A pivotal moment for Mukhammed was joining the Central Asia Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA), a key initiative of Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program. There, Mukhammed connected with like-minded young people from across Central Asia and accessed resources on project management, fundraising, communications, and awareness-raising initiatives—all of which would shape his future projects.

In 2023, Mukhammed secured a SICA grant to launch Jańasha Kózqaras (Karakalpak: “New Look”), a project aimed at revitalizing the National Museum Named after Igor Savitsky in Nukus. Often referred to as the “Louvre in the Desert,” the Savitsky Museum holds a unique collection of over 10,000 pieces of Karakalpak, Uzbek, Kazakh, and Turkmen folk art, as well as a vast archaeological collection reaching back to the Bronze Age. The museum is also famous for its rare collection of avant-garde art from the early 20th century, which survived Soviet censorship and now draws international recognition. However, despite its world-class collection and reputation, the Savitsky Museum has struggled to engage local youth.

With Jańasha Kózqaras, Mukhammed sought to form a community of young ambassadors from various regions of Uzbekistan to promote the museum through dynamic and interactive methods. Central to this effort was “Past-Present-Future,” an activity that encouraged participants to deeply explore the museum’s offerings. In the “Past,” they studied the historical context of the museum and its collections; in the “Present,” they analyzed the museum’s current relevance, challenges, and accomplishments; and in the “Future,” they brainstormed creative ways to promote the museum and ensure its lasting influence.

The Jańasha Kózqaras ambassadors, many of whom are young creatives and aspiring artists, participated in immersive excursions, in-depth lectures, and hands-on masterclasses to gain a comprehensive understanding of the museum’s significance. Armed with this knowledge, they initiated their own projects to increase public awareness of the museum, led guided tours, and even contributed to the restoration of exhibits. Together, these efforts made the museum experience more dynamic and accessible to younger generations. The ambassadors also organized five educational events in Tashkent, Nukus, and Namangan in Uzbekistan, and in Ufa, Russia. At these events, ambassadors connected with the Karakalpak diaspora and promoted the Savitsky Museum.

In Tashkent, participants also organized an Art Day that included collage workshops, a screening of The Passion of Igor Savitsky, and a discussion with esteemed filmmaker Ali Khamraev. Meanwhile, in Nukus and Ufa, renowned art historian and director of the State Museum of Oriental Art in Moscow, Tigran Mkrtychev, joined the events online to share his expertise. In Namangan, the group formed a Friends of the Savitsky Museum Club and developed art board- and floor-games, the first of their kind in Uzbekistan. The games are designed to educate players about the museum and its history. To further amplify their impact, the team created a dedicated social media page to document their activities and raise awareness about the museum’s rich cultural heritage.

“Jańasha Kózqaras broadened my perspective on the vibrant art and cultural heritage of Karakalpakstan,” says Shirin Samatova, a project participant and artist. “I met young people from all over Uzbekistan who, like me, are passionate about art and proud of our heritage.”

Building upon the successes of Jańasha Kózqaras, Mukhammed launched the Tulepbergen Kaipbergenov Foundation in honor of his grandfather. In collaboration with Savitsky Museum management and Jańasha Kózqaras participants, the foundation developed recommendations for formally integrating the Jańasha Kózqaras ambassador community into decision-making processes related to art and culture. The foundation then submitted these recommendations to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, which has shown interest in collaborating with the community to shape future initiatives.

The foundation is also actively engaging with Uzbekistan’s Agency for Cultural Heritage to explore long-term strategies for fostering community growth and sustaining outreach for the Savitsky Museum. “Our museum’s treasures are more frequently showcased abroad than here in Nukus, where they truly belong. Through this project, we are not only preserving our heritage but bringing it back to the people of Karakalpakstan and Uzbekistan,” observes Mukhammed. “It’s about ensuring that future generations connect with the rich cultural legacy they might not otherwise know much about.”

The post Uniting Youth to Promote Karakalpakstan’s Artistic Heritage appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

“As a teacher, I spend a lot of time in classrooms, and once in a while I hear stories from students about cases of online fraud, stalking, or fake news that they or their relatives have fallen victim to,” Zilola says. “I can’t forget the harrowing case where a 26-year-old man from Andijan impersonated a schoolgirl to coerce a 10-year-old girl into sending him intimate photographs and videos. In that particular case, the man was sentenced for a coercion attempt. Tragically, though, there are many cases where online fraud or the dissemination of false information result in suicide, loss of savings, or even human trafficking.”

