Asia
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Aigul, Kazakhstan
Felt Textile Artisan Aigul Zhanserikova (Almaty, Kazakhstan) has trained more than 250 women from different regions of Kazakhstan in the ancient artof felting. Many of these women have gone on to open their own workshops. This initiative has contributed tothe revival of traditional crafts in Kazakhstan, createdmany fans of the felting technique worldwide andprovided jobs for unemployed women. "From 2000 to 2008 I worked as a National Coordinator in the international program for sustainable development of rural regions of Kazakhstan with the support of the Swiss Government. Those days I initiated the revival of the forgotten ancient Kazakh crafts – felting to solve social and environmental problems of rural women. Felt products as natural and environmentally friendly products could be produced by unemployed women from local raw materials. Under the project we organized trainings (for more than 200 rural women in the regions), experience exchange with foreign colleagues from Europe. Subsequently, this activity has become my hobby and later turned into my favorite business. First felt workshop was opened in Almaty in 2004 and served as a base to train many unemployed women from Almaty and regions who later opened their shops." Awards & Achievements Founder of the Kazakh craftsmen school on felting: from 2001 to 2008 organized and conducted first training sessions for local women in Almaty and various regions of Kazakhstan (Almaty, East Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, Akmola regions); Founder of the first felt workshop in Kazakhstan (2004, Almaty). Owner and founder of the “AigulLine” company and brand. Member of many national and international exhibitions (Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Britain, Russia) |
