To empower youth, build a pipeline of entrepreneurs, and promote a culture of entrepreneurship, Local Impact, funded by USAID and AKF, designed and piloted the Youth Entrepreneurship and Employability Skills (YES) program in 2021 in Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. Following a successful pilot, the program was scaled up in 2022.
The YES program seeks to promote job readiness, employment, and self-employment of adolescents and youth across target geographies, in partnership with government schools, civil society and the private sector. The overarching objective of YES is to enhance 21st century knowledge and skills, including financial and digital literacy, leadership, critical thinking, empathy, and decision making.
The stories of Benazir and Ayana below illustrate the diverse journeys participants have taken to enroll in the program and the new opportunities that have emerged as a result of their newly acquired skills and competencies.
Benazir
Leaving her career as a computer science teacher to raise her four children, Benazir from the remote Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) of Tajikistan felt the growing need to support her family in the face of economic hardship. Inspired by the lack of basic amenities in her neighborhood, she and her husband, who was also unemployed at that time, took a bold step and opened a small grocery shop in 2020. This venture not only provided essential goods but also became a lifeline for their family during tough times.
“Living in a remote town like Khorugh, GBAO does not provide many opportunities in terms of employment, so people tend to leave their home country and migrate. We wanted to stay and were pushing to find ways to grow.”
Driven by a newfound entrepreneurial spirit after opening a small grocery shop, Benazir heard about an opportunity with the YES program and applied.
In 2023 through dedicated study and mentorship, Benazir gained invaluable knowledge in business management, financial literacy, communication skills and the art of starting small businesses.
“After every session, I came home to share my knowledge with my husband with great enthusiasm,” Benazir recalls with determination.
To support females, YES has increased the number of female guest speakers, including entrepreneurs, HR leaders, using young female mentors for one-on-one support with resume preparation and in some cases, accommodating young mothers with children. The most successful youth graduates had an opportunity to secure a seed grant and mentorship to launch their new venture.
And that was the case with Benazir. After completion of the two-week program equipped with newfound confidence, Benazir presented her business idea: a neighborhood café offering everything from hot dogs and ice cream to tea and lemonade. Her proposal resonated deeply, earning her a small grant that provided essential equipment like chairs, tables, refrigerator, microwave, and umbrellas.
“My happiness was beyond measure. Providing this great opportunity for me with the project was a true blessing for me and my family.”
Benazir reflected gratefully.
Today, Benazir’s café is known not just for its delicious offerings but also for the warmth and community spirit it embodies. Benazir plans to expand her small café and make it bigger so that it functions during the cold winter as well and to accept more customers. Although her husband supports her with running her cafe, Benazir wants to employ people like her.
From humble beginnings, Benazir’s café has blossomed into a thriving business, providing not only a steady income for her family but also a sense of pride and inspiration for her children and community.
Ayana
For two and a half years, Ayana Obdunova honed her skills as a hairdresser and makeup artist at several beauty salons in Osh. One day, Ayana’s mother noticed a social media post promoting the YES program, designed to support aspiring entrepreneurs through specialized training. Driven by her passion for learning and a clear vision for her future business, Ayana submitted her application.
“There are very few professional courses available in our city where young people like us can learn designing and managing business, but these training sessions were exactly the help we needed,”
Ayana gratefully acknowledges.
Ayana completed intensive business fundamentals training through the ‘YES’ program, conducted in collaboration with Osh State University. Out of 31 participants, she secured second place by impressing the selection committee with her business idea. Top graduates received seed funding and ongoing mentorship to kickstart their ventures. Ayana seized this opportunity wholeheartedly. Empowered by her newfound confidence, she presented her vision: a full-service beauty salon offering a range of services from hair styling to professional makeup. Her proposal resonated deeply and secured a crucial grant, enabling her to procure essential equipment such as chairs, tables, mirrors, and professional tools.
“Today, most young people leave for labor migration, seeking opportunities elsewhere, but I wanted to develop and grow right here in my hometown, where there are opportunities waiting to be seized,”
Ayana reflects.
Today, Ayana’s salon has evolved beyond just a beauty hub; it’s become a beloved community center where women gather to pamper themselves amidst a warm and inviting atmosphere. “We come here not just for beauty, but for connections and shared experiences,” one client remarks.
Ayana’s salon has six employees. She provides them with the opportunity to work, ensuring a stable income and support.
Twenty-year-old employee Elnura Muratkyzy was actively looking for a job to support her parents. Initially considering opportunities abroad, upon hearing that Ayana was opening a beauty salon, she was delighted to remain in Osh and join the team, allowing her to stay close to her family.
“It was important for me to stay close to my family, and thanks to Ayana, I found a job that allows me to do that,”
says Elnura.
Despite being recently established, Ayana’s salon has quickly attracted a loyal clientele, providing a stable income for her family and her employees, and inspiring pride and motivation among her team and community. For Ayana, launching the salon was more than fulfilling her lifelong dream; it was about demonstrating how determined entrepreneurs can thrive, supported by initiatives like YES. Her journey serves as an inspiring example for aspiring business owners in Osh and beyond.
Looking ahead, Ayana remains steadfast and committed to continuous learning. She is determined to further develop her business acumen and expand her venture, aspiring to achieve even greater success.
Since its inception, the YES program has empowered 1,605 individuals in Tajikistan (695) and Kyrgyzstan (910); 66% of participants have been women. Among these participants, 262 graduates (161 in Tajikistan and 101 in Kyrgyzstan) have received small grants to start their own businesses. Equipment and other materials worth a total of $501,521 was disbursed among the grantees in Tajikistan ($267,581) and Kyrgyzstan ($233,940).
The midterm surveys for the YES program reveal significant progress and positive outcomes in both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. In Tajikistan, 60% of adolescents and youth who participated in YES Bootcamps shifted their perceptions towards more futuristic career paths, while in Kyrgyzstan, the figure stands at 53%. Additionally, 42% of marginalized youth in Tajikistan and 98% in Kyrgyzstan reported improved skills due to entrepreneurship training. Moreover, 60.8% of young women and men in Tajikistan and 71% in Kyrgyzstan indicated that YES trainings enhanced their knowledge, which they subsequently applied to earn income. Furthermore, 83% of youth in Tajikistan and 93% in Kyrgyzstan expressed increased confidence in their economic future.
Local Impact
Local Impact is a multi-year, multi-sector, and multi-country global partnership between AKF and USAID. Through Local Impact, AKF and USAID work with marginalized and vulnerable communities to: (1) catalyze inclusive economic growth and ensure basic livelihoods; (2) enhance infrastructure and access to basic services with a focus on clean energy; (3) enhance the capacity of citizens and local institutions; and (4) promote pluralism and social cohesion.