Taking Our Lives into Our Hands Project: Interview with A. Sabyrbekova

20.04.2023 14:11

Within the period from February this year to December 31, 2025, the project "Taking Our Lives into Our Hands" will be implemented in the Beshik-Jon rural district in Bazar-Korgon district with the support of the US International organization ELCA.

The initiator of the project is the Women's Public Union Erayim. We received information from project coordinator Ms Altynai Sabyrbekova about the project, its goals and main components.

- Ms Sabyrbekova, first of all, what is the purpose of this project?

- The project "Taking Our Lives into Our Hands" helps to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people, women living in 4 villages of the Kyrgyz Republic. The districts covered by the project are the Toguz-Bulak rural district of Issyk-Kul oblast, Chaek rural district of Naryn oblast, Mady rural district of Osh oblast and Beshik-Zhon rural district of Jalal-Abad oblast. The aim of the project is to improve conditions for women's entrepreneurship and introduce sustainable agricultural practices. To improve knowledge and skills in the project area on rational use of water resources, organic fertilizers and sustainable management of organic waste. Establish a community-based support system (CBSS) to address the social problems of women and vulnerable groups.

- Of course, there are big goals ahead. What actions will be taken to realize it?

- At the beginning of the project training courses will be held. Any resident of rural areas can take part in them. During these trainings, the stakeholders will be identified. There are four self-help groups in the village of Beshik-Jon, of which more than forty women are members. First of all, we will try to involve members of these groups in the project. After all, they have solved a number of social problems in the village and are trying to solve them in a positive way in cooperation with local authorities. In doing so, they participate in a number of trainings. After that, demonstration plots and farmer clubs will be established. After these activities, the groups can submit business projects for technical support. Technical support will be attracted to the village through cooperation with groups that have successfully submitted a project using the knowledge gained from the training courses. All this will be carried out by specialists of the organization that launched the project.

- Could you tell us more about these activities?

Conduct business development and entrepreneurship training courses for SHG members, a 3-day training for 15 participants;
Conduct a Participatory Assessment of Climate and Disaster Risks (PACDR) in project areas using the PACDR tool, a 3-day training for 15 participants;
Combating Desertification, a 1-day training for 15 participants;
Production of organic fertilizers (biohumus) and organic composts, a 1-day training for 15 participants;
Installation of drip irrigation system, 2-day training for 10 participants;
Formal and informal training to strengthen the capacity of SHGs;
5-day training on mediation;
1-day training on psychology.

- Practical work will only begin after this ongoing training?

- Yes, education is required before any work. If there is knowledge and information, a wide path to achieving the goal will open up. Based on the results of the training, activists will open a "Farmer's Club" in the project area. The Rural Farmers Club is designed to promote efficient farming in rural areas, proper use of water and the production of organic fertilizers and compost. It also aims at counseling the villagers.

- From our observation, they rush to get grants as soon as the training starts.

- Right, as soon as I started giving information about the project, I asked: "How can we get the money?", "Who will get the grant?", "I wanted to do something like this, how much money will be spent on it?" they start asking questions like They don't consider how many steps there are to go through before it is time to get the grant. So we explain that we need to establish a permanent group first, and then we can begin the main target task. In this project, grant applications are submitted on behalf of the SHGs. The size of the technical grant is 1,300 USD or 113,646 soms. SHG members are required to contribute 30 percent of their contribution to the grant. Real business ideas are supported. Support for technical grants is provided in the project area and the Grant is awarded by the decision of the committee. Grantee groups must use the funds in a targeted manner and strive to further develop their business and activities.

- Certainly, this is an interesting project. At the end of the day, rural women are beginning to realize that the good life is in their own hands. Good luck with the project. Thank you for the interview.