“IT’S important to have dreams. If you have dreams, you can achieve them,” says Ulukbek, smiling as he sweeps the floor of his newly renovated boutique.
The shelves are stocked with colourful dolls, toy cars, water bottles and backpacks of all shapes and sizes. A variety of books, pyjamas and yellow rubber ducks beckon to be brought home by doting parents to join a lucky child’s bedtime ritual.
To some, it may appear as a typical children’s clothing and toy store – but for Ulukbek and his wife, Gulkayir, this space represents a lifelong dream that has finally come true. Together, they have embarked on an entrepreneurial journey that is as inspiring as it is transformative.
In 2023, Gulkayir and Ulukbek, a dynamic couple with unwavering spirits, returned to Kyrgyzstan having participated in the Seasonal Workers’ Scheme, picking strawberries on a farm in Hereford, United Kingdom (UK). Under the scheme, applicants can apply for a Seasonal Worker visa and work for up to six months in agriculture, filling critical labour gaps in the UK’s agricultural sector.
Due to the lack of economic opportunities back home, the couple were determined to save their earnings in the UK to enable them to open their own business. This goal became a reality as they channelled their experiences abroad into a new venture – the opening of a children’s clothing and toy store in Balykchy, a beautiful town on Kyrgyzstan’s iconic Lake Issyk-Kul.
Previously, the couple frequently travelled to the Russian Federation for short-term work opportunities, leaving their children in the care of grandparents and relatives. However, their earnings were insufficient to meet basic family expenses. Coupled with this was the deteriorating economic situation in the Russian Federation due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and increasing xenophobia against Central Asian migrants.
Their journey to opening a thriving business began with an application to IOM’s Matching Grants Programme, part of the “Safe Migration of Seasonal Workers from Central Asia to the UK” initiative, funded by UK International Development from the UK Government.* Thanks to the funds they received from this programme, the couple renovated their store, making it more enticing to customers and ensuring that it stood out in a competitive market.
The couple invested their savings that they had earned from their time in the UK by purchasing a range of high-quality children’s clothing. Renovations including the installation of new heating technology transformed their growing business into a productive, modern space that perfectly aligned with their vision.
Since its inception in September 2022, IOM’s Matching Grants Programme in Kyrgyzstan has trained 211 migrants and their families in developing sustainable business plans. During the four-day training sessions, attendees collaborated with IOM business start-up experts to craft effective business strategies. A selection panel then evaluated the proposals of 211 participants, and after careful consideration, awarded grants to 21 entrepreneurs with the most innovative ideas.
In 2024, 14 grants were awarded to up-and-coming entrepreneurs, including Gulkayir and Ulukbek, to help increase their businesses’ profitability. Thanks to the initial success of the programme, additional funding has been secured from the UK Government’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). This funding will enable IOM to train approximately 100 migrants returning to their countries of origin after seasonal work in the UK, and their family members, on financial literacy and investment. An additional 20 grants will be made available to migrant workers returning to Kyrgyzstan after participating in the UK’s Seasonal Worker Scheme.
“The grant applicants undergo a rigorous selection process which is highly competitive and transparent,” explains Nodira Aminova, IOM Regional Project Manager of the “Safe Migration of Seasonal Workers from Central Asia to the UK” Project. “To ensure fairness and accessibility, successful business ideas are announced on the same social media platforms where the competition is initially promoted. This approach ensures equal opportunities and provides applicants with the chance to showcase the sustainability aspect of their enterprises.”
Photo: IOM Kyrgyzstan 2024/Dmitry Motinov
Looking ahead, Gulkayir and Ulukbek have ambitious plans to diversify their clothing line and introduce a waiting area with a coffee corner to enhance customer experience. They also aim to purchase an additional property for their next store and expand their business near the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek.
The couple’s journey is more than just creating a successful business; it is about fostering community engagement and strengthening family ties. Gulkayir and Ulukbek do not see the need to migrate again for seasonal work in the UK, as they are optimistic about their future. If they do return, next time it will be for tourism purposes.
“IOM is committed to supporting the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in empowering a sustainable labour force as per the Concept on Migration Policy for 2021–2030,” says Bermet Moldobaeva, Head of Office at IOM Kyrgyzstan. “As IOM we are creating better reintegration programmes so that returning migrants can access funds and re-invest their savings, in turn strengthening relationships with local communities and authorities, and promoting sustainable enterprises.”
Thanks to the couple’s tireless efforts, they have succeeded in creating a much-needed service for families in Balykchy. Their story is a beacon of hope, illustrating the power of determination and the positive impact of supportive programmes for budding entrepreneurs. Gulkayir and Ulukbek’s journey underscores the importance of labour migration as a tool for development, enabling individuals to acquire new skills and perspectives that can be brought back to their home countries to foster growth and progress.
In the words of Ulukbek, “Our journey has just begun. We are committed to making our store a place where parents can purchase quality products for their children, and where our community can witness first-hand the possibilities that come with hard work and support.”
This story was written by Zulaika Esentaeva, Media and Communications Specialist, IOM Kyrgyzstan.
*This initiative has been funded by UK International Development from the UK government; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.