For Zilola, classroom discussions and personal stories shared by students highlighted an issue faced by millions of internet users worldwide: the importance of critical and online media literacy skills. “This seemed like a ‘social abscess’ that had to be tended to,” Zilola notes.

To address this issue, Zilola applied to the Central Asia Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA), organized under Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia program. CAYLA helps forward-thinking youth across the region enhance their leadership skills and pursue civically and socially important projects. As part of the program, Zilola took courses on creative and critical thinking, effective communication, public speaking, and project design. It was while studying at CAYLA that she decided to harness her experiences to develop a project idea on media awareness. “I wanted to prompt my students to be vigilant of misinformation and fraud, and media literacy workshops appeared to be the most effective means to achieve this.”

After completing the program, Zilola applied for and received a CAYLA alumni-exclusive $1500 grant to launch Critical Lens, a media literacy training project dedicated to strengthening critical thinking skills among high school students. The training sessions, delivered to 24 participants, featured expert-led discussions on combating fake news, developing digital research skills, learning the foundations of cybersecurity, and fact-checking. Fellow CAYLA participants Munisa Rayimova and Javokhir Ne’matov provided technical expertise and guidance on the project curriculum, significantly enhanced participant engagement, and contributed to the project’s success.

“The project on media literacy was great,” says Nigina Suvankulova, a participant. “I learned to analyze content’s sources, do fact-checking, be aware of cybersecurity threats, and much more.” Inspired by the knowledge she gained from Critical Lens workshops, Nigina decided to launch her own social media blog aimed at increasing media literacy among fellow teens. Currently, Nigina is working on a content plan for her blog.

Looking ahead, Zilola plans to pursue a master’s program in education and innovation and keep working with teens on media literacy. “Teenagers are often puzzled by the many distractions that the media and social networks bombard them with, and I want them to feel grounded and confident in the choices they make,” she explains. “It is the teenagers, after all, who are going to be the primary force driving change in the future and I want to play my part in ensuring they do it well.”

The post Promoting Youth Media Literacy Skills in Uzbekistan 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.

“Women in rural areas of Tajikistan encounter unique challenges in their pursuit of STEM education. Limited access to quality educational institutions is a primary concern,” Muqaddas shares. “Additionally, cultural norms and expectations play a significant role: families may not see the value of investing in their daughters’ STEM education when they expect them to marry and take on household responsibilities at a young age.”

Recognizing the urgent need to address this pervasive issue, Muqaddas and her 19-year-old daughter Nozanin founded Shams (“Sunshine” in Tajik), an NGO located in the small city of Guliston in the Sughd region of northwest Tajikistan. Shams’ Win the Future initiative readies schoolgirls from rural areas to continue pursuing science, math, and technology by gamifying STEM education. With support from Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program, this initiative trained 127 young women in physics, mathematics, computer science, chemistry, and vital soft skills.

According to Muqaddas, the inspiration for the project came from her daughter. While studying computer science at university, Nozanin experienced the gender inequality prevalent in STEM fields. “In my class, only 10% of students were women, a discouraging factor for many,” Nozanin says. In rural areas, women’s enrollment rates were even lower. Muqaddas and Nozanin resolved to change this status quo.

As an experienced educator herself, Muqaddas recognized teachers’ capacity to spark students’ passion. Thus, Win the Future’s first step was to enlist outstanding educators from three neighboring villages. These teachers would provide engaging STEM lessons to girls in local schools through a dedicated after-school program.

The team devised a friendly competition among participating schools to further motivate the students. Participants earned points by advancing in their extracurricular studies and attending after-school classes. The highest achieving student would win a trip to Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe, and visit to the country’s leading university.

As of October 2023, 91 young women who participated in Win the Future have embarked on higher education tracks at university. Sixteen of them secured prestigious government scholarships. “I am elated that our venture as representatives of civil society has yielded such resounding success. Much of our achievement is attributed to the invaluable support we received from the USAID Social Innovation in Central Asia program,” shares Muqaddas.

Shahzoda Ganiboeva, an 18-year-old project participant, earned a government-sponsored spot in the Faculty of Chemistry at the Tajik National University in Dushanbe. She credits a significant portion of her accomplishments to Shams’ support. “[The courses] have been transformative; without them, I might not have achieved what I have today,” she says.

For both Muqaddas and Nozanin, the Shams project marks merely the beginning of their journey to champion women’s participation in Tajikistan’s educational landscape. “We are gearing up to launch a focused media campaign to emphasize the critical role of education for Tajikistani women,” Muqaddas affirms. “The Shams initiative represents a pivotal step in our vision to lead rural girls towards advanced learning.”

