During these challenging times, when food and necessities were scarce, Vladislav’s mother placed him in an orphanage, believing it was the best way to ensure he received the care and resources he needed. After spending several years there, Vladislav eventually returned home, reuniting with his mother and continuing his education. However, as he grew older and completed his schooling, Vladislav felt drawn back to the world of children’s homes, this time from a different perspective. He began volunteering with an NGO dedicated to supporting the children living in these institutions. Reflecting on this period, he explains that his decision was driven by a mix of curiosity and a deep connection to his past: “I agreed to work with the NGO out of curiosity, wanting to see how things had changed and partly out of nostalgia for my time there.”

Through this volunteer work, Vladislav reconnected with the environment that had shaped much of his early life. He saw firsthand how these institutions had evolved and how the children were being cared for. This experience not only allowed him to give back but also helped him process and understand his own journey.

For Vladislav, social entrepreneurship was the path forward. “In our district, Belye Vody, sanitation was always a problem. People would throw garbage everywhere. We had Soviet-era concrete trash bins, and although they’re still around, things have improved somewhat. I realized I wanted to make a real impact,” Vladislav recalls.

After five years of dedicated start-up work, Vladislav launched Generation, an organization focused on extracting reusable materials from recycled waste and turning a profit in Aksukent, a town outside Shymkent. This led to the creation of Eco Cashback, a program wherein Aksukent residents earn money by recycling and sorting their household waste. Initially met with skepticism, the project gained traction as villagers began to see the financial benefits.

Seeking to further develop the initiative, Vladislav connected with Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program. In 2019, he won his first grant, dedicated to institutional development. With these funds, Vladislav upgraded his office equipment and streamlined operations. This grant marked a turning point: Vladislav now had the resources he needed to enhance workflows and operational efficiency.

Under the guidance of SICA experts, Vladislav secured a Social Idea Accelerator Grant, allowing him to further scale up operations with new equipment and optimized processes. He began work on digitalizing Eco Cashback, laying the groundwork for a mobile application that would later become a key component of the initiative. This grant also helped him refine the focus of his NGO, envisioning it as a potential social enterprise.

As Eco Cashback grew, Vladislav secured a third grant from SICA in 2022, enabling the project to expand its target demographic. Initially focused on socially vulnerable, low-income individuals in search of extra earnings, Eco Cashback began to attract people with moderate incomes, local entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals.

Eco Cashback’s impact is evident economically, socially, and environmentally. Participants save money on essential resources while adopting more responsible behaviors, particularly in waste management.

One Eco Cashback initiative is a barter shop where people experiencing food insecurity can exchange recyclable materials for food.  At the barter shop, residents can also exchange food waste for compost, benefiting local agriculture and creating a circular economy.

To improve village cleanliness and increase waste collection, the project places recycling boxes throughout Aksukent and hosts regular community cleanup events. In doing so, the local landfill has shrunk. The community is now engaged in environmental activities and cultivating a culture of recycling and sustainability.

Vladislav new focus is expanding Eco Cashback’s reach. He recently participated in a business development program in the United States and transitioned his approach from grant-seeking to social entrepreneurship. This shift has marked a new phase for Vladislav, as he looks to expand the project’s influence beyond Aksukent to the broader Turkestan region.

As the Eco Cashback team transitions from a public association to a social enterprise, their focus has shifted toward commercialization.  “As a leader, I aspire to expand beyond our borders and establish branches in neighboring Central Asian countries because I am passionate about this business,” says Vladislav.

Most recently, Eco Cashback launched a mobile app, available on both the Apple Store and Google Play. Through this app, users can conveniently sell their recyclables from home, reshaping societal perceptions of waste and promoting environmental stewardship. The app is propelling Eco Cashback toward commercial success.

The app is emblematic of Vladislav’s current focus on digitalization and green budgeting, or the use of budgetary policymaking to help achieve financial stability and cleaner communities. “Eighty percent of our earnings go directly to residents; we retain only 20% for our company. Residents decide [themselves] how to allocate these funds, empowering them to address local challenges autonomously. This concept of the green budget is something I explored in America, where each state independently manages economic activities. We aim to promote greater awareness of green budgeting among our people,” concludes Vladislav.

