On December 9, 2022, USAID Advancing Nutrition Kyrgyz Republic opened a new photo exhibition at the Gapar Aitiev Kyrgyz National Museum of Fine Arts in Bishkek, titled “Undiscovered Potential.” The exposition includes 60 photographs taken in the Batken and Jalal-Abad Regions during media tours of the project’s work by international documentary photographer Maxime Fossat.

“Years ago, when I visited southern Kyrgyzstan for the first time, I was amazed by the quantity and the freshness of fruits and vegetables growing everywhere,” Fossat said. “But I was also surprised by how little of it was used in people’s everyday diet. So I wanted this contradictory aspect to be reflected in my photos to highlight the necessity of projects like USAID Advancing Nutrition.”

USAID Kyrgyz Republic Mission Director Kaya Adams noted that USAID Advancing Nutrition contributes to the Kyrgyz government’s efforts to improve nutrition and food security in the country. “There has been a lot of progress, but we also face new challenges as the food prices rise in the country and across the globe. It means that we have to work even harder to ensure the most vulnerable populations, especially women and children, are protected,” she said during the exhibition’s opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony was attended by the representatives of USAID Mission in the Kyrgyz Republic, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, partner organizations and community members. The exhibition will be open to the public until December 17, 2022.

Click through the slideshow below to see a selection of images from the exhibit by Maxime Fossat.