Fostering a sense of collective strength: Salkynai (Kyrgyzstan), Mengli (Turkmenistan) and Parvina (Tajikistan)
Driven by a shared commitment to uplifting the next generation of women leaders, Salkynai, Mengli and Parvina are building networks that empower individuals and communities. Their efforts demonstrate how supporting even one young woman can create wider change across societies. Through the Young Women for Peace Initiative (YW4P), funded by the European Union (EU), they expanded regional partnerships and fostered a strong sense of solidarity and sisterhood.
Salkynai Emilbekova, a young change-maker from Kyrgyzstan, is committed to advancing opportunities for women and youth through education, mentorship, and innovation. With a degree in Business Administration from the American University of Central Asia, she now works as an acceleration analyst, helping to build Central Asia’s startup ecosystem. Her focus lies in helping youth- and women-led IT startups become sustainable and ready for investments.
Growing up in the mountainous, remote region of Naryn, Salkynai saw first-hand the limited opportunities available to girls in rural communities. A year abroad in the United States broadened her horizons and inspired her to advocate for women’s rights and social change. Determined to make a difference, she launched Girls for Girls - a mentorship-based programme designed to empower young women across Kyrgyzstan. Over the past three and a half years, the initiative has reached more than 800 girls in all seven regions of the country. “Through this project, we create safe spaces where young women can learn about their rights, develop leadership skills, and engage in community dialogue,” she explains. “Turning this vision into a sustainable, growing programme has been incredibly fulfilling.”
Promoting gender equality in a conservative society was challenging. Salkynai often faced resistance from communities when addressing topics such as reproductive health or mental wellbeing. “Some parents questioned our sessions and prevented their daughters from attending. But that only confirmed we were addressing issues people were too afraid to confront - and that’s exactly why this is so important.”
Through the YW4P, Salkynai strengthened her skills and built regional connections. “I saw it as a unique space to share perspectives and explore how we could support each other’s work. The programme’s focus on capacity building for changemakers already active in their communities, which made it the perfect fit,” she says.
One key outcome has been expanding Girls for Girls into a regional mentorship programme. “I realised that many of the barriers we face as women are shared across Central Asia. When we come together, we can amplify our efforts and create more impactful solutions.”
Guiding girls towards a brighter future
“Never doubt your potential. Beyond academic and professional trainings, finding a resourceful, suportive mentor is halfway to success.” These words from Mengli Veliyeva are more than a motto – they reflect the heart of her mission to empower young women in Turkmenistan and beyond.
Mengli’s journey began through the Technovation Girls programme, an initiative helping girls become leaders in science and technology. As a team lead, she guided high school girls in the fields where women in Turkmenistan remain significantly underrepresented. “It was a truly rewarding experience,” she recalls. “Most of the girls I worked with were accepted into top-tier IT and software engineering programmes,” Mengli says. However, the biggest challenge she observed was the girls’ self-doubt. “That’s when I realized how essential strong mentorship is in shaping women's professional and academic journeys.”
Currently working with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Mengli continues to support efforts to advance the rights, health, and dignity of women and girls. With an academic background in international relations and experience in leading youth initiatives, her commitment to inclusive development shines through every step she takes. She also runs a blog in Turkmen, where she shares free educational resources, book recommendations, and tips to help young people succeed.
The YW4P offered new tools and a supportive network for Mengli. “The programme significantly enhanced my project management, negotiation, and advocacy skills,” she says. “It also gave me a chance to meet like-minded changemakers and learn effective strategies for driving social change.”
Together with fellow YW4P participants, she co-founded the Girls for Girls: Central Asia Edition – a mentorship initiative connecting young women across the region with senior women professionals. “I am delighted that young women from Turkmenistan can connect with inspiring mentors, participate in workshops led by international experts and feel part of a larger community ,” she shares.
For Mengli, gender equality means ensuring that all women and girls have access to education and career opportunities. She believes that inclusion is key to building peaceful, prosperous societies.
Empowering women in finance and beyond
Growing up in Tajikistan, Parvina Saidova was surrounded by traditional expectations where women were often expected to support the family rather than lead. But despite these cultural norms, she carved a different path. “I developed into an independent and open-minded individual. Along the way, I was fortunate to have my family’s support and the guidance of various mentors who enriched my journey,” she says.
Parvina holds a degree in international relations and currently works as an operational analyst at the International Finance Corporation’s programme, supporting regional investment and sustainability efforts across Central Asia and Türkiye. “Currently, I work for one of the world’s leading financial organizations, and I envision my future in this sphere,” she shares. Her long-term goal is to see more women thrive in leadership roles within the business and finance sectors.
Her mother’s support and belief in her dreams played a pivotal role in Parvina’s success. “My mother gave me wings, and I learned to how to fly.” Despite facing systemic stereotypes like ageism, Parvina never gave up and pursued her values and aspirations with curiosity, enthusiasm, and unwavering dedication.”
Her commitment to youth empowerment began with the Network by Consensus, a Central Asian youth network set up with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe in 2017. It championed initiatives that supported personal growth and leadership among young people. “Watching someone’s personal growth or a positive transformation in their life was a powerful reward,” she says.
The YW4P helped her expand her reach. “I wanted to both learn and give back, to share inspiration and motivation through the work we do together,” she says. The initiative strengthened her skills in project design and helped her build meaningful, lasting connections. “These relationships go beyond professional networking — they represent a community of like-minded individuals who inspire and uplift one another.”
Parvina’s message to young women is simple yet powerful: “Believe in yourself. Don’t let excuses or doubts hold you back. Stay strong, stay resilient, and most importantly, stay curious.”
Salkynai, Mengli and Parvina are among the 18 young women from Central Asia and Afghanistan participating in the Young Women for Peace (YW4P) Initiative, funded by the European Union. As part of the OSCE Gender Issues Programme’s WIN for Women and Men project, YW4P promotes young women’s leadership in peace and security across Central Asia and Afghanistan. This series spotlights their stories, highlighting their contributions and the Initiative’s lasting impact on their journeys.