OREANDA-NEWS. November 28, 2012. The Coca-Cola Company and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) have started Youth Social Entrepreneurship project in the Kyrgyz Republic to enhance opportunities for youth in income-generation and education, reported the press-centre of IBC.  

Kyrgyzstan among other former Soviet Union countries has low economic activity and faces lack of entrepreneurship skills. While small business must be a backbone for the country economy, this situation has led The Coca-Cola Company and its partners to create economic empowerment project.

The project is funded by the Coca-Cola Company and implemented by AKF together with the University of Central Asia (UCA). It aims to strengthen the capacity of youth in Kyrgyzstan to identify and constructively address critical socio-economic needs in their community through sustainable social entrepreneurship.

Nationwide campaign was launched in the Kyrgyz Republic to encourage youth to submit innovative social entrepreneurship ideas. Nine winners received funding of up to USD3,000 towards implementation of their ideas and bringing sustainability in their target communities.

Introductory training sessions were held not only in Bishkek, but in rural areas of Issyk-Kul, Naryn, Talas, Jalal-Abad, Osh and Batken oblasts. As a result, 218 applications were received from across the country.

Out of all applicants, 26 finalists were selected to participate in an intensive two-week training course in Bishkek to further develop their project ideas. Delivered by UCA, finalists studied fundamentals of social entrepreneurship and social marketing, as well as business communication and negotiation, information technology, and business planning for social projects. As part of the trainings Aijana Djumalieva, PR senior CCBB, conducted a company tour to Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers. The finalists learned about Coca-Cola and got inspired for projects ideas.

The 26 finalists presented their refined business plans to an independent selection committee. Elena Pahomova, lawyer of CCBB, was representing Coca-Cola in the committee. Nine winners were selected taking into account the overall sustainability and feasibility of the project.

Final proposals had not only strong social aspects but also environmental. For instance, there were projects aimed at generating profit from waste separation, initiatives in elementary schools to purchase supplies for students in need, and working with children from orphanages to design and produce eco-bags, and using profits to support its financial needs.

On September 20, 2012, the Coca-Cola Company presented grants to nine of the 26 finalists at a ceremony held in the UCA, Bishkek.

Ezel Agaoglu, General Director of Coca-Cola Bishkek Bottlers, Kyrgyz Republic, presented the grants and congratulated the winners.

Mr. Agaoglu has noted the following: “We always need young people with bright ideas. And today, we have nine winners who will receive grants. Coca Cola always supports young people”.