Supporting Young Women through Social Enterprise in Turkmenistan

Gozel Muradaliyeva’s passion for people has propelled her throughout her career. While she worked first as a teacher and later as a dedicated community worker, she always aspired to create a community-oriented project of her own. In 2014, she transformed her vision into reality by establishing Dap-Dessur (“Folk Art” in Turkmen), an organization committed to supporting young people and women through diverse skill development programs and projects.

With support from Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program and the International Organization for Migration in Turkmenistan (IOM), Dap-Dessur launched a sewing workshop social enterprise. Within four months of launch, the enterprise provided comprehensive training in sewing and tailoring to 45 women facing economic insecurity in the Mary District of Turkmenistan. As part of this initiative, the women utilized their newfound skills to create 30 sets of children’s clothes, which they distributed to children in orphanages and low-income families.

Gozel’s vision for Dap-Dessur stems from her lifelong desire to help others. “From the very beginning, my passion has been to create a sewing atelier dedicated to young women, equipping them to uncover their potential, enhance employability, and foster self-reliance,” she explains. “It’s disheartening to witness many girls graduating from school with uncertainty about their future, which leads some to migrate and increases their risk of exploitation. I wanted to offer women an opportunity to explore their potential right here in our country. These young women possess incredible talents that deserve to be discovered and nurtured.”

In 2022, Gozel and her team won SICA’s Youth Leadership Grant, which equipped them to launch sewing and tailoring courses for women in Mary. The Dap-Dessur team prepared a comprehensive training module on the basics of sewing. They also developed a business sustainability plan to ensure the long-term viability of the initiative.

“Overall, nine young women achieved financial independence. Three participants gained employment within the newly opened atelier. The other six women secured employment at other private sewing businesses. Some even took the initiative to purchase their own sewing machines and pursue sewing and tailoring as a home-based business,” says Gozel.

Enesh was one of the women who participated in the project. “Sewing has always been a passion of mine, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford sewing classes. When my school friends told me about Dap-Dessur, I instantly recognized it as the opportunity I had been waiting for—a chance to finally learn the art of sewing,” she says. “Within the course, I created a dress for myself and learned how to create clothes for children.”

Beyond skill development, the project also aimed to make a positive difference in the lives of low-income families. The sewing workshop produced and distributed 30 sets of children’s clothes to orphanages and families facing economic hardship.

Reflecting on the impact of the project, Gozel hopes that it provides “more than just clothes.” She continues: “I am glad [the sessions] helped [participants] secure employment, acquire valuable skills, and find a supportive community for many women in need. I hope we will have many more projects supporting women and young people in Turkmenistan.”