To read more about Vladislav, and hear his story in his own words, click here.

The post Championing Entrepreneurship in Southern Kazakhstan appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

Throughout high school and university, Nasiba was determined to develop her own skills and positively contribute to her community. Understanding the salience of practical experience, Nasiba secured an internship in the civil sector while working toward her graduate degree. After the internship came a full-time job, which offered Nasiba valuable insights in the field of community development. “It was during this enriching period that I realized I want to extend these experiences to the youth in my hometown,” Nasiba recalls. After receiving her master’s degree in social sciences in 2022, Nasiba returned to Karnak eager to use these newfound skills and knowledge to the benefit of her hometown.

In 2023, Nasiba enrolled in the Central Asia Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA) under Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) project, funded by USAID. Nasiba dedicated her time in CAYLA to enhancing self-development opportunities for Karnak’s youth. After researching and assessing the needs of children and youth in her native village, Nasiba compiled her findings into an analytical report.

This report informed the design of Nasiba’s ambitious social project, “Enhancing the Potential of the Youth of Karnak Village for the Development of Civic Leadership.” With a Young Civic Leader Scholarship from SICA, she launched a series of training sessions to engage Karnak’s youth in sustainable community development, youth civic engagement, volunteering, and more. Participants developed real-world skills in project management, effective communication strategies, and teamwork. Beyond skill development, these training sessions elevated the participants’ confidence as changemakers and community leaders.

“Trainers from Almaty and Shymkent had a profound impact on the children, imparting valuable knowledge and insights to them. This experience proved transformative for the children, altering their perspectives and attitudes towards life. It was the first time our village had hosted such trainings, making it an unprecedented and remarkable event,” comments Turar Mamenov, a rural teacher.

Thanks to her CAYLA training, Nasiba’s sharpened project management skills led the project to success. “Training a handful of individuals wasn’t enough for me; I aimed to reach more young people,” she explains. She realized that she could make a difference in Karnak by pushing for more recreational spaces for children and youth. “Why not leverage my grant writing skills to build new playgrounds?” she mused. Her initiative attracted grant funding and interest from authorities and the local community, and resulted in the construction of two new playgrounds: one for young children and one for sports. The facilities provided Karnak’s children with a space to congregate, exercise, and develop social skills.

Reflecting on her experience, Nasiba remarked, “CAYLA has been one of the most transformative programs in my life. It not only connected me with like-minded peers from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan but also sharpened my focus on community development, crystallizing my future objectives and the paths to achieve them.”

Nasiba’s ultimate ambition is to equip rural youth to enact positive change through . “Education isn’t just assistance; it’s a transformative tool,” she explains. “Like teaching someone to fish, education sustains children for a lifetime. I’m committed to using education as a tool to foster change and development. Our nation’s future hinges on the education of its youth.”

The post Young Leader Launches Civic Education Program for Youth in Rural Kazakhstan appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

Yekaterina had been nurturing the idea of launching a Montessori center for a long time, but the costs prevented her from moving forward. It was only upon finding a partner who shared her interest in Montessori that her hope came closer to reality. Even then, she hesitated. “I felt I lacked the social entrepreneurship skills necessary to further develop the project,” Yekaterina says. Fortunately, while scrolling through Instagram one day, Yekaterina came across the Central Asia Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA), a program funded by Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program. She knew that this was her chance to realize her dream.

Through CAYLA, Yekaterina received training in project management, mobile videography, Agile thinking, effective communications, web design, and public speaking. All the courses later proved, in Yekaterina’s own words, “essential” as she began designing her business plan. Through CAYLA, Yekaterina also gained experience in running social projects as an intern at the public foundation Yenme. Yekaterina says the practical and theoretical knowledge she acquired through CAYLA were invaluable in effectively launching Perzent.

When asked why she chose to champion the Montessori method, Yekaterina emphasizes the democratic and holistic approach that it prioritizes. “The Montessori educational method fosters independence and love for learning by allowing children to work at their own pace and choose their activities,” she explains. “Even more importantly, the approach promotes all-around development, not just academic progress. It teaches parents and caregivers to listen to the child and acknowledge their needs.”

