The next installment in A Day in the Life of Our Communities comes from the Kyrgyz Republic. 

Meder Usupbekov is one of 150 people in the city of Naryn, in the Kyrgyz Republic, who use a wheelchair to get around. He faces huge obstacles every day.

“If we could put ramps in major public institutions,” he realized, “we could solve some of the problems.” So in July 2012, Meder created a plan for improving accessibility in Naryn, and entered a competition for social entrepreneurship held by the University of Central Asia’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE). Funded by a grant from Coca-Cola and the Coca-Cola Foundation to Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. (AKF USA), the contest received over 200 applications from across Kyrgyzstan. To boost submissions the University organized training sessions in social entrepreneurship in seven cities. Meder attended one of those sessions.

Finalists received intensive two-week training to refine their ideas into business plans. They learned the fundamentals of social enterprise – recognizing a social problem and using entrepreneurial principles to organize a venture for change – along with social marketing, business communication, and information technology. In the end, Meder became one of nine winners who received a small grant to turn their dreams into reality.

Each winner received a seed grant of up to $3,000. Other winning proposals included a plan to generate profits from waste separation efforts in schools for purchasing school supplies for needy students.

Now Meder’s dream is coming true. He leads a team to build ramps throughout Naryn. He recently presided at the ceremony opening the first ramp, and hopes to see three more built in the coming year.

“I would like to thank the donors and SPCE instructors for their entrepreneurship training,” he said. “This win has encouraged me to do more and taught me how to implement projects.”

For more about how AKF USA supports social entrepreneurship, click here.