The “Yuksalish” Movement, in cooperation with GIZ, organized a practical training for representatives of non-governmental non-profit organizations (NGOs), which became an important platform for gaining hands-on experience. During the training, participants developed skills in properly presenting their social projects and learned how to write compelling and credible success stories.

The training was held within the framework of the Good Governance in Uzbekistan program, implemented with the support of the German Society for International Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit – GIZ). The program supports small grant projects aimed at increasing awareness of public services among residents of remote regions of the country and expanding their access to these services.

As a result of the training, the NGO “Rahmdillik”, operating in the Samarkand region, prepared a success story of its social project, highlighting the activities carried out and their impact on community life.

Public Services as a Path to a New Life

Sometimes, a single consultation can change not just a route, but an entire life.
For Bakhtigul, the journey toward freedom, safety, and independence did not begin with a dramatic decision, but with a simple question: “Can I really handle the paperwork on my own?”

Bakhtigul was born in 1993 in the remote Nurabad district of the Samarkand region. Like many girls in rural areas, she married early under pressure from her parents. During several years of marriage, she became a mother of two. Alongside family life, fear, economic dependence, and domestic violence gradually became part of her everyday reality.

Any attempt to speak about work or entrepreneurship was met with accusations, humiliation, and pressure. When the violence escalated and her children became its silent witnesses, Bakhtigul made the difficult decision to leave. But even her parental home did not become a refuge — concerns about “family honor” and social judgment led her father to refuse to take her back.

Left alone with two children, Bakhtigul found herself at one of the darkest moments of her life. It was then that her path led her to the Rahmdillik Center.

From Shelter to Self-Belief

Bakhtigul spent nearly a year living in the Rahmdillik shelter. For the first time, she felt safe and heard. Legal and psychological counseling, along with training sessions focused on economic independence, helped her regain confidence and a sense of direction.

During this time, she recalled her childhood: her father had been a farmer, and she had assisted him in agricultural work from an early age. This experience became the foundation of a clear goal — to start her own farming business and become financially independent.

The resistance was strong, but eventually her father allocated one hectare of land to her. A new challenge then emerged: how to formalize her business, where to apply, and which documents were required.

When Public Services Become Accessible

As part of the project implemented by the NGO Rahmdillik, consultation offices on public services were established in the most remote neighborhoods of the Nurabad district — Omandara and Girdikurgan. It was there that Bakhtigul sought help.

With the support of consultants, she gathered the necessary documents, understood the procedures, and officially registered her entrepreneurial activity through public service centers. What once seemed complicated and intimidating became clear and manageable.

With additional support from the Rahmdillik Center, Bakhtigul obtained permission to drill an artesian well. This allowed her to irrigate previously dry farmland and significantly expand her agricultural production.

A New Life Built by Her Own Hands

Today, Bakhtigul is a farmer, an employer, and a woman building her own home on her land. She hires workers, grows agricultural products, and raises her children with confidence in the future.

During her farming activities, she met a man from Karakalpakstan whose life story closely resembled her own. They are now a family, working together, raising children, and developing their farm side by side.

Bakhtigul’s story is a powerful example of how access to knowledge, support systems, and public services can transform a human life. Today, she is recognized as one of the most successful female farmers in her region.

The Rahmdillik NGO project, implemented from August to December, demonstrated that even in the most remote communities, public services can become a real tool for empowerment and change.