“I had a dream. I have so many other dreams. Now one dream came into reality. After many years of dreaming to own a business it came true! I am Sarvinoz Rakhmonova, a head of new sewing workshop “Sarvinoz-Shaydogul” in my hometown Khiyobon village located in Yakkabog district in Kashkadarya region”.

Sarvinoz comes from a big family with many talents. She studied in Banking college; in parallel she took different vocational courses, such as computer literacy, sewing and cooking. Before she has received UNDP grant, she had one sewing machine and sewed on an individual basis.

"Promoting Youth Employment in Uzbekistan" is a joint project of UNDP and the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations implemented with financial support from the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Japan. In total, the project has provided 323 units of modern types of sewing and IT equipment, furniture and machinery for a total of 1,176,940,669 sum to 34 young entrepreneurs (21 or 61.7% of which are women) from Andijan, Namangan, Jizzakh, Navoi, Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions.

During the COVID 19 pandemic, as noted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, women suffered more in the labor market than men. To put gender equality at the centre of its response and recovery efforts in crisis and fragility contexts, on 29 April 2021, representatives of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan and UNDP handed over equipment to entrepreneurs of small and medium-sized businesses procured under the project funded by the Governments of Russia and Japan to launch new businesses and/or expand existing business projects, boost new jobs, especially for women and  youth and contribute to poverty eradication.

Overall, 42 units of business equipment were given on a non-reimbursable basis to five entrepreneurs, including three women, aiming to boost entrepreneurial initiatives in the Kashkadarya region. Thanks to this equipment, 26 new jobs were created for women and youth in this region, while and 31 women and youth representatives had an opportunity to study modern professions, including IT and develop entrepreneurship skills. 

It is worth noting that the entrepreneurs were selected on a competitive basis and completed a four-week online training course on the basics of entrepreneurship, marketing, financial management and soft skills.

“The UNDP Youth Employment project encouraged me to open my own sewing workshop. I would never think that I can have my own business as I am young and amateur. Thanks to the project I learnt to do marketing, design, write business proposals. When I was selected as a grantee, I started believing in myself! Moreover, I work with five women who work in my sewing workshop. The garments sewn by my seamstresses have become popular. I have expanded my business to Tashkent, Urgut, Shakhrisabz, Kitab and Yakkabog markets”, said Sarvinoz.

Sarvinoz now plans to employ even more women after the completion of the construction of a sewing workshop for producing elite curtains and military uniforms.

"I have been unemployed for a long time," says Gulshoda Ashurova, one of the employees. "But now, I was granted a chance to harness a new skill. Sarvinoz shines and shares her enthusiasm and energy that also give me a hope for a brighter future! I am grateful to the organizers for such an opportunity."

During the conversation with project staff Sarvinoz shared her enthusiasm: “I have so many plans!  I want to expand my garment business; I want to employ more women; I want to share them the knowledge I got through this project. During the trainings organized by UNDP, I understood one thing – investing in young women and youth can boost the local economy”.

“I know more dreams will come true!”  

The local women and youth are facing a variety of challenges, and poverty is one of the most urgent issues in the region. As Sarvinoz expresses, skill development is considered as an effective and sustainable solution for the poverty problem since people can commence or expand their business, resulting in stable income in the end. Moreover, success models can encourage other local women and youth giving hopes and aspirations. Improvement in one’s capacity can lead to the development of the community’s capacity. Through the project, more and more hopeful locals pursue their goals and are expected to make a difference beyond the region. As said by Mother Teresa “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”, there is a hope that Sarvinoz’s success will create many ‘ripples’ in her community in the future.