During the period of 2022-2023, the project "Digital Aiymdar" was successfully implemented, covering the Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Batken regions. The main goal of this project is to enhance the economic opportunities and rights of women in these regions by improving their information, digital, leadership, and communication skills. Over the course of a year, 180 women aged 15 to 34, enrolled in the project, received training in information and digital courses of their choice. As a result, in addition to IT and digital technology courses, 180 women from the three regions were able to enhance their qualifications by participating in specialized training on leadership and communication. Today, 50% of the 180 women who participated in the project are employed.

We share the stories of the participants of the "Digital Aiymdar" project. 

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Elgiza, 32 years old, is a mother of four children and a budding entrepreneur. Like many women in Kyrgyzstan, she got married immediately after graduating from university. She dedicated all her time to her family and raising her children. However, Elgiza never gave up her favorite hobbies - sewing, embroidery, and painting.

"The time spent with a needle and thread became my special corner of the world, where I could express my individuality and bring my creative ideas to life," she says.

Elgiza always wanted to develop herself and thought about how to turn her hobby into a source of income. Her motivation grew even stronger after her third daughter was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis.

"Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition characterized by dryness, itching, and inflammation. As parents, we were very concerned about our daughter's health and consulted many doctors. Medical professionals advised us to avoid using synthetic clothing and recommended wearing only 100% cotton materials. They warned that using synthetic fabrics could negatively affect the skin condition and worsen the disease. As a result, I began to search for suitable fabric and discovered that muslin was the perfect material for people suffering from atopic dermatitis."

Muslin clothing proved to be too expensive for Elgiza's family, so she decided to sew such clothing for her children herself. After her acquaintances saw the clothes she had made for her children, they started asking where they could buy similar items, and soon Elgiza received her first orders for custom-made clothing. However, she realized that she needed to expand her small business, as this niche was untapped, yet there was a high demand for clothing made from such material. She decided to start selling her products online. To do this, she needed to acquire skills in creating attractive photos and videos, as well as digital marketing. All of this required significant financial resources, which her family did not have.

It was at this moment that she noticed an announcement on the UNDP page about the launch of the "Sanarip Ayimdar" project and filled out an application, choosing the course in mobile photography. With the knowledge and skills she gained, Elgiza began creating photos and videos of her products, which helped her with promotion on social media. 

"I started receiving large orders, including from Russia, Moscow, and I took the next important step in my entrepreneurial career - opening my own workshop where I can produce my clothing and manage the entire process. I am very proud of what I have achieved. In any situation, you have to learn from your experiences, work hard, and strive for success." 

The #digitalaiymdar project is implemented by the NGO "Youth of Osh" within the framework of the UNDP project with the financial support of the Russian Federation