Yekaterina reports that her initiative was “slow to gain followers” at the start. The idea that a three-year-old can have their own opinion—and that parents should take that opinion seriously—bewildered and even “outraged” some of the parents. “Like any other new approach, it breaks the mold and inadvertently generates backlash, especially from [parents] who believe children should obey their elders. But I was ready [for that] because I knew the method was new for many parents in Turkmenistan,” she explains.

Currently, Perzent can accommodate 250 children aged three to six. In the future, the team plans to establish inclusive groups for children with disabilities. As “an especially vulnerable group” due to social stigma and exclusion, these children “really need Montessori groups,” Yekaterina says. In three years, the team plans to establish inclusive groups with children with disabilities comprising at least 20% of enrollment.

Maya is the mother of a child who has attended Perzent since its launch. “I feel grateful for stumbling upon [the center], as it has given me an absolutely different perspective on my child’s development process,” she says. “Previously, I would feel irritated seeing my three-year-old drumming loudly or climbing everywhere he wanted. Now I consider this his inherent need to explore the world and express curiosity, and I want to support him channeling his energy in a positive way.”

“CAYLA was instrumental in realizing my dream to bring a child-oriented approach into pre-school education, and I am grateful to CAYLA for helping me foster my vision of the business,” Yekaterina says. “The children of today are our future tomorrow, and I believe we should waste no time sowing the best seeds for our kids’ future.”

Find more of Yekaterina’s story, told in her own words, in this video:

The post Central Asia Youth Leadership Academy Alum Launches First Montessori Center in Turkmenistan appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

For decades, Firuza’s (name changed) marriage was characterized by violence. “[My husband] had a habit of raising his hand against me, making the whole family and myself utterly desolate,” Firuza shares. Fearful of the societal implications of leaving him, for both herself and her children, Firuza tolerated this abuse for more than 30 years. Yet in 2022, when Firuza discovered her husband had struck their 23-year-old daughter, she decided to file for divorce, even if it meant fighting for her case against all odds.

“At the time, my daughter Mariyam (name changed) was very depressed,” reflects Firuza. “We began searching for clinics and psychologists who would help her—and me—find mental strength and peace.”

Firuza’s lawyer suggested exploring free counseling services provided by Femida, an NGO supporting survivors of domestic violence and trafficking as well as migrants. That’s how Firuza and her daughter met Shahlo Rakhimova, a psychologist at Femida who became their therapist, friend, and champion. “Ever since my daughter and I began attending Shahlo’s sessions, our outlook on life has started to shift. After a few sessions, I could sense something hard and rigid within me begin to thaw,” Firuza shares.

The counseling Firuza and Mariyam received through Femida helped them during the challenges of the divorce. Having moved out of the family apartment, they had to figure out how to maintain sufficient income to meet rent. During one counseling session, Shahlo advised Firuza to enroll in Femida’s computer literacy courses, offered with backing from Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program.

In February 2023, Firuza and Mariyam enrolled in SICA-funded courses on internet and social media usage, Microsoft Office basics, and essential entrepreneurial skills. For both mother and daughter, these courses were not only practical but also provided a much-needed distraction from the grueling process of divorce. Their enrollment marked the beginning of their joint journey toward self-development and discovery. “Before, I had no idea how to make money from social media, but the instructor suggested we should learn to use Instagram for business, and I eagerly began devouring information on this,” shares Mariyam. Adds Firuza: “The course has essentially opened my eyes to a whole new world before me.”

Equipped with newfound knowledge, mother and daughter launched a business on Instagram. Within a remarkably short period of just four months, they managed to amass more than 5,000 followers. The store currently makes nine to ten sales per day, which is enough to sustain Mariyam and Firuza financially.

The courses’ impact extends beyond Firuza and her daughter. According to Mirzo Soliev, Director of Femida, the project has helped 29 survivors of domestic violence acquire computer skills and start their own businesses.

Furthermore, thanks to SICA support, Femida developed a comprehensive strategic plan, overhauled its communication channels, and established computer classrooms for its beneficiaries. “We express our heartfelt gratitude to the SICA program for elevating our operations to a new level,” says Mirzo.

