EMPOWER (Enhancement of entrepreneurship skills among women to provide gender equality and employability for citizens of Uzbekistan)
EMPOWER is a project that aims to develop gender equality in the territory of Uzbekistan by enhancing the entrepreneurial skills of female citizens. Initially, women will be empowered by the successful stories of their compatriots. They will meet six female entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan and learn about their success stories. Interested women will be selected and trained for essential entrepreneurial skills. Those skills will enhance their knowledge in the field of business and will be their first step in an independent life. The testing of the project will be held in the HEIs of Uzbekistan, which have more than 80% female students. It will help females to taste their abilities in different fields and avoid being stuck in gender-prejudiced jobs. The training will be held online and teach entrepreneurial skills. Mothers on maternity leave, housewives, females in remote areas, and females in young families will be encouraged to participate. This project will increase the percentage of employability in Uzbekistan among females, as starting a new business refers to opening new working places. It will increase the number of women in managerial positions and give women a women a chance to see the power of self-efficacy, independence, and self-confidence. Thus, the young female generation will be more powerful and confident, the gap between genders will shrink, and employability among women will increase.