October 10, 2023
The #QyzTalks event dedicated to the International Day of Girls was held at AUCA on October 7th.
In honor of the International Day of Girls, which is celebrated annually on October 11, UNICEF, together with partners of the Girls project, held an event "QyzTalks." The participants were able to listen to motivational speeches by women leaders from the fields of business, activism, creativity, and IT, take part in competitions at a fair of organizations, as well as listen to songs by Aiym Aiylchieva and Biykech.
The event saw key figures, including Asel Chynbayeva, the Commissioner for Children's Rights in the Kyrgyz Republic, and Sylvie Hill, a representative of the UN Children's Fund in Kyrgyzstan, addressing the audience during the opening. The event featured a lineup of speakers who presented on various crucial topics, such as the trajectory to a successful career and the balance between study, career, and family choices, particularly amidst the future with AI. The event also highlighted an insightful contest, "If I were the president of the country?" The occasion was graced with a stirring performance of the girls' anthem "Qyz Duinosu" by Aiym Aiylchieva and concluded with an exhibition showcasing organizations dedicated to empowering girls.
About the “Girls in Science” project
In 2020, UNICEF launched the "Girls in Science" project, a transformative initiative aimed at empowering 14-18-year-old girls from new settlements and rural areas. The goal was to equip 500 young girls with the knowledge and skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), offering them enhanced career prospects.
The "Girls in Science" program specifically targeted 14-18-year-old schoolgirls, envisioning them as peer educators and role models within their communities. This approach had the potential to inspire hundreds of thousands of younger girls, catalyzing them to become active agents of change.
As of now, almost 200 schoolgirls are actively participating in supplemental classes focused on preparing for republic-level tests. These additional sessions are designed to support their aspirations to join science and IT faculties after completing their schooling. Notably, the girls involved in the program cited Dr. Asel Sartbaeva as a prominent role model in their pursuit of a career in science.
The program's ambitious aim is to engage a minimum of 15,000 girls from underprivileged areas by 2022. The focus will remain on girls impacted by migration and those from vulnerable backgrounds. Through peer training sessions, these girls will gain the necessary skills and insights to make informed career choices in Information & Communication Technologies, Science, Engineering, and Math. The overarching objective is to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty affecting their families and communities.
The "Girls in Science" project by UNICEF is a collaborative effort implemented in partnership with the "Roza Otunbayeva Initiative" Foundation, the AUCA Innovation College, and the Public Foundation "Child Protection Center." Financial support for this initiative comes from Clé de Peau Beauté.