In the summer of 2023, Firuza’s divorce was finalized, marking the commencement of a new chapter in her life. She now aspires to buy her own apartment and has many plans ahead. Thanks to the transformative courses that helped her achieve financial freedom, she now sees this dream as more than a mere aspiration but an attainable goal.

The post Supporting Survivors of Domestic Violence in Tajikistan appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

“I have witnessed numerous women battling with debt, insufficient education, economic difficulties, and societal pressures,” Nargiz shares. “This observation made me question the root causes of these issues and how to effectively address them.”

In 2020, Nargiz founded the NGO Sogdiana and enrolled in the Central Asia Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA) within Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia program. CAYLA helped Nargiz foster her skills as a nonprofit leader. “Although I had a vision of what I wanted to do, I did not have knowledge of the documentation process and knew nothing about financing and fundraising opportunities,” Nargiz recalls. Through CAYLA, Nargiz developed professional skills in project management, social entrepreneurship and communication. She also received a two-month paid internship at Imkoniyat, one of Uzbekistan’s largest NGOs. The opportunity helped her gain an insider’s knowledge of the NGO business. Most importantly, Nargiz learned fundraising techniques and writing quality grant proposals.

Over the past three years, Nargiz has successfully implemented six projects with the support of international donors. One of the projects was a Youth Leadership Grant from SICA, aimed at improving the computer literacy skills of socially vulnerable women. With support from SICA and cooperation from the local khokimiyat (city hall), Nargiz procured computer equipment and established the first free educational center in Uchquduq. The center provided training for 100 women in internet use, job searching, and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint skills. Additionally, some women were able to receive microloans for business development.

Gulkhan Rakhimova successfully secured a job thanks to computer training. As a mother of a small child who does not yet attend kindergarten, Gulkhan struggled to find a job that would allow her to work from home. The microloan enabled Gulkhan to purchase a laptop and find remote work. “This opportunity has changed my life,” Gulkhan shares. “Next year, I dream of enrolling in a university.”

Nargiz recognizes the immense value of the connections she established during her time at CAYLA, which continue to provide invaluable support even two years after her graduation. Recently, during a grant application process, Nargiz required assistance with documentation processing. A fellow CAYLA alumnus, Asilbek Muminov, generously offered free help. This support enabled Nargiz to proceed with her plans to train 300 women in computer literacy, sewing, pastry, and business skills in the Navoi region.

“I believe that equipping women with education and skills training is crucial for their economic and social development. My mission is to develop legal and digital literacy and leadership qualities in women, making them real agents of change in their communities and beyond,” emphasizes Nargiz.

The post Equipping Women in Uzbekistan to Become Entrepreneurs appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

With support from Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program and the International Organization for Migration in Turkmenistan (IOM), Dap-Dessur launched a sewing workshop social enterprise. Within four months of launch, the enterprise provided comprehensive training in sewing and tailoring to 45 women facing economic insecurity in the Mary District of Turkmenistan. As part of this initiative, the women utilized their newfound skills to create 30 sets of children’s clothes, which they distributed to children in orphanages and low-income families.

Gozel’s vision for Dap-Dessur stems from her lifelong desire to help others. “From the very beginning, my passion has been to create a sewing atelier dedicated to young women, equipping them to uncover their potential, enhance employability, and foster self-reliance,” she explains. “It’s disheartening to witness many girls graduating from school with uncertainty about their future, which leads some to migrate and increases their risk of exploitation. I wanted to offer women an opportunity to explore their potential right here in our country. These young women possess incredible talents that deserve to be discovered and nurtured.”

In 2022, Gozel and her team won SICA’s Youth Leadership Grant, which equipped them to launch sewing and tailoring courses for women in Mary. The Dap-Dessur team prepared a comprehensive training module on the basics of sewing. They also developed a business sustainability plan to ensure the long-term viability of the initiative.

“Overall, nine young women achieved financial independence. Three participants gained employment within the newly opened atelier. The other six women secured employment at other private sewing businesses. Some even took the initiative to purchase their own sewing machines and pursue sewing and tailoring as a home-based business,” says Gozel.

Enesh was one of the women who participated in the project. “Sewing has always been a passion of mine, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford sewing classes. When my school friends told me about Dap-Dessur, I instantly recognized it as the opportunity I had been waiting for—a chance to finally learn the art of sewing,” she says. “Within the course, I created a dress for myself and learned how to create clothes for children.”

