We are changing villagers’ lives for the better

Often, local residents expect large companies operating in the region to provide them with jobs. The ERSAI CASPIAN CONTRACTOR Engineering and Construction Company, however, cannot meet the needs of all residents of the village of Kuryk, so it decided to create alternative jobs in the small business sector, culminating in the 2013 program, "Development of Entrepreneurial Potential in the Village of Kuryk.” Three years of project implementation have led to tangible positive results.

Before the project, the following tasks were outlined: to educate the residents of the village of Kuryk about the basics and skills of entrepreneurship, support various startup projects, and introduce craft skills as an alternative profession for women.

As a part of the project, new and established entrepreneurs alike learned how to succeed, how to minimize risks, and how to master the basics of marketing, while also familiarizing themselves with the analytical and research skills necessary to start and develop a project and ensure its sustainability. In total, 60 people were trained, having brainstormed 120 business ideas needed by the village during the trainings.

In the company's competition for the best business projects, eight winners were selected out 24 local residents; they received grants totaling 7,364,142 KZT.

As a result, thanks to the ERSAI CASPIAN CONTRACTOR program and EFCA, eight business projects are operating in Kuryk, which helped create 27 new jobs and successfully serve up to 300 people a day, providing services and goods unique to the village.

For example, Amandyk Myrzabekov opened the production of quail eggs at home, given the large demand for eggs in Kuryk and Aktau.

Akshagul Karymsakova, a Kuryk artisan, founded a felt factory, which she had long dreamed of doing. Karymsakova hired two oralmans for the job, and plans to employ a few more female artisans from among local residents in order to produce products from felt.

The first and only beauty salon opened in the village; previously, everyone went to Aktau for their hairstyles and manicures, but now they are turning to hairdresser-stylist Bakyt Kenzhebekova. Using the money she won, Kenzhebekova bought modern equipment and tools and gave work to five beauticians.

The only cobbler in Kuryk built his own workshop — also the first and only in the village — and hired an apprentice. Among the clients of Kairat Kikbaev are residents of the village and employees of ERSAI CASPIAN CONTRACTOR.

In addition, Kuryk now has its own taxi service. Given the lack of public transport and transportation to other settlements, this has greatly facilitated the daily life of the villagers. The Azanov brothers opened a dispatching service with four dispatchers, have developed their own vehicle fleet (four cars), and hired two drivers with personal vehicles.

As for women's entrepreneurship, together with the Union of Kazakhstani Artisans, unemployed women are being trained in craftsmanship. The best craftspeople of the village took an active part in the National "Sheber" Craft Festival in Almaty and celebrated the 550th anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate in Shymkent, where they received a grand prize of $100,000 from the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the South Kazakhstan region. In addition, a third of the Kuryk craftsmen were listed in UNDP curriculum for souvenir production for EXPO-2017.

"Our projects are all different, but they are united by the fact that they are aimed at the future of Kazakhstan, the development of human potential. They contribute to the increase in effectiveness of state efforts,” said EFCA Executive Director Rinad Temirbekov. “When implementing projects, we apply a comprehensive approach, introducing new methods of education. And we are already seeing results: our students win olympiads; UNT results are higher; project participants who have completed training win grants from other organizations and are actively developing their businesses.”