Want to learn more about Muqaddas and Nozanin? Check out their video from Eurasia Foundation’s Pass the Mic series!

The post Mother-Daughter Duo Readies Young Women in Rural Tajikistan to Pursue STEM Education 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.

“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.

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.

As a changemaker with a keen interest in ecology, Menli always wanted to launch an eco-conscious social enterprise. After graduating from CAYLA in 2022, Menli co-founded Barys (“Snow Leopard”) Yurt Club, a business initiative dedicated to supporting research on endangered snow leopards in Kazakhstan. The team created 10,000 unique illustrations featuring snow leopards and sold at least 60 of them as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) via OpenSea, a cryptocurrency platform. As a spin-off, they also designed and sell a line of snow leopard hoodies. The team shares 20 percent of all proceeds with a Kazakhstani NGO, Wildlife Without Borders (WWB), and the National Institute of Zoology of Kazakhstan to fund the purchase of snow leopard research equipment.

Menli confesses that her initial idea lacked focus. “My husband and I are avid followers of news related to the development of NFTs and crypto [currency]. For some time, we pondered what to do as we wanted our business to embrace these spheres while also being eco-conscious,” she says. “We knew we wanted to make something out of the booming NFT sphere, but we could not decide how to connect our interest to some social cause initiative.”

It was at CAYLA Changemakers Camp, a five-day summer networking camp for CAYLA alumni, where Menli finally shaped her vision of an innovative initiative featuring NFT sale. “The lively atmosphere of the camp and the brainstorming sessions stimulated me to develop my business idea of connecting environmental stewardship with cutting-edge technology,” she says, smiling. A camp facilitator also advised Menli to “think about diversifying future streams of income.” This prompted her to elaborate the concept of a merchandising business featuring physical items like hoodies.

Upon leaving the camp, Menli wasted no time in getting started. Together with her husband Azamat Kalam, Menli designed an NFT-related social initiative featuring snow leopards. “Since we live in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the snow leopard is the symbol of this town, we decided to make a small token of appreciation [of Almaty] by helping support research [on this species].”

By September 2022, the team had launched an Instagram account, designed 10,000 illustrations, and created their first batch of hoodies for sale. Just a month later, they organized an offline crowdfunding event at the Ayu Say Resort near Almaty with a special guest lecture by a National Institute of Zoology staff member on snow leopard-related research and expeditions. The team sold the first 60 NFTs (totaling $700) as entry tickets for the event and made additional 500,000 KZT ($1,000) from the sale of snow leopard-themed hoodies, transferring 20 percent of all money proceeds to WWB. The event generated a wide social media reaction, with many people applauding the team’s innovative approach to animal conservation.

Menli cites CAYLA’s networking camp and scholarship program as helping her shape the vision of her business. “The three courses I completed [via CAYLA’s scholarship program] really made the difference in making me a better leader and entrepreneur. I came to learn practical things like how to plan ahead, choose the right people, and develop a marketing plan. Starting a business might seem easy in theory, but when it comes to practice, it can be a journey full of unexpected twists, like on a rollercoaster. Thanks to the knowledge [I have gained], I feel more confident when making decisions.”

Dina Konysbayeva, the head of WWB, says she is whole-heartedly supportive of initiatives like Menli’s. “The scientific community is concerned about the state of snow leopards in Kazakhstan,” she explains. “The snow leopard is not just a cultural symbol of Almaty, it is a part of ecological systems that have a huge impact on human health. [That is why] when [Menli’s team] approached us with their novel idea of raising awareness [about snow leopards], I immediately supported their initiative. I really hope their example will pave the way for others.”

Menli says that she feels the initiative is a “spoon in the ocean,” but it has created a head-turning precedent. The project has already featured in Kazakhstani and international media. For the team, this attention is a sign that they are on the right path. “Snow leopards and NFTs? This is not a conventional ‘marriage,’ but we decided to give it a try and it worked,” says Azamat, Menli’s husband and project co-founder. “We keep getting messages of how cool and innovative our project is, and I really hope it will make a difference in people’s attitudes towards [snow leopards],” Menli adds. “Our main goal is to approach preservation of snow leopards from a novel perspective, and I hope we can keep doing our work first in Kazakhstan and then in my home country, Turkmenistan.”

The post Turkmenistani Young Leader Launches NFT Initiative to Save Endangered Species appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

Miren teaches in a conservative area where women and girls often face gender barriers to equal education, employment, and civic participation. She develops creative opportunities for her students, especially young girls, to flex their leadership muscles through social projects. In doing so, she builds their confidence, self-efficacy, and problem-solving skills. Miren equips her students to actively shape their futures and their communities despite obstacles in their way.