Beyond skill development, the project also aimed to make a positive difference in the lives of low-income families. The sewing workshop produced and distributed 30 sets of children’s clothes to orphanages and families facing economic hardship.

Reflecting on the impact of the project, Gozel hopes that it provides “more than just clothes.” She continues: “I am glad [the sessions] helped [participants] secure employment, acquire valuable skills, and find a supportive community for many women in need. I hope we will have many more projects supporting women and young people in Turkmenistan.”

The post Supporting Young Women through Social Enterprise in Turkmenistan appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

“Discrimination and negative stereotypes are unfortunate realities that individuals with disabilities often encounter in the workplace,” explains Dilmurad. “Our mission is to actively promote and facilitate employment opportunities for those in need of help.”

Dilmurad’s initial curiosity in this field sparked during his doctoral studies in the United Kingdom, when he conducted research together with people with varied disabilities. As he observed his peers’ real-life experiences, he became acutely aware of the stark disparity between their everyday challenges and the privileges afforded him through academia. He began to question the purpose of academic research if it failed to bring about meaningful and concrete societal transformation. “The experience deepened my commitment to further explore this field,” reflects Dilmurad. Upon returning to Uzbekistan, he made a conscious decision to prioritize supporting people with disabilities to find equitable employment.

In 2021, Dilmurad and Sharoit Plus launched the job-searching website IshPlus.uz. Within a year, the project successfully helped 50 individuals with disabilities secure employment. Inspired by this success, in 2022 Dilmurad and his colleagues submitted a grant proposal to SICA to scale up their initiative.

Thanks to the SICA grant, IshPlus.uz successfully developed a user-friendly app that connects job seekers with disabilities to potential employers. Through a questionnaire, candidates can provide their work experience, contact details, specialization, salary expectations, and disability status. “If needed, candidates can request additional support from our consultants, who engage with employers to promote better work environments and ensure the labor rights of people with disabilities are respected,” Dilmurad explains.

In just six months, IshPlus.uz has helped more than 130 people with disabilities secure a job, including 27 individuals with visual impairments, 44 with hearing impairments, 51 with physical disabilities, 5 with intellectual disabilities, and 3 parents of children with disabilities.

Reflecting on the project’s success, Dilmurad underscores the significance of user-friendly navigation within the app. “Recent statistics revealed that approximately 60% of job seekers with disabilities use smartphones for job searches, and this is why we developed an application that is usable by blind and visually impaired people who use screen readers. The intuitive design of the app makes it easy to use for people with disabilities in Uzbekistan, who often don’t know how to effectively search for jobs using computer.”

Farrukh Umarov, a 20-year-old with a visual impairment, is among those whose employment journey began with IshPlus.uz. While pursuing a degree in philosophy at the National University of Uzbekistan, Farrukh relied solely on university scholarships and disability allowances for income. The IshPlus.uz platform allowed Farrukh to secure his first job as a computer literacy instructor for people with disabilities. “I am very grateful to the Sharoit Plus team as they changed my life for the better. In Uzbekistan, they are the only organization I know of that provides real assistance to people with disabilities,” says Farrukh.

Guzal, a sign language interpreter, is another compelling example of the project’s impact. Formerly providing unpaid sign language interpretation assistance, Guzal now holds a stable position as an interpreter and employment consultant with IshPlus.uz, earning a fair monthly salary. “I am grateful that the team recognizes the importance of sign language interpreters to support the employment of deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Uzbekistan,” she says.

The IshPlus.uz team is determined to expand the appl to cover all of Uzbekistan. “Presently, due to regulatory constraints under the non-governmental organizations law, our activities are limited to the Tashkent city,” shares Dilmurad. “Ultimately, our vision is to enable individuals with disabilities to work alongside their non-disabled counterparts throughout Uzbekistan.”

The post NGO Helps Pioneer Employment of People with Disabilities in Uzbekistan appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

This gap speaks to a broader pattern across Kazakhstan of reduced educational resources available in the Kazakh language. This discrepancy results in educational and professional disparities between Kazakh- and Russian-speaking youth, particularly in already under-resourced rural areas, where the Kazakh language often dominates.

