A resident of the village of Zhiydelik in the Kadamjai district of the Batken region, Iskhak Akmatjanov, along with his sister, breeds hamsters and sells them. According to him, the winter period is considered the most challenging time for breeding hamsters, which is why their price increases during this time.
In the village of Zhashasyn, located in the Suzak district of the Jalal-Abad region, 32-year-old Nurtilek Usenov is the owner of five Taigans, which are one of the rarest breeds of greyhounds in the world — the Kyrgyz Taigan, known for its ancient history. Nurtilek shares that each of his pets has a unique character. He has noticed that Taigans are quite sensitive: if they are shouted at during a hunt, they may start returning home or even stop running altogether. Caring for Taigans requires
The Talas master Emilbek Barpiyev became known for his "smart stove." A correspondent from Turmush spoke with the 65-year-old resident of the village of Cholponbay in the Aitmatov district. The couple got married in 1989 after meeting through relatives. "We had our wedding in January when it was winter. We have three sons and three daughters, and now we enjoy watching our grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Two daughters and two sons have already started their own families, one
Turum Kokochо kyzy [Turum Kököчө kyzy] lives in one of the most remote corners of Kyrgyzstan. The Ak-Shiyrak rural area is located in the foothill zone of the Jeti-Oguz district in the Issyk-Kul region.
25-year-old Emirlan Jenishbekov, living in the village of Kyzyl-Birlik in the Chui region, became the regional champion in kök börü along with his team. Emirlan was born on May 14, 2000, and is a married father raising a daughter.
A married couple from the Kyzyl-Oktabrsky Aiyl Aimak of the Kemin District in the Chui Region, Jamalidin Omorov and Seyilbubu Alybaeva, have been married for over 50 years. In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, Seyilbubu Alybaeva shared that she was born in March 1952 in the village of Kyzyl-Dyikan in the Jayil District. Her husband was born in October 1948 in the village of Zhany-Alysh in the Kemin District to a family of a collective farm worker.
Salikh Majiyun, a resident of Karakol, is developing his passion for pigeons, which he inherited from his father. The 74-year-old pigeon breeder shares his experience in breeding and caring for pigeons.
A 34-year-old resident of the village of Kytai in the Jeti-Oguz district, Kylchbek uulu Emilbek, is engaged in carpentry. In a conversation with a Turmush correspondent, he shared that he graduated from the Karakol University named after Kasym Tynystanov in 2013 with a degree in energy engineering.
Jamila Eshperova, a 25-year-old resident of the village of Eshperovo located in the Ton district, creates unique paintings. In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, she shared that she was born on August 24, 2000, in Bishkek, but considers Eshperovo, where her father is from, her home.
At 24 years old, Bektur Ashyrbekov, living in Manas, has become a prominent figure advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. He achieved a legal victory against one of the city institutions, which led to the installation of a modern ramp for the disabled. Despite his physical limitations, Bektur has successfully mastered the professions of programmer, manager, and economist. Currently, he combines teaching at a college, running a small business, and studying in graduate school. His
Damira Naimanova, a 50-year-old resident of Osh, has been working as a junior staff member in the thantology department of the Osh regional bureau of forensic medical examinations for 12 years. Her job involves constant contact with death, and she shared her impressions with a Turmush correspondent. Born in 1976 in the village of Japalak, Damira is a married woman and a mother of two children — a son and a daughter. According to her, she initially planned to move to Russia, but when her
Kurmanbek Kanybek uulu — an investigator of the control and methodological department of the investigative department of the main internal affairs directorate of the city of Osh, spoke about his service in the internal affairs bodies and the path he has traveled. He is married and raising three sons. He was born on November 13, 1989, in the village of Kalinin in the Joosh rural district of the Kara-Suu region of Osh province. He is the eldest of three children and has a younger brother and
Kalybay Saralaev, a resident of the village of Don-Alysh in the Kochkor district of the Naryn region, is passionate about breeding Arashan sheep. Kalybay, born on January 11, 1972, into a teacher's family, has raised three children with his wife Rima. He has two daughters: the elder, Roza, is in Moscow, while the younger, Malina, works at the Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov. His son Emir studies at the history faculty of the Kyrgyz State University named after I.
Murad Beyshekeyev, who is 49 years old, lives in Talas and has been hunting wolves for many years. “I am engaged in agriculture and have been passionate about hunting since childhood. I have three uncles who were also hunters, and by observing them, I learned this craft. Hunting is not an easy task. To become a true master, qualities such as precision, courage, patience, and perseverance are necessary. Without these skills, it is impossible to achieve success,” he shares.
58-year-old Aibek Amanbaev from the village of Suulu-Maymak in the Aitmatov district of the Talas region is engaged in breeding Merino sheep. In 1985, he was drafted into the army and sent to Germany, and two years later he returned home.
Resident of the city of Karakol, Diana Chuvichkina, is a young designer and creator of unique handmade souvenirs inspired by the culture and atmosphere of Kyrgyzstan. A correspondent from Turmush spoke with the craftswoman.