One of Miren’s projects encouraged students to begin upcycling: transforming oft-discarded items into new and useful material. Students discovered that they could turn fruit peels and vegetable scraps into animal feed for local farms. This upcycling process both reduces waste and prevents decaying food from emitting greenhouse gases. It is also cost-effective for local farmers.

Miren’s emphasis on hands-on learning stems from her years of participation in EF’s teacher trainings. EF’s tailored online trainings help educators foster healthy learning environments and invest in their own career development. Miren most recently joined 29 other teachers in a course on encouraging youth-led initiatives. Educators teamed up with local organizations to encourage youth civic leadership through caring for the natural world, with projects like Miren’s upcycling initiative.

The upcycling project was wide-reaching. Students compiled videos, pictures, and slides from Miren’s course into a summary to share easily across social media. One teenage girl, Amaya, even launched a WhatsApp group to pass on her knowledge to 15 peers—and others quickly followed her lead. By the course’s end, more than 20 parents were upcycling as well.

“I’ve grown so used to the upcycling process now that I feel like something is missing if I do not upcycle my family’s food waste,” said one parent.

Over 250 people attended the course’s end-of-term celebration. Students exhibited their projects at a booth to answer the community’s questions and increase awareness about the importance of upcycling food waste. Numerous community leaders joined the celebration, including the deputy general, the head of the school district, and representatives from the education department.

When a nearby teachers’ network asked Miren to replicate her course for dozens of educators, she saw an opportunity to build her students’ confidence and skills yet again. Miren turned leadership of the new course over to Amaya, the teen girl who had launched her own environmental group on WhatsApp.

With ongoing coaching from EF and her teacher, Amaya led a series of virtual trainings for 70 educators. She created course content and wove lessons from her own experience as a budding environmentalist into each session. Through her insight, teachers learned how best to involve their pupils in environmental stewardship and proactive civic life. As these teachers kickstarted environmental projects in their own classrooms, Amaya’s lessons touched the lives of approximately 1,400 students.

“Just 20 years ago in this region, this level of students’ engagement in their education and local issues was nearly unheard of, particularly for girls,” said EF’s technical manager. “This new generation is taking their future prosperity into their own hands.”

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The “Equal Rights for Suburban Areas” campaign is dedicated to raising awareness about the living conditions in Semey’s under-resourced suburbs. These include a lack of clean drinking water, poor public transport, limited leisure opportunities or sports grounds for children, inadequate lighting, and contaminated natural areas. The team behind the campaign highlights these and other issues on their YouTube channel, which is maintained with SICA backing. To date, their videos have gained more than 250,000 views on YouTube.

“Our main weapon is raising awareness in the media. The popularity of our YouTube channel and wide media coverage of the project in general prompted us to understand that one can really achieve change with the help of the media. So many people got involved [with our project], there are so many ‘likes’ and ‘shares.’ This is the real reason why government officials cannot ignore us or what we do. They fear discontentment of the citizens,” says Khadisha.

As part of the awareness campaign, Khadisha’s team has organized several public meetings with local government officials. With SICA support, the team also conducted several public workshops on state budget allocation research and social media campaign strategies. “As part of this initiative, we want to grow a cohort of watchdogs who know how to tackle corruption in the field of public spending and conduct public awareness campaigns,” she explains.

Dirty water has been a primary concern of Voskhod and Vodny villages for several decades. Some villagers have developed kidney stones due to contaminated well water. On February 22, 2022, as a result of the media campaign and public meetings with the officials, the town administration installed a standpipe with drinking water at the junction of Voskhod and Vodny villages. “Even though one standpipe is not enough for two villages, this is the first real change [we have managed to achieve],” says Khadisha.

Another major win for the team was the addition of a bus between Semey and Voskhod village. Prior to the campaign, the bus circulated every two hours. With the new bus in operation, people’s waiting time will be shortened significantly.

According to Khadisha, these villages are neglected by authorities for several reasons. The town administration does not include the villages when allocating funds for infrastructure development. Furthermore, the villagers are not fully aware of their own rights. Indeed, even leaders dealing with this issue may not know how to effectively interact with government bodies to ensure their voices are heard.

“Our long-term priority is to scale up the project and launch a movement to improve the quality of life of the residents of [all of] Kazakhstan’s suburban areas,” says Khadisha. “This project helped us gain invaluable experience and we hope we can pass it on to groups in other cities.”

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