UNDP helped set up the lab with equipment and training. Three rounds of participants, 28 women each — mostly from tourism and crafts sectors — joined the program. The coworking space is equipped with laptops, office tools, a projector, screen, and modular furniture. It serves not only as a place for learning and production, but also as a safe environment for women to exchange ideas and build confidence.

At the lab, participants study pricing, marketing, gender equality, legal rights, digital tools, and communication skills. For Akylyima, the experience was a turning point. She drafted a business plan, found support, and realized her hobby could become a source of income. A friend lent her sewing machines, and later her children helped buy new equipment from Bishkek. She set up a small workshop in one room of her house and got to work.

The training helped her calculate costs, organize orders, and promote her products using social media. Soon, three other women from the lab joined her. Together, they began producing traditional-style items: belts, vests, blankets, cushions, and patchwork pieces. Akylyima is involved at every stage — from design and cutting to sewing and selling.

She’s now working on a new collection of classic skirts with Kyrgyz patterns, designed to pair with modern clothing — a style that has gained traction among women in government offices. She also completed an online course on pattern making, which improved product quality and helped expand the product line.