Asan Sulaymanov has been working in the Ministry of Emergency Situations for 23 years. He was born in 1974 in the Kara-Suu district, and he has eight siblings; he and his brother are twins. According to Sulaymanov, he always emphasizes the fact that he has a twin brother.
Suyunbek Rakhimdulaev, a creative resident of Karakol, has been passionate about painting for many years, capturing the picturesque panoramas of his hometown on canvas. Now, having gone through numerous life challenges, he has returned to art and has become known as a talented master.
Some residents of the village of Rot-Front, observing Aizhan Taitakova's passion for collecting and drying medicinal herbs, predicted her future profession in medicine. Aizhan Ovosovna Taitakova, the head nurse in a family doctor group, has been working in the Issyk-Ata district of the Chui region for 36 years.
In the city of Osh, there is active participation of women in public transport. Among these professionals are Nuriila Kenzhebaeva, a trolleybus driver, and Barchynai Tuybaeva, a bus driver. They shared their stories about their journey into this field and interesting moments from their lives. Nuriila Kenzhebaeva, who has been working as a trolleybus driver for 10 years, admits that her decision to become a driver was unexpected.
Temirkul Botukeev, who is 75 years old, and his 73-year-old wife Kümüş Kulova have lived together for 47 years in Talas. Their son Bakhtiyar Temirkulov shared a touching story about their meeting and life together. “The fate of my parents, Temirkul Botukeev and Kümüş Kulova, began in the autumn of 1978 when they met on the streets of Talas. The city resembled a blooming garden: the trees were turning yellow, and the air was filled with fragrances. On that day, my father saw my mother just once,
Tynchtykbek Ongorbekov, who has been working in the police for over 27 years, is originally from the village of Teploklyuchenka in the Ak-Suu district of the Issyk-Kul region. He was born in 1967 in the village of Baizak (formerly San-Tash) in the Tyup district and is a trained veterinarian.
Tazagul Karataeva, who lives in the village of Ming-Bulak, located on the border with Tajikistan, made a bold choice by leaving her job as a teacher. For the past ten years, she has been successfully engaged in beekeeping, which provides her with a stable income. In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, Tazagul shared that her apiary consists of about 90 hives, although she started with just two. She has been involved in beekeeping for over a decade.
35-year-old Aizat Jamgyrchieva from the Bakai-Ata district of the Talas region is actively engaged in making sweets and earns an average of 30,000 soms per month. In a conversation with a Turmush correspondent, she shared that her family lives in the village of Bakai-Ata. “We have four children – three daughters and a son. We got married in 2011, and since then we have always supported each other. Our friends introduced us, and then we started communicating and decided to start a family.
A lawyer living in the Sokuluk district, Elnur Keneshbekov is currently training the youth from his village, achieving significant success. In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, E. Keneshbekov shared information about himself: he was born on August 10, 1993, and has been actively participating in amateur football competitions for ten years. Elnur is a resident of the village of Ismail, which was previously part of the Kyzyl-Tuu rural district.
Akbermet Akmatova, who lives in the Batken region, has dedicated 24 years of her life to the sewing industry. Previously, she worked as a seamstress both in Bishkek and in Russia, and now she has organized a small workshop right in her home in Batken. In her workshop, she not only takes orders but also teaches girls, which brings her additional income.
Gulnur is confident that raising geese and turkeys is a profitable business. “In the spring, we purchased 65 turkeys and 15 geese, spending 17,000 soms on feed. Turkeys cost between 1,500 and 2,000 soms, while young turkey chicks cost between 800 and 900 soms. They graze on the lawn by the river. In anticipation of the New Year holidays, we started selling. The price for slaughtered turkeys reaches 3,500 soms, while live turkeys cost about 1,800 soms. Geese are priced at 1,500 soms and take
Sharshekan Etbekova from the city of Karakol in the Issyk-Kul region sews Kyrgyz women's headwear. For young girls, she makes үкү топу (caps with owl feathers), and for adult women, she creates ак элечек.
Alisher Ismailov, a resident of Karakol in the Issyk-Kul region, is engaged in making bride chests despite his physical limitations. He was born on August 18, 1982, in Karakol, where after completing his schooling, he trained as a car mechanic. However, due to health issues, he was unable to continue working in this field and was assigned a disability group 2.
Kairykul Akmatova, a 60-year-old resident of the Ton district in the Issyk-Kul region, is actively engaged in handicrafts. She received her education at the Tokmok technical school, where she studied library science.
Altynai Supataeva, a 46-year-old resident of the village of Min-Bulak in the Bakai-Ata district of the Talas region, is engaged in sewing trousseaus for brides. In a conversation with a Turmush correspondent, she shared that she was born in the Aitmatov district. In 1998, after getting married, she moved to Min-Bulak. “My husband and I are raising four sons and one daughter. I became the youngest daughter-in-law in a large family, and therefore I did not engage in household chores. Since
Rustam Kopeyev, who lives in the village of Ak-Chiy, located in the Ak-Suu district of the Issyk-Kul region, has dedicated himself to metallurgy for the past 15 years. He was born on March 30, 1985, in the same village and, having received education only up to the 7th grade, later mastered the profession of a gas-electric welder.