In 2020, Zhandos joined Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) Central Asia Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA), intent on cultivating the requisite skills to address this problem. Recounting his experience, Zhandos calls CAYLA “an all-inclusive program, as it accompanies each participant on their journey from a seed of an idea to project implementation.”

Upon graduation, Zhandos won a CAYLA Youth Leadership Grant to launch Debate.kz. Debate.kz promotes Kazakh-language debate clubs to hone critical thinking and leadership skills among Kazakh-speaking youth. The program specifically targets youth in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

“Debates help Kazakh youth to not only learn about social issues, but also to feel involved by discussing and critically assessing them. They are a critical tool for the development of future leaders of public opinion,” says Zhandos.

Since launching Debate.kz two years ago, Zhandos and his team have trained 300 students and 40 teachers in critical thinking and debate. They created video tutorials and an educational manual, approved by the Department of Education of the Karagandy region. The project has spurred the development of more than 30 debate clubs in the Karagandy, Turkestan, and Atyrau regions, which have attracted more than 600 active members. These clubs have in turn staged six interregional debate tournaments on topics like media literacy, human rights, economics, and feminism.

“Debate has helped me become more confident in myself and my ideas,” says Serikbay Bibigulsim, a high-school student in Karagandy who participated in a Debate.kz tournament. “My argumentation skills have become an order of magnitude higher. Preparing for the tournament, I began to better understand the problems of my community, my country, and the world. My friends and I now want to open a permanent debate club at our school.”

The movement has been met with broad government support. Askhat Aimagambetov, Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, described debate as “not only an intellectual role-playing game but a real educational technology.” The Minister further emphasized that “success in debate does not depend on the social status of a family or one’s place of birth. The main thing here is a person’s outlook, character, desire, and motivation to defend their position.”

Inspired by the results of his project within Karagandy, Zhandos next applied for and won a SICA Innovative Solutions Grant to expand his project to the national scale. He is presently working on the development of debate communities across Kazakhstan.

“When young people feel injustice, they must be able to speak about it,” says Zhandos. “It is important that they be able to articulate their views on injustice in education, ecology, medicine, and more. With Debate.kz, they can do just that.”

The post Debate.kz Bridges Rural-Urban Divide, Creates Opportunities for Kazakh-Speaking Youth appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

“I  was studying at a university and looking for an internship or a job. I applied to 20 jobs, and all 20 companies rejected or ignored me,” Mahmudjon recalls. Discouraged, Mahmudjon decided to launch Yosh Menejer. The project started [in 2021] as a three-month social project consisting of workshops from top-trainers, site-visits to top companies, and networking events for Uzbekistan’s young people.  “Initially, it was very hard to run my initiative due to the lack of knowledge,” Mahmudjon says. “No one believed in [this idea], and I could not even find a meeting place due to the lack of funds.”

Later Mahmudjon joined the Central Asia Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA), an initiative of EF’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) project, and everything changed. With CAYLA, Mahmudjon studied project management, critical thinking, public speaking, monitoring and evaluation, effective leadership, and a variety of fundraising techniques. The knowledge he gained helped him secure sponsors to donate resources, offer free printing services, and provide a regular meeting place for workshops.

Mahmudjon also learned how to spread the word about his initiative among interested Uzbekistanis. Workshop attendance skyrocketed. Overall, the percentage of people who secured jobs thanks to Yosh Menejer rose from 24 percent in the first season to 48 percent in the second and 50 percent in the third. To date, Yosh Menejer has helped 61 youth secure jobs. “CAYLA is one of the main reasons why my project succeeded,” Mahmudjon states.

Nargis Salieva is among the 61 people that secured a job with Yosh Menejer. As an undergraduate student with no prior work experience, Nargis floundered in her job search. “During the workshops [at Yosh Menejer], I gained knowledge in project management, finance, marketing, and human resources. At that time, I was studying [at a local university] and was very interested in macroeconomics. I wrote a paper on the economic analysis of the trans-Afghan corridor and was lucky to show it to Uzbekistan’s head of the Assembly of Economy during one of Yosh Menejer’s networking events,” Nargis shares. “I was very surprised when I learned that the Head of the Assembly actually read the paper and was so impressed by it that he invited me for an interview.” Nargis started out coordinating a department within the Assembly of Economy. Now, she heads the department of Uzbekistan’s Center for Development of Strategic Projects.

