Like many of her fellow villagers, Rahat was forced to leave for Russia in search of work. Initially, she travelled with her husband, but after the birth of their children, she stayed home while he continued working abroad. Over time, their family broke apart, and the responsibility of raising the children fell solely on her shoulders. Determined to start her own business, Rahat decided to become a seamstress, a passion she had nurtured since childhood through an interest in needlework and design. She started with a single sewing machine, which she purchased with her savings. When she learned about the project, she saw it as an opportunity to expand her knowledge and skills. Through training in financial literacy, business planning, and mentor support, Rahat developed a business plan to open her own tailoring workshop. As part of the project, she received new sewing machines, including an overlock, which has enabled her to fulfill more orders, particularly for school uniforms and women’s clothing. Not only was she able to expand her business, but she also created two new jobs in her workshop. Customers are highly satisfied with the quality and accessibility of her services, especially since most women in rural areas prefer custom tailoring of national clothes.

Rahat was a participant of the project “Empowering Migrant Families in the Border communities of Batken region”, implemented by the Public Association “Dialogue, Trust, Right” in 2023-2024, within the BOMCA 10 grant.