USAID Kyrygz Republic features: “No barriers to employment”
The USAID Safe Migration in Central Asia activity implemented by Winrock, which aims to strengthen the mutual accountability of governments, NGOs and the private sector to prevent trafficking in persons, protect survivors and promote safe migration, is featured in an article published by USAID Kyrgyz Republic.
“No barriers to employment” shares the story of 26-year-old Zyinat Baktybek kyzy, who needed to leave her job in Moscow, Russia, to care for her young son in the Kyrgyz Republic.
At first, searching for a new job in her homeland was unsuccessful due to Zyinat’s hearing impairment. Then, a friend referred her to the Park Fashion sewing workshop, which works with the Public Fund Plus, an organization that has trained more than 500 people with hearing impairments on safe employment and migration. Many of those participants are at increased risk of becoming victims of human trafficking and/or other forms of exploitation both in the Kyrgyz Republic and abroad. This collaboration with PF Plus was implemented with the support of the five-year SMICA activity.
In February 2023, PF Plus signed an agreement with the Association of Sewing Enterprises focused on improving employment practices. PF Plus and Park Fashion developed a joint internship program for hearing impaired young adults between the ages of 18-24. Park Fashion now employs a total of six individuals with hearing impairments.
“I used to have a dream of opening my own business, my own small sewing workshop, and I wanted to manage this workshop myself,” says Zyinat, who continues to dream big — and is making new plans for the future.
Read the full USAID Kyrgyz Republic story here.
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