“ I feel
I am the lucky one having the chance to attend this training .”
For these poor families , having as many sources of income as possible is essential . But often women struggle to find jobs , and when they do , they often earn only a fraction of what men make . Many have marketable skills such as cooking , knitting , and sewing that could be used to make money . What they lack , however , is the knowledge , training , and experience needed to transform those skills into profitable businesses .
PROVIDING CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE TO ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS
The ASPIRE program was launched by the Central Asia Institute Tajikistan ( CAIT ) in 2019 to provide the women of the GBAO region with the business know-how they need to generate income from the traditional skills they already possess . ASPIRE uses curricula and trainers from the University of Central Asia to create entrepreneurship modules in subjects such as accounting , sales , business management , and finance . It then offers a 10-day workshop to 25 to 30 female participants , teaching them things like how to design a business plan , create a budget , analyze markets , and perform basic accounting . ASPIRE also connects these women to national women ’ s business associations , introduces them to potential mentors , and shows them how to apply for loans .
In just a few short years , ASPIRE has already had a big impact on these aspiring female entrepreneurs , as well as their families and communities . Here are just a few examples of some of the women whose lives were changed by CAIT ’ s groundbreaking program .
GAINING VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE , THEN PASSING IT ON TO OTHERS
Fakhriya Dovutova , who lives in Porshenev village of the Shugnan district , attended university but could not find work after graduating . “ I was jobless and sitting at home ,” she said . “ It was hard to find money to get necessary things and food for my child .”
So she decided to start a business sewing and selling dresses to her friends and neighbors . “ I became popular ,” she explained . But when she took out a loan to expand her business , she realized that she lacked the financial literacy she needed to ensure her success .
Fakhriya asked her friends if they knew of any business courses she could take . She later got a call from a staff member at the Women Affairs Committee , telling her about ASPIRE ’ s 10-day workshop . “ I was not sure about doing it because I was very busy with sewing ,” she said . But after attending the first day , she decided to stay for the entire workshop .
“ I feel I am the lucky one having the chance to attend this training . I learned how to plan my family budget , daily calculation of money and income , managing money , and saving money ,” said Fakhriya . “ The training changed my life .”
Just one month after the workshop , Fakhriya hired two women to help with her business . “ I am teaching sewing skills and sharing knowledge with the ladies to make them successful like me ,” she said . Her intention is to make sure the benefits of ASPIRE ’ s training don ’ t end with her . “ My plan is to open my own sewing workshop and involve more housewives .”
AN ASPIRING BAKER MEETS THE DEMAND FOR BREAD IN HER VILLAGE
Zarnisso is a mother of four children who was struggling to make ends meet after her husband went to Russia to find work . Things got very difficult during the pandemic because her husband wasn ’ t able to send money home . Zarnisso went to Russia herself to try to make money but couldn ’ t bear to leave her kids at home alone . “ Life was hard ,” she remembered .
Zarnisso knew that she had many skills that could be lucrative — including sewing , knitting , baking , cooking , and gardening — but she didn ’ t have the
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