«Komron» instructs the clients

With the initiative of the UNDP a consultation and information center “Komron” has been set up three years ago at the center of Ayni district and began its activities to teach how to work for dozens of people and conduct useful consultation with many others. Recently “Hamkori was hosted at this center.

First step: Learning computer skills

At the entrance of “Komron Center we were received by its Head – an experience and working man Bobo Sanginov. As we entered the premises we saw 5 to 6 girls smiling and busy working on foundling with computers. The instructor was telling them how to connect to work-wide web on the internet. In this remote mountainous district the attention of the youth to modern software technologies especially young girls was surpring indeed, and my curious glance was caught by Aka Bobo, who readily said:

- Our center began functioning in June 2007. Although the main direction of our work is providing legal and professional advice clients we began our activities with learning about computers and working with the internet. Then, there was the need for Chinese road constructors to connect with to their families and friends via e-mail. Also, many local young people aspired to learn about computer for enrolling in the institutions of higher learning. With the UNDP financial assistance we purchased 8 computers, 2 printers, tables and chairs and other necessary equipment. So, we opened computer classrooms, and girls were also among our first clients. There number is increasing day by day.

According to B. Sanginov up to date the total of 210 persons studied in computers at this center and received certificates. Out of this number 110 of them were young women and girls,

- 90 persons from among our clients are currently working for various institutions such as the District central Hospital, the Notarial Authority, Culture and Education Departments and others. Many among them are heads of the offices. There were also 66 unemployed persons out of whom 42 persons have been provided with jobs after receiving certificates of graduation from the center.

Second Step: Consulting Services

Despite this, the main form of the activity of the Center consulting, the aim of which is assisting the development of small and medium-size businesses throughout the whole of Zarafshan valley. In the words of the Head of the Center 150 persons have already addressed the Center for this purpose. The members of staff of “Komron” strive to understand every individual client and design a business plan tailored to the need so that their proposals can get through. For example, the resident of the village Tuda of Ayni DistrictAnvar Sanginov has addressed for designing a business plan for setting up an fish aquarium for the tourists in the location of Iskandar-kul.

- We studied the project from different angles and recommended to this person that since he requires a large sum of money it is better to start breeding fish in two-three pools – relates Bobo Sanginov.

As Zarafshon valley is short of agricultural land, mostly people address the Center with draft proposals aimed at rehabilitation of uncultivated land plots, that is, planting trees on the slopes of the mountains and developing bee-keeping.

According to the Head of the Center at the beginning of the work people would attend this place for consultation to draft sub-projects for developing honey bee-keeping, and therefore, the members of staff of “Komron” Center decided to conduct trainings in several sub-districts for Fostering the development of this profitable field of the economy.

- These trainings gave good results. – says Sanginov – Subsequently, we brought 140 boxes of bee-hives from Khujand to distribute among the residents of the districts of Ayni and mountainous Mastchoh. The most active participants were selected and given 10 boxes. At present, 46 persons bee-keepers are active in the valley. Among them are 29 male and 17 felame members.

- It is interesting that women in the rural area show interest in the field of bee-keeping. Based on our calculations already around 50 persons managed to improve the quality of their lives. During three years only the number of bee-hive has increased from 140 to 210 – he explains.

Based on the contract every bee-keeper must have received 10 bee-hives to increase the number of bees during the first year, and return 50 per cent of the bees to the representatives of the Center. For the second and third year, the bee-keepers were supposed to pay n kind, that is, to send a certain amount of honey produced. Part of the income of the Center is therefore based on the honey being sold. Last year, the Center made up to 7465 Somoni from the sale of honey. As the center is a non-profit organization the money from the sale of the honey for the acquisition of more bee-hives to be distributed to other residents for the sake of the reduction of poverty among the population.

Based on exactly similar plan that is, a leasing contract, 5 green-houses (3 in ayni district and 2 in mountainous Mastchoh) have began functioning to produce early plantation of cabbage, greenery, cucumber and tomatoes. After three years from start of the operation of the green-house the entrepreneurs must return 50 per cent of the 9 thousands dollars allocated by UNDP for it, and the money from it will be invested in other development projects. For instance, in the village of Hadishar of Mastchoh a juice producing was set up from this investment, and the total cost of the project is estimated at 137 thousands Somoni. With the first sale of their product the workshop will invest a certain percentage of its funds in other small projects.

Third Step: Looking onto the future

Insofar as “Komron” Center is a non-commercial organization and always need resources for maintaining the office, payment for the members of staff and payment for electricity and other services it launched, along with the computer courses and internet services electronic copying and Xeroxing of documents. If the income of the Center in 2007 was estimated at 4384 Somoni, during the current year the total amount of income made up to 15 587 Somoni. In total, 98 business-plans have been drafted for small and medium entrepreneurs for the start to assist in setting up and running their private businesses.

In the words of Sanginov, who is an engineer by profession and has headed district’ Committee of Land Use for 26 years this year the Center itself has proposed to the donor-organizations three projects for its future activities specializing on irrigation and preventing erosion of soil, greening and planting locally-grown apricot trees, which have received support. In prospects, it is envisaged to draft projects on the effective utilization of pastures and production of Kashmiri wool of the local goats.

It is important to note that in the valley of Zarafshan, there is another consultation center active in Panjikent city.

- Recently, we received a letter from the residents of Fon-daryo and Sarwoda villages, located in the distance of 50 – 7- km from the Center. They request to set up our affiliated office in Sarwoda. Several industrial facilitates such as ore-cleaning factory of Anzob, Civil construction Company, coal mine of Fon-Yaghnob are located there, the employees of those organizations also intend to learn about computers, and enjoy using internet network.

EXPLANATION:

Until now, “Komron” has accumulated 30 thousands and 130 Sommoni on account of running computer courses and selling honey, and intends to use these sums on other projects aimed at reducing the level of poverty of the population.