in 2003 developed into Public Association “Resource Center for Elderly”. An ideologist of creation of this public association was Svetlana Bashtovenko – Head of organization.  
The activity of the Resource Center started from involving of volunteers and organization by common efforts of Ymyt members of hot nutrition for orphan children and single elderly people, opening of various clubs for local schoolchildren and youth capacity building. A few times after opening Ymyt members tightly undertook to solve the problems of the elderly people by organization and conducting various activities on support and many-sided aid for elderly.
In 2003 the “Ymyt-Balykchy” switched out to national level. There was opened a branch in Bishkek city what allowed to considerably accelerate the process of growing partnership relations with government and public structures of the republic.  
Today, the “Self-Help Groups” concept is introducing step-by-step into all regions of republic. The author of this concept is Resource Center for Elderly and the Head of organization Svetlana Bashtovenko.
In 2005 Center initiated creation of the international network «Agenet International» that includes 44 gerontological organizations of country-members which activity is coordinated by the Resource Center.
The Network is engaged in monitoring of the status of the older generation, development of strategy on improvement of their status in cross-sectoral cooperation, development and implementation of the mechanism of providing equal access of elderly to social services, promotion of the principles of the Madrid Plan in countries-member of the Network. The members of the Network are both non-governmental and governmental organizations, commercials and individuals.
The peculiarity of the activity of the Center is not just giving help to elderly for one day. It is much more. Owing to the developed and suggested by Resource Center “Self-Help Group” model the old-folks associate, keep common houses, organize profit generating activities, get trainings on legal competence, computer skills, various kinds of applied arts, and many more. Today around the Kyrgyzstan there are successfully developing 127 SHGs associated into 5 Federations of Self-Help Groups (FSHG) in Osh, Jalal-Abad, Chui and Issyk-Kul oblasts.
On May 2003 in Balykchy city the Center founded a public foundation Micro-Financing Agency    "Economic take off" that implements loan operations under the program of financial support of the pension age people.  MFA also gives funds under the credit contract to corporate bodies, individuals, FSHGs, city minor public councils, new-founded SHGs, and businessmen supporting indigent elderly.
By May 7, 2008, in Balykchy city under the support of Dan Church Aid (DCA) agency and certain individuals there was opened the Day Care Center for elderly people that became a first day-stay center for single and needy elderly of the city. Here the elderly with interest and benefit spend their free time.  The Center gives an opportunity to elderly to realize their capacity, feel own significance. The elderly are involved into vigorous activity of the Center. They do not only can get a new knowledge but can share own experience with young generation. On the basis of the Center there are working repair shops, talking clubs, hobby groups, training center, volunteering service, and many more.
Over a period of 18 years the Resource Center for Elderly goes on with making a significant contribution to the social development of the Kyrgyz society purposefully working on revival and strengthening of moral principles and positive attitudes towards the older generation of the republic.