Press releases
The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs sets trends in business
Young women entrepreneurs from Kazakhstan received grants to develop their own businesses. The women were trained at the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) and successfully presented their projects.
Honoring graduates and awarding million-tenge grants took place in Almaty as part of the closing ceremony of the program (AWE). The international educational project is being implemented by the U.S. Department of State in partnership with Chevron company.
The graduation of the global Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) project took place on the eve of the International Women's Entrepreneurship Day in Almaty. This year the number of participants in the sought-after international project reached 130 women in Kazakhstan. Those who completed the course on starting and managing a business were greeted by MaryAnn Robinson, Senior Program Manager of the Office of Alumni Relations in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
“AWE is equipping over 9,000 women with the tools to grow their businesses, generating increased income and job creation among women-led businesses in nearly 100 countries around the world. We are proud to support this effort, because we know that women make valuable contributions to their local economies and communities,” said MaryAnn Robinson in her welcome speech.
The final stage of the AWE program was the preparation and presentation of own business. The projects presentation was held in a pitching format. The alumni presented their business ideas to a group of experts, whose final verdict determined the winners of grants in the amount of 1 million tenge.
Among the finalists of the competition, for example, Meruyert Abylkassymova, from Almaty region, who works in the sphere of manufacturing and selling products in the national style. A similar idea, but for New Year’s toys, was presented by AWE Alumni Zhanna Nugerbek. Entrepreneur Raigul Kaliyeva sees her destiny in the production of sweets. Participants tasted samples of jelly sweets in the form of saukele, national jewelry and several other types. Another contender for the million-tenge grant from AWE was Rimma Marat. The woman entrepreneur decided to use the business skills she had acquired to make handmade wooden boards for children.
Honoring the graduates of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs took place with the participation of the U.S. Consul General in Kazakhstan. Michelle Yerkin noted the significance and prospects of the educational project, and also presented the main prizes to aspiring entrepreneurs.
“We fund AWE because we believe that economic diversification and the empowerment of women makes both of our countries stronger. As AWE alumni you have become active members of an emerging generation of entrepreneurs, educators, social media influencers, and innovators who are creating, analyzing, and finding innovative solutions to the challenges of today, and the future,” said U.S. Consul General in Kazakhstan Michelle Yerkin.
It is worth noting that the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs this year attracted a record number of participants. 130 people from all over Kazakhstan. As part of the program, regional networking events were also held, including in Taraz and Pavlodar.
The Academy for Women Entrepreneurship program is a global initiative implemented by the U.S. Department of State in more than 80 countries around the world. To date, more than 16,000 women from all over the world have already taken part in this program and created a community of graduates who share their experience in building a business and also establish business contacts.