To help women develop their inner potential, skills in running their own sewing business, as well as to create new jobs, have become priorities of "Shursuv” community in Uzbekistan district and “Durmon” community in the Kushtepa district. Both districts are located in the Fergana region.

 

Trainings and material assistance to achieve these goals were provided by the EU/UNDP-funded “Enhancement of Living Standards” Project.

 

Realizing that in this context, the main thing is a good sewing machine-, the project purchased 20 sewing machines and other necessary equipment, totaling approximately 22.3 million sum. Celebrations to mark the launch of the sewing workshops took place on May 5, 2011.

 

Sewing is one of the traditional female occupations in Uzbekistan. Through mastering this craft, one can create unusual images to help people find their own style. In addition, a seamstress will never stay workless - customers will always line-up,. This  is very important  to ensure a stable family income.

 

Benefits from these initiatives are tangible for rural residents too, because the clothing from a neighboring seamstress is much cheaper than buying ready-made clothes in a shop or market, which are also possibly distant.

 

The successful achievements of women in this business are   epitomized by the participation of Kushtepa district representatives to the annual Republican festival of best entrepreneurs “Tashabbus-2011”. There, Kodirova Komilahon, who is a member of the initiative group, was awarded a 1st-Grade Diploma in the "Best entrepreneur" nomination in Kushtepa district, as well as a Winner diploma at the regional level.

The representative of the district branch of the Association of Business Women of Uzbekistan Bakhromova Dilorom sees an opportunity to teach young girls sewing skills as a guarantee of a stable income in the future. "If 10 girls will learn the craft and each of them trains other 10 girls, it could be an effective way to fight unemployment," - she said.

 

Odiljon Ummatov, Deputy Khokim of Uzbekistan district says: "although the money equivalent of the ELS share contribution is about 45%, the project provided really invaluable help, because through theses trainings people understand the importance of joining efforts to develop their own community."