For Mahmudjon, examples like this are proof that he is doing the right thing. “When [Yosh Menejer’s] participants succeed, I realize how important what I am doing is. My mission is to guide young people to find their passion and contribute to the economic development of Uzbekistan.”

For more from Mahmudjon, check out his story in his own words!

The post CAYLA Alumnus Forges New Employment Opportunities in Uzbekistan appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

For years, financial difficulties hindered Opa-Singillar’s development. Thanks to an Institutional Development Grant from Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program, Natalya and her team have developed and implemented a new strategic plan that boosts both the number of people they can serve and their donors. The grant has also allowed Natalya to fully refurbish her office to provide improved center access for participants using wheelchairs.

Natalya recalls how the dream of community guided her through the difficult years of childhood. “I remember vividly some of my early memories, like lying in a room alone and hearing other children laughing and playing outside,” she says. “I remember how I longed to be part of them, to be accepted. I’d sit there dreaming that one day, when I am a grown-up, I will do something useful and important so that other people finally see me for who I am.”

Today, Natalya says her dream has materialized in the work and the leadership that she provides for Opa-Singillar—a cozy and supportive community center that many women and girls with psychosocial and physical disabilities across Qibray call a second home.

Natalya is quick to note that Opa-Singillar’s center was not always so welcoming. Up until October 2022, the organization moved 10 times. None of the locations suited the needs of her participants. Their last address was a house in a “derelict state” with no central heating, which made it next to impossible to conduct classes and workshops during winter. “For many newcomers and their parents, these conditions were immediate put-offs, and some would not return precisely for this reason,” Natalya says. “It was clear to me that we had to find means to change this.”

In 2022, Natalya’s team won SICA’s Institutional Development Grant. The team received training from SICA experts on fundraising and strategic development, which allowed them to drastically review Opa-Singillar’s current activities and develop a new development plan. This revised plan focuses on service enhancement, advertising, and fundraising. With the grant, the organization also overhauled the center’s infrastructure. Opa-Singillar is now equipped with a heating system, wheelchair-friendly access, several new studios, and a kitchen to conduct workshops.

The change was an immediate success. Within just a month of renovation, Opa-Singillar’s participation rates doubled from 6 or 7 participants to more than 15 people per session. Refurbished facilities offered space to launch new workshops in culinary arts, psychology, and sewing. In October 2022, the team hosted an official opening of the center. Wide media coverage of the event attracted an influx of people wanting to become a part of Opa-Singillar.

“It is a relief to see the office finally renovated, as it has a direct impact on our work,” says Gulfiya Kalimulina, project coordinator at Opa-Singillar. “Now that the building is warm and convenient, we can expand our services and provide new opportunities for people in need.”

Natalya notes that SICA’s Institutional Development Program has provided much more than just a renovated space, an updated strategy, or training workshops for her employees. “The most important thing we have gained is a completely changed perspective on the organization’s development. We learned how to leverage opportunities for our benefit,” she shares.

In the latter half of 2022, the organization doubled fundraising money and attracted several new donors who provided free services and facilities, including air conditioners and outdoor surveillance cameras.

“My mission is empowering Uzbekistani girls with disabilities and inspiring them to become better versions of themselves. It always leaves me mesmerized when girls that entered with their eyes glued to the floor eventually find their dreams and start pursuing professions they have always wanted,” Natalya says. “Seeing them realize the world beyond their mahalla [district] is so big and full of opportunities that they can study anywhere and become almost anything they want is something I really enjoy. I am thankful for the Institutional Development Grant for helping me enhance our services.”

Find more of Natalya’s story, told in her own words, in this video:

The post Uzbekistani NGO Launches Renovated Center for Women with Disabilities appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

“Despite the fact that my father was not around, he always supported me in my desire to study. After the civil war broke out [in Tajikistan], there was a period of economic stagnation and high unemployment. My parents worked hard to give us a good education against all odds. I always knew that I needed to go an extra mile to achieve something important,” says Farrukh. 

