TEDxTokombaevSt 2021

Dear AUCA Community and our Friends!

We are thrilled to present to you TEDxTokombaevSt!

This project was directed by Bermet Talasbek kyzy, MBA Manager at School of Entrepreneurship and Business Administration, and supported by the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic.

TEDxTokombaevSt explores topics of gender issues, women empowerment, and women’s influence on social and economic matters in our community. It aims to continue a community-based dialogue on women’s rights and issues not only in urban cities but also in rural areas. The event features six extraordinary speakers from different regions of Kyrgyzstan with backgrounds in sports, entrepreneurship, and education:

Aidana Otorbaeva, Professional soccer player

Gulnaz Zhuzbaeva, Founder of the Kyrgyz Federation of the Blind

Gulzada Musabekova, Entrepreneur

Kanykei Bazieva, An aspiring computer scientist

Meergul Karakozueva, Entrepreneur

Meerim Osmonalieva, Director of Oasis Fund

Unfortunately, pandemic restrictions did not allow us to host a big audience, however, we invite you to explore the performances on TEDx Youtube channel.

Aidana Otorbaeva

Professional soccer player, volunteer

Aidana is a professional soccer player, certified coach, and founder of the “MAESTRO” soccer school and Football for All project. Aidana is an inspiring role model for young girls who wish to pursue a career in professional sports. She has helped organize a sports camp for children with disabilities from all regions of Kyrgyzstan, as well as engaged in fundraising and volunteer efforts. International Federation of Professional Footballers awarded her special recognition for her volunteer efforts during the pandemic with the FIFPRO Hero Award.

How to make soccer more inclusive to girls and women

Aidana Otorbaeva shares her story of building a career in professional women’s soccer: prejudice, stereotypes and success. She talks about initiatives that are promoting more inclusive soccer to help young players to achieve heights in sports.

Gulnaz Zhuzbaeva

Founder of the Kyrgyz Federation of the Blind, activist, BBC 100 Women 2020

Gulnaz is the founder the of the Kyrgyz Federation of the Blind. She is an advocate for inclusivity and the rights of people with disabilities. After completing courses for the visually impaired in the United States, Gulnaz launched an educational program for people with vision impairments in Kyrgyzstan. The program equips people with skills to use smartphones and computers, read Braille, learn languages, and navigate around cities independently. In 2020, Gulnaz was included in the BBC’s list of 100 influential and inspiring women in recognition of her outstanding contributions in helping people with vision impairments.

Giving people with disabilities a full and independent life

In this talk Gulnaz Zhuzbaeva is talking about changing lives of the blind and people with vision impairment in Kyrgyzstan. Specialized educational program of Gulnaz and her team addresses difficulties people with disabilities face and equips them with skills and knowledge to live a full and independent life.

Gulzada Musabekova

Entrepreneur and local community activist

Gulzada is a co-founder of “KulturCafe” and a local bakery “Tot Samiy Tort” in Naryn city. Gulzada and her team organize events for the local community, including marathons and a book club for literature and poetry enthusiasts. Gulzada draws inspiration for her projects from her own diverse life experience, which includes working as a foreign language instructor and volunteering in Germany.

Empowering female social entrepreneurs to develop rural areas

Gulzada Musabekova discusses the importance of development of rural areas of Kyrgyzstan and how the female social entrepreneurship project in Naryn city is addressing this issue. She highlights that women play a key role in building a family and society, and calls for more freedom and active participation of women in community development through entrepreneurship.

Kanykei Bazieva

Student, volunteer, and aspiring computer scientist

Kanykei is a second year computer science student at the American University of Central Asia and a TechGirls Program alumna. Born in the small city of Kyzyl Kiya in Batken with limited access to good education, Kanykei made it her mission to create educational and personal development opportunities for herself and others. In particular, Kanykei promotes initiatives and projects that create opportunities for children and women in the IT sector.

Girls can be dreamers too: profession stereotypes, perceptions

Kanykei Bazieva, aspiring computer scientist, raises a question of gender bias girls face in Kyrgyzstan. When making a choice in education or career, for example, girls pursuing a career in IT, young women often face judgement from family members to pick a profession more fit for women.

Meergul Karakozueva

Entrepreneur, mentor

Meergul is an entrepreneur, the founder of Konok Center hostel and Art Hotel in Osh city. She overcame challenges related to a hearing impediment to achieve success in the hospitality and tourism sector. In 2016, she participated in Global Entrepreneurship Summit in the United States, which inspired her to share her knowledge, and support and mentor women with disabilities and in tough circumstances.

Building a successful business despite of hearing impairment

Despite her hearing impairment, Meergul Karakozueva has built successful businesses in hospitality. She shares her story of ups and downs, mistakes and failures along the way. She outlines and discusses the necessary steps to provide support and mentorship for people with disabilities and encourage them to try themselves in entrepreneurship.

Meerim Osmonalieva

Founder of Chess Academy, Director of Oasis Fund

Meerim is the director of the Oasis Fund in Kyrgyzstan and the founder of the educational center “Chess Academy”. Through her work with the Oasis Fund, Meerim studies issues of vulnerable and marginalized youth and women in Kyrgyzstan. Her research covers human trafficking, access to education, and social integration. She has launched numerous programs across the country to educate, support, and socially integrate vulnerable and marginalized youth and women. For example, she launched the “Bilim Belek” crowdfunding initiative to improve educational opportunities for children left without parental care.

Investment in education: how it affects the vulnerable youth

In this talk Meerim Osmonalieva addresses the issue of education, particularly, education of vulnerable youth- the children left without parental care, and how it affects development. Meerim discusses the negative effect of lack of investment into education and social problems it causes. She proposes necessary steps and initiatives to change the current state of education quality and infrastructure in rural areas and to offer the same opportunities for youth across the country. Meerim is the director of the Oasis Fund in Kyrgyzstan and the founder of the educational center “Chess Academy”. Through her work with the Oasis Fund, Meerim studies issues of vulnerable and marginalized youth and women in Kyrgyzstan. Her research covers human trafficking, access to education, and social integration.