Study Tour Jumpstarts Kyrgyz Craftsmen Association
Upon return from their USAID-sponsored Community Connections study tour in the U.S., 10 female artisans organized an association of craftsmen of Naryn and Issykkul Oblasts, which they named “NAISK – Ohio” in honor of their site visit. As members of small local organizations, producing mostly national felt rugs and souvenirs for tourists, the women felt that joining into an association would improve the quality of their work and their income. Each association member works with women, children, and elderly people in remote villages of Kyrgyzstan, helping them earn income from craft-making by selling their handiwork in larger cities. The association has already received official registration from the Ministry of Justice and is working to create a web site, brochures, and catalogs in time for the tourist season.
The USAID-funded Community Connections Program provides an important opportunity for American people and people from across Central Asia to work together to address common professional challenges while expanding their social and cultural understanding. As business and professional communities of both countries rapidly become integrated, opportunities for positive relations between American people and the people from Central Asia are increasingly important. This program offers home stay-based, three-to-five week practical training opportunities in the United States for business and professional organization leaders from Kyrgyzstan. This program is funded through the USAID and is a part of the U.S. foreign assistance program, financed by the American people.
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Ten participants of a USAID-funded study tour registered a professional association
Photo Credit: Community Connections |
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