Zhanat Marat kyzy, a mother of many children from Karakol, decided to start her own business by sewing at home. She received a sewing machine as part of a social contract program, which became an opportunity for her to earn money while staying close to her children. In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, Zhanat shared that she was born on January 26, 1991. In her childhood, she dreamed of becoming a teacher and, after completing her studies, received a diploma in "Kyrgyz language
Aizada Ilyasova, a 32-year-old resident of Jalal-Abad, creates unique products from textile waste. In her interview with Turmush, Aizada shared that she is involved in recycling fabric scraps left over from the work of sewing workshops. Previously, such waste was simply thrown away or burned, but over the past year, a group of women, including Aizada, has started turning them into useful products.
Karakol, located in the Issyk-Kul region, is famous for its green oases, with the garden of Nadezhda Morozova holding a special place among them, always overflowing with flowers and attracting the attention of passersby. Nadezhda was born in 1971 and currently lives with her 12-year-old son in a rented house. Her passion for gardening began in childhood when she was enchanted by the process that transforms tiny seeds into green sprouts and then into blooming plants.
Elnura Kadyrbek kyzy, a resident of the village of Koachu [Kööчү] in the Tyup district of the Issyk-Kul region, is successfully engaged in beekeeping. In 2024, she shared her experience and income from the business in an interview with a Turmush correspondent. Her interest in beekeeping began after her marriage when she decided to engage in this with her husband. "I am 34 years old, I was born in Ichke-Suu and graduated from the local school. My husband is from Koachu, we have been
In the Issyk-Kul region, in the village of Tyup, 35-year-old Elvira Sultanbaeva has been actively engaged in the art of confectionery for three years. In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, she shared that she produces a variety of sweets, with prices reaching up to 3,000 soms. This activity provides her with a stable income, especially during peak demand seasons.
Nazgul Kulmurzaeva, a resident of the village of Kara-Burgon, has been working as a teacher for 35 years. She is a mathematics and computer science teacher, continuing the work of her father, the renowned educator Bektur Kulmurzaev, who made a significant contribution to the development of the school.
Meizbubu Myrsalieva, a 74-year-old resident of the Talas region, recently ran 3 kilometers at a recent marathon. In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, she spoke about her roots, having been born in the village of Boo-Terek in the Bakai-Ata district. Her father worked in education for many years, serving as a school principal. The family had seven children, six of whom became teachers after receiving higher education.
Askar Abdysalamov, one of the pioneers in watermelon cultivation in the village of Buzhum in the Batken region, started his business a few years ago and now earns up to half a million soms a year. This information was shared with a Turmush correspondent.
Tashmama Nurdinova, a resident of the village of Okhna in the Kadamjai district of the Batken region, is a person with a disability of the II group, but this has not prevented her from starting her own business. In her home, she produces cosmetic and household products using beeswax, egg yolk, and other natural ingredients. Under the brand "Okhna ECO," Tashmama creates various products, including creams, ointments, soaps, shampoos, and lipsticks. "I am 41 years old, and I have a
Absamat Aitkulov, a resident of the Aksy district in the city of Kerben, previously, like many farmers, was engaged in selling fresh plums harvested from his own garden. Although this year's harvest turned out to be modest, he managed to organize processing and earn a decent amount of money.
A 39-year-old resident of Talas, Munduz Kudaybergenova, has become a true example of motherhood. A correspondent from Turmush spoke with her. Munduz was born in the village of Ak-Zhar, located in the Talas region, and got married in Aral, which is in the Manas region. Her future husband entered her life through mutual friends, and their acquaintance began 19 years ago with phone conversations. After a year of communication, on February 23, 2007, they became husband and wife.
73-year-old Bukarbai Tyumenbaev revived the ensemble "Uchkyn". He was born in the village of Kara-Talaa in the Ton district.
Erbolot, who started learning horseback riding at the age of 3-4, is now actively participating in the game of ulak and achieving significant success. He was born in 2005 in the village of Kuiruchuk, located in the Jumgal district of the Naryn region. Currently, Erbolot continues to live in his native village and works as a driver at the Karakete coal mine. After finishing high school, he studied at vocational college No. 5 in Bishkek.
In a remote village of the Ton district in the Issyk-Kul region, two women — a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law — are successfully running a business, providing for the residents of their village. Akzholtoy Satybayeva, a local resident from the upper gorge of the Ton district, shared with a Turmush correspondent about her entrepreneurial activities in this remote area.
Dokdurbek Sarbaev, a master of folk crafts from the village of Petrovka in the Moscow District of the Chuy Region, creates original products from horns, bones, and wood. According to a Turmush correspondent, 68-year-old Dokdurbek is considered a true professional in his field. His works, made from animal horns and bones, as well as wood, not only attract attention but also become a symbol of his many years of labor and creative approach.
Gulmira Zholdosheva, 51 years old, from Bakai-Ata, is a deputy of the local kenesh and actively supports women in her community. She was born in the village of Chon-Kapka (Pushkin) in the Manas district and was the fourth of nine children.