Improving economic development and supporting conflict-affected women and students in southern Kyrgyzstan by creating informal bakeries and setting up small businesses.

Women affected by the violence that took place in Osh and Jalalabad in June 2010 continue to be in urgent need of economic and psychosocial support. Ongoing instability and volatility continues to restrict their opportunities for gaining access to income-generating activities, or establishing sustainable livelihoods.

In response to these challenges, with support from the Swiss Cooperation Office and in partnership with the Rural Advisory Service and Bio Service Public Foundation, ACTED has set up three women bakeries in conflict-affected areas. These centers employed women on a temporary basis to produce sweet bread rolls that were distributed to school students. To ensure their long term viability, ACTED further set up business groups.

Gulruh was born in Osh, the main city in southern Kyrgyzstan. She is married and has four children. When Gulruh was very young she had always dreamed to go to Paris. She even went to a special school that offered French language lessons. That dream had been living with her for many years until the violent conflict erupted in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010. Now she is only thinking about her children and the well-being of her family. Sitting in a sewing workshop, she reminisces what happened since the events.

Bread for peace

Gulruh heard of the job announcement at the bakery center through local community leaders. It was the right time for her as she did not have a job, and was willing to earn her family’s crust by producing korjiks (typical sweet bread rolls in Kyrgyzstan). As such, the three women bakeries in Osh and Jalalabad brought together women from various communities and backgrounds in the production of sweet bread rolls. In total, ACTED provided temporary employment to 210 vulnerable women. The centers allowed conflict-affected women who were selected on the basis of their socio-economic vulnerability to be employed for 10 working days under ACTED’s Cash for Work program. In addition, this contributed to the development of a peaceful dialogue between communities, as women had the opportunity to forge friendships and work together towards the achievement of a common goal.

Together, these women produced sweet bread rolls with approximately 800 bread rolls per day in each centre. Gulruh recalls “I enjoyed working at the women bakery center, the salary was good. After winter with no access to economic opportunities this was what we needed. Working conditions were also good with proper equipment and I learnt how to make sweet bread rolls!”

The baked bread rolls were then provided to conflict-affected and vulnerable middle school students to reduce their exposure to food insecurity. In total, over 166,000 bread rolls were distributed to approximately 3,200 students. Between February and May, students from 15 schools in Osh and Jalalabad were receiving bread rolls. Gulruh’s son, Muhamadili, studies in School #22 in Osh. Every day he was receiving bread rolls baked at women centers, perhaps, even the ones made by his mother.

Providing conflict-affected women with business support

All Cash for Work beneficiaries from the women centers that produced jarred foods, winter non-food items and bread rolls were invited to apply for business support. After Gulruh got to know about this opportunity she was excited to start her own sewing business and formed a group of five women interested in opening a small business. “I am a leader of this group. I used to sew before in my own small workshop at home, but after crisis the house and all machines were burnt. It was a good opportunity for me to restart a small business but also for two group members who are single mothers” said Gulruh. Together they developed their business plan and were selected.

Their group was provided with sewing machines and received two specialized trainings on their business type and one training on business planning and management. “During trainings I learned how to sew dresses, pants, curtains, how to develop own capital, how to manage the business; we were engaged in practical lessons” pointed out Gulruh.

Gulruh now has a smile on her face and is excited about her future plans. “At the moment we sew dresses, pants and curtains but we already realize that we can diversify our products and expand our business. I think we are successful because we set moderate prices and offer good quality for things we sew. At least our customers keep us busy. I used to sleep in the morning and now I have an interest that drives me, I have work to do in the mornings!” she laughs.” Maybe now Gulruh will start dreaming about Paris again.