Promotion of gender equality in Turkmenistan - The story of Merjen
IDEA Editorial Team
My name is Merjen Saparmyradova, and I am the founder and director of “Sanly Bilim” Individual Enterprise.
I have been working to promote gender equality and empower women in Turkmenistan for many years. Recently, I had the opportunity to collaborate with IDEA CA on a project called "Sepgit", which aims to promote gender equality and share the success stories of women in our community.
Before I began working with IDEA CA, I participated in several other programs and initiatives that helped me gain valuable experience and skills. In 2019, I was part of the “TechWomen USA” Exchange Program, where I worked at “Synopsys” in Silicon Valley. This mentorship program exposed me to female role models in STEM careers and strengthened my professional potential.
In 2020, I participated in the "Startup Ecosystem Pilot" program and mentored 23 startup participants. In 2021, I contributed to the success of two finalists in the competition who were selected for the "Digital Innovation Award Winner" and "Social Project Award Winner" nominations, among other mentoring companies' startup finalists.
From March to September 2022, I coordinated the "Launch Life" Coding Bootcamp, where 48 girls and women qualified to pursue a new career in technology. I also organized the first women's hackathon in Turkmenistan called DigiWomen STRIVE for Launch Life coding Bootcamp participants.
Despite the challenges in Turkmenistan, I founded my own company, “Sanly Bilim IE”, on August 25, 2022. I managed to register this technology company and obtain a license from the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan.
I learned about IDEA CA through Mehri Karakulova, National Programme Analyst on Gender and Youth, United Nations Population Fund, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. She suggested that I participate in the Media Academy project in Central Asia and work with my team to implement my "Sepgit" project through Media initiatives within the framework of the Media Academy project implemented with the support of IDEA CA and the Regional Program of the Spotlight Initiative for Central Asia and Afghanistan.
Working with IDEA CA was a great experience.
The "Sepgit" project is a platform, a kind of blogging website that includes personal stories and media content such as video interviews and podcasts, as well as banner ads and advertisements. The platform aims to promote gender equality and share the success stories of women, the challenges they have faced and the support they have received from their community.
The main values of the project are faith in oneself and one's strengths, acquisition of skills and confidence in overcoming life's difficulties, and awareness of one's importance.
My main goals for this project are to support girls and women in my community, to strengthen their confidence and increase their motivation for personal and professional participation in public life. "Sepgit" focuses on enhancing gender equality and human rights, which are keys to building peace and harmony in society and realizing the full potential of humanity through inclusive opportunities and sustainable development.
IDEA CA supported me in promoting my ideas and creating the first online platform in Turkmenistan where we highlight the most influential girls and women in our community and share their success stories, upload their podcasts, and video interviews. Most importantly, it inspired me to start a three-month marathon for girls and women, which includes 13 training seminars with psychologist Inna Tarjinskaya Wiktorowna to improve their soft skills and personal growth.
IDEA CA always inspires strong and great ideas for the youth, girls, and women of Central Asia.
If you have meaningful ideas and want to bring them to life, I would highly recommend collaborating with IDEA CA. They are the first place where you can get advice and support from open and tolerant people.
My advice to readers is to be bold and not be afraid to challenge yourselves.
Build a "dream team" around you of influential and supportive people with whom you can share your hopes, dreams, and ideas. Be prepared to ask for and receive their support, contribution, and generosity. Now is the time to step out of your comfort zone and grow.