After completing courses at Oxford University, Farrukh realized that the tech sphere has plenty of opportunities. This prompted him to launch Ilmhona Skills Acceleration Center in Dushanbe. There, anyone can study IT courses and even get a job in the tech sphere. Thanks to the unique system Farrukh has implemented, it is possible to earn a degree at Ilmhona for free.  

“One needs a deposit to start studying. Yet, if a student completes the course with 85 points or more, he or she gets from 50 to 100 percent of their deposit money back,” explains Farrukh. “We have examples of students earning 100 percent of their money back.” 

Inspired by the success of Ilmhona, Farrukh decided to launch a new office in his hometown, Istaravshan, which could otherwise not boast of many opportunities for young people. To fund the initiative, Farrukh applied for an in-kind grant from EF’s Kazakhstan-based Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program. With support in part from SICA, Farrukh bought computer equipment and launched IT courses for more than 200 residents of Istaravshan.  

One of Farrukh’s most successful students to date is Khassan Soliyev, who worked as a house painter before stumbling across an ad for Ilmhona.  

“I really wanted to study [at Ilmhona], but when I realized their office was located far from my town, I was very upset. Yet just six months later they launched an office here in Istaravshan,’’ says Khassan. “Of course, the first thing I did was to sign up.”   

In just two months, Khassan has mastered HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. After completing the training, Ilmhona offered him a job as a course instructor. Now he teaches Front End Basics to Istaravshan students and dreams that one day he will be able to work at Google or Microsoft.

Ilmhona recently launched a program specifically catered to girls in tech. The first group of 30 female students already finished the first course.

“It is very important for us to show that girls can do anything,” notes Farrukh. “Our first IT course for the girls of my hometown is meant to equip them with tools to create a promising future.”  

 In addition to the training courses, Ilmhona organizes startup events, soft skills workshops, and meetups for Tajik youth. Farrukh hopes these initiatives will inspire young people and help raise a new tech-oriented Tajik generation.  

“Although Tajikistan has limited natural resources, the country has plenty of human capital potential,” says Farrukh. “My mission is to make my homeland a country of talents in the field of innovation and technology.”

The post Young Changemaker Forges IT Talents in Tajikistan appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

“It is really difficult to thrive in these conditions,” he says. “At some point, you realize that you need to take action and make a change.”

Vladislav discovered that 82% of recyclable materials in Kazakhstan end up in landfills like the one near his apartment in Aksukent. With better environmental education and the right incentives, he supposed, the community’s attitude toward recycling could change.

In 2018, Vladislav launched Generation, an organization to extract reusable materials from recycled waste and turn a profit. He then started an initiative called Eco-Cashback. With Generation’s Eco-Cashback program, Aksukent residents can earn money for recycling and sorting their household waste in one of the project’s four local recycling boxes.

The project succeeded in educating the community on the importance of recycling. “As a result of Eco-Cashback, people now understand that waste contains raw material and can be a resource that costs money,” says Vladislav. “The community’s mindset changed, and people became proactive about recycling. The village became cleaner and livelier.”

In response to this surge of support, Vladislav enrolled in Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program Institutional Development Program. The program connects cause-oriented organizations like Generation with expert mentors to develop and implement strategic plans. SICA’s experts helped Vladislav think creatively about his business’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for growth.

While public infrastructure in Aksukent could not sustain the large-scale recycling projects that he and his community now desired, Vladislav recognized that his business could. “With support from SICA, I realized I needed to build a company that will provide comprehensive services for the collection of post-consumer raw materials from organizations, businesses, apartment buildings, and residential areas,” says Vladislav.

To realize this vision, Vladislav applied for and won a SICA Social Idea Accelerator Grant. This funding allowed him to scale up his operations with new equipment and an optimized workflow.

Today, Generation’s recycling boxes dot the streets of Aksukent, inviting all residents to participate in cleaning up their city. And Vladislav, inspired by this taste of success, is ready for more. Equipped with the project management and strategic planning skills he learned under SICA, he is planning new projects to recycle food waste and conserve water.

The post Return and Earn: Incentivizing Environmental Stewardship in Kazakhstan appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.