BBC Women of the Year List Includes Two Nominees From Central Asia

The BBC has unveiled its annual list of the world’s most inspiring women. The introduction to the list says that the “BBC 100 Women Project highlights women who have shown remarkable determination to drive change in a year marked by global upheaval.” Alongside figures such as Nobel laureate Nadia Murad, actress Sharon Stone, Olympians Rebeca Andrade and Allyson Felix, singer Ray, artist Tracey Emin, climate activist Adenike Oladosu, and writer Cristina Rivera Garza, the list of nominees includes two women from Central Asia. They are: Dilorom Yuldasheva (Uzbekistan) [caption id="attachment_26251" align="aligncenter" width="300"] @BBC| Dilorom Yuldosheva, Uzbekistan[/caption] A seamstress and entrepreneur, two years ago Dilorom Yuldasheva lost both legs in an accident. Undeterred, she pursued her dream of empowering young women in Uzbekistan to earn livelihoods and develop new skills. Yuldasheva established a tailoring business after studying entrepreneurship and resource management. In a short time, she trained over 40 students, offering free classes as her business grew. She secured contracts to produce clothing for workers and schoolchildren, creating income opportunities for herself and dozens of other women. Zhanylsynzat Turganbayeva (Kyrgyzstan) [caption id="attachment_26252" align="aligncenter" width="300"] @BBC| Zhanylsynzat Turganbaeva, Kyrgyzstan[/caption] Zhanylsynzat Turganbayeva is devoted to preserving and restoring Kyrgyz cultural heritage. She runs an ethnology museum in Bishkek, showcasing unique national artifacts. Her charitable efforts focus on safeguarding Kyrgyz literature, including the epic Manas. This UNESCO-recognized work spans approximately 500,000 lines—20 times the length of Homer’s Odyssey—and recounts the story of a hero who unites 40 Kyrgyz tribes. Turganbayeva creates resources and opportunities for “manaschi,” the traditional performers of the epic. These women exemplify courage and perseverance, inspiring others to bring positive change to their communities.

Project To Support Women and Youth Launched in Turkmenistan

A new project developed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in cooperation with the British Embassy has been launched in Turkmenistan to support the country's economic diversification and empowerment of women and youth. The project aims to stimulate sustainable economic growth and increase Turkmenistan's global competitiveness by developing a creative and innovative economy. Narine Sahakyan, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan, emphasized the importance of unlocking the creative sector's potential to achieve economic prosperity. She said stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation will open new economic diversification and growth opportunities. British Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Stephen Conlon also spoke about the importance of the creative economy, noting the UK's experience in this area. Conlon stated that the creative sector contributes to economic growth, strengthens national identity, and supports local communities, especially in rural areas. Within the project framework, the UNDP plans to launch recommendations for the development of the creative economy and support for entrepreneurship and innovation. One of the key events will be a forum on the creative economy, which will bring together representatives of the government, international organizations, and businesses. The forum will be a platform within which to share experiences and discuss legislative measures to support the creative sector. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is actively cooperating with Turkmenistan on various projects aimed at sustainable development. One of the key projects deals with managing the consequences of the Aral Sea crisis. Together with the Government of Turkmenistan, the UNDP is implementing a project aimed at preserving ecosystems in the Aral Sea basin, improving the use of land and water resources, and increasing the sustainability of local communities. Another important project is Digital Transformation, which aims to help Turkmenistan implement advanced inter-agency data exchange systems to improve the efficiency of public services.