"Oygounu" is a startup that provides free IT skills training to young people in the regions of Kyrgyzstan.

Nurbolot Zairbek uulu, city — Bishkek, co-founder of “Oigonuu,” @oigonuu

How It All Began

The idea for “Oigonuu” emerged during the pandemic. It all started with my desire to create a learning environment in rural areas. I am from Uzgen, the village of Myrzake, and I had the goal of studying abroad. I decided that it would be more convenient for me to study in a village.

Sometimes my friends and I would get together to watch movies in English and discuss them. This hobby evolved into the idea of creating a project that could help young people in the regions gain access to IT education and develop skills in demand in the modern world.

The launch was not easy. We started when my friend, who was working in Germany, bought online courses for $1000. We decided to share access among several people so we could learn together. The first classes took place in the local library. I made arrangements with the administration.

At that time, the library was hardly used, and few people knew about its existence. I tried to turn it into a center for intellectual and spiritual development, where, together with another activist, we organized clubs for communication, movie screenings, and reading.

My friend invested in the project and bought eight laptops, and in the fall of 2020 we organized a pilot programming course. All of this became possible thanks to the enthusiasm and support of like-minded people, and although the process was difficult, we managed to start and create a foundation for further growth.

Target Audience

Our main target audience is young people in rural regions of Kyrgyzstan. We see a trend toward IT, and our goal is to give young people in the regions the opportunity to understand what it is and offer them a path into this field. Many young people in the regions do not have access to quality education and do not realize what opportunities IT opens up.

We want them not just to learn programming, but to gain a full understanding of what this profession is and to be able to consciously choose it or another path.

Incubation Programs

We have participated in acceleration programs at Accelerate Prosperity twice. Although we did not manage to win funding, we gained invaluable experience and knowledge that allowed us to further develop the project.

We also participated in the first “Startup Nation” competition, where we met other young entrepreneurs and exchanged ideas. It is important to note that the “Oigonuu” project is based on a volunteer movement, and any support in the form of mentoring and experience is important to us.

Challenges

The main challenge is funding. The “Oigonuu” project relies on the enthusiasm of the co-founders and volunteers; each of us has our own job, and we cannot fully dedicate ourselves to the project. We need permanent staff to ensure stable development.

Funding is what holds us back. There are many ideas, but their implementation requires resources. For example, we have the opportunity to scale the project at the national level, but this requires additional funds and support.

Achievements

Our main achievements are the number of graduates who have found jobs in the IT sector. Of the first group of 20 people, six are currently working in IT companies, some even at an international level.

It is also important to note that we have expanded our program to 80 centers across the country, providing free training for anyone interested. In addition, our graduates demonstrate a high level of preparation.

Plans

In the future, we plan to develop the project internationally by applying for grants and funding to ensure it has stable resources. We want to create high-quality educational video content and automate the learning process so that anyone can access our courses.

We are also considering collaborating with the University of Central Asia so that our graduates can receive internationally recognized certificates. In the long term, we see expanding the project beyond Kyrgyzstan, attracting international partners, and creating a network of educational centers that will operate according to our model.

The most important advice I can give is to do what you love and move toward your goal. Self-education and discipline are the foundation of success in IT. And, of course, learn English, as it opens up many opportunities. The earlier you start, the better.

It is important not to be afraid to start small, as was the case with our library. Every step, no matter how small, can lead to significant results.