The winners of the 2017 "Zharkyra" contest were declared

A ceremony of awarding certificates to the authors of the best projects in social entrepreneurship was conducted on the June 23 in Atyrau, as the part of the "Zharkyra" program. It was implemented by the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia with the financial support of Tengizchevroil. 

On Мay 31 and June 1, 2017, 25 semi-finalists presented their social projects to the Expert Committee, which selected 6 projects for financial support in the form of an interest-free loan for 3 years. The total grant Fund of the Program "Zharkyra" is 19 500 000 tenge. Among the winners one startup and 5 active projects of Atyrau and Zhylyoi district. 

"Accidentally being on the Kurultai of social entrepreneurs, I could not imagine how much I would get involved in this atmosphere of kindness, positive, new knowledge, good and noble deeds. It always seemed that I was doing what I loved, but here I learned that I am a social entrepreneur actually.

"Thanks to the project, I met many people with whom it is very interesting to communicate, who can and need to learn a lot, who have such great goals and a great soul and heart, ready to make good to people. I believe that our acquaintance with the Zharkyra Project and with all who are involved, is not accidental. We will be able to work together for the benefit of people, and every year there will be more and more like-minded people. Huge thanks to all of the organizers of the project!!!"

"It is a great honor and responsibility for me, and, of course, a great joy and happiness to get the highest scores on both projects. I believe that I have been given a credit of trust, which I undertake and continue to move forward for the sake of development, education and the formation of our younger generation," says the finalist of the project Sharbat Bisalieva.

The Advisory Committee included representatives of LLP "Tengizchevroil", the Fund "Our future" (Russia), local businesses and the EFCA. The selection of the best projects was carried out according to the following criteria: the social significance of the ideas of the project; the effectiveness of the proposed solutions; the sustainability of the project; the credibility of the presentation and leadership skills.

The winners are:

1) Sharbat Bisalieva with the project "Children's music-show theatre "Tansari". Children from 4 to 16 years in 9 directions are trained in the theater; its feature is the interconnection of the storyline of classes of all sections;

2) Sharbat Bisalieva with the project for break time with International School IGul. Thanks to the project, students of 1-4 grades of secondary schools will be able to gain additional knowledge, help with homework, attend sports and creative hobby groups outside school time. The project will provide services of transportation, food, additional education and development, leisure activities for primary school students; 

3) Azilkhan Baibatyrov with the project "Collection and processing of plastic waste". The project is aimed at improving the environment and environmental education of residents. Azilhan plans to organize the collection of plastic waste in residential districts of the city of Atyrau, and in the future to produce from the collected plastic building materials for the improvement of city streets - including paving slabs; 

4) Balbike Kunbaeva with the project "the Fitness center and dance school". Fitness center "Erke Nur", helps residents of Kulsary to maintain physical shape and if necessary, lose weight. The Ushar School of Dance helps to reveal the potential, strengthen the physical and emotional health of children and adolescents; its students are the winners of dance competitions;

5) Irina Neibart with the project "Rehabilitation of women after prison". The concept of the project provides for the opening of a shop in Atyrau for the production of women's and children's clothing, where former convicted women will work, which will help them better adapt to life outside the colony; 

6) Nursultan Medetov with the project "school of arts "Virtuoso". The project is aimed at developing the spiritual, creative and cultural potential of the population of Atyrau; providing jobs for graduates and students of the Music College and the music faculty of the Pedagogical University, as well as practice for students of these educational institutions; training of children from low-income families and children with disabilities at affordable prices;

Program "Zharkyra" that aims to support social entrepreneurship (SP) in Atyrau city and other regions is implemented by EFCA with the financial support of Tengizchevroil on social investment projects. SP is a business with a social mission that helps society to solve urgent problems in an innovative way. Within the Zharkyra Program provides the whole cycle of support to SP: selection of applications, trainings, competition to obtain funding for projects and mentoring.