SUSI 2016
Concerned about systemic issues of unemployment and rural poverty, Sabira conducted a training project to empower youth in rural areas surrounding Bishkek and Batken region. She writes,
"According to statistics, 30.6% of the population lives below the national poverty line in the Kyrgyz Republic, and 70.5% of poor people live in villages. Due to the lack of information in rural areas in my country, pupils are one step behind their peers in cities…In order to eradicate these problems by putting my own efforts into improving people's life, I implemented a project somehow to make a change in my community. My project was focused on pupils' professional orientation at rural areas around Bishkek city and in the Batken region. One of them was the SOS Hermann Gmeiner School. At SOS Hermann Gmeiner School some pupils come from low-income families and some of them are orphans. I spent 3 hours per day for 6 days with 40 high school pupils. My project wasn't just about bringing new knowledge and useful contacts - but it was about life. It was about becoming a better human being who cares about others and dedicates his or her life to a meaningful purpose. The intense schedule, discussions, trainings, prejudice breaking, critical thinking exercises, all these aims were to bring participants closer to their life goals and finding their own path. The training with the pupils was about a consistent way to set goals, measure progress, and provide feedback in relation to specific goals. During the training, I shared all the knowledge I've gathered till today, all the feelings I've experienced and felt, and I exchanged ideas on making our life on earth better. At the end of the training, the participants had developed the skills needed to positively impact their community such as leadership, public speaking, and teambuilding."
When she arrived in the US in 2016, Sabira was one of the shy and quiet students, and as the program unfolded, she started to blossom. It is impressive to see that she stepped out of her comfort zone, took her follow-on project seriously, and shared what she has learned with people who really need motivation and encouragement to improve their lives.