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A Bright Future: Spotlight on 2008 Tajik Interns

Tajik Interns: Amniya Shahbozova and
Ramziya Muborakshoeva Over the past eight years, Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. has welcomed 15 Tajiks to intern at its headquarters in Washington D.C to provide young adults with professional development experience to implement in their own country. At the end of their stay in the United States, the 2008 Tajik interns: Amniya Shahbozova and Ramziya Muborakshoeva, shared highlights of their experience. Despite the twosome’s protests to “fix the language to make us sound better,” their message is clear: the future is full of promise, for them and for Tajikistan.

Civil War to M.B.A.: Amniya Shahbozova

In October 2008, Amniya joined the ranks of the 15 recent college graduates from Tajikistan who have come to Washington D.C. to participate in the Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. Tajik Internship Program over the past eight years. At the end of her stay in the United States, Amniya Shahbozova took a moment to share the highlights of her experience noting that: it will be a Cветлое Будущее, or a bright future, full of promise for her and for Tajikistan. 

Upon learning that she was “among the two lucky students” selected to intern at AKF U.S.A. headquarters in Washington, D.C.; Amniya Shahbozova had no hesitations.  Given the often difficult visa application process and travel expenses, “I thought that this might be the only opportunity I have to go to the United States” and “my family encouraged me to take advantage of it to further my education.”

Beyond learning how grants are won and managed as the Intern in the Finance Department, she also had her stay extended an additional three months to work with the Programs Department on proposal and budget development.  “To have the opportunity to see the full grant cycle, not just the financial side, was very cool,” says the 23-year-old enthusiastically.  Despite an already full schedule, observing “how people here want to continue their education and carefully plan the steps to reach their career goals,” convinced Amniya to sign up for accounting courses.  She explains, “I knew I want an MBA in the future and taking finance courses while I am here is a great opportunity to see if I could succeed- and I can.” Of course, there was time to soak up the excitement of living in the nation’s capital, including witnessing “such a historic moment” as President Obama’s inauguration. 

Amniya’s ambitious spirit is all the more commendable given her childhood growing up amid Tajikistan’s civil war from 1992 to 1997.  Fleeing from Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, to the more isolated area of Khorog in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast Province for safety, her family faced food shortages, due to the conflict and the remote location.  However, watching AKF along with other organizations deliver bags of flour and vitamins, was a continual source of comfort.  It proved that “someone remembers and cares about me, so I will survive,” she says.

Overall, Amniya is pleased that her “first time in the United States was with AKF – rather than as a tourist or a student.  I grew professionally to define my career goals – where I see myself in five years.” And what are those goals?  To start her own business or organization in Tajikistan in order to aid in her country’s development. “It’s good to receive funds from international organizations, but in the long-run, you need to find ways to support yourself,” she reasons.

A Beneficiary Giving Back: Ramziya Muborakshoeva

Ramziya Muborakshoeva’s experience with Aga Khan Foundation has truly come full circle.  From secondary school education to professional development through the AKF USA Tajik Internship Program, “it is impossible to underestimate the impact the Foundation has had on [Ramzyia’s] life.  And now, she is ready to put the skills and knowledge gained interning at AKF USA headquarters in Washington D.C. toward the continuing development of her home country.

As an International and Comparative Politics major at the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Ramziya dreamt of interning in the United States.  Attending the university through the support of an AKF scholarship, she took several courses in American society and history and cultivated a curiosity about the home country of her American professors with “such great personalities.”  Also, her passion for politics had sparked an interest in pursuing a career in development.  As the 25-year-old explained, “today’s politics are impacted by the global issues that emerge from underdevelopment, like health epidemics, unsustainable use of natural resources and extremism” and there is a “big need for qualified, development professionals in my country.”  After field internships with AKDN programs in her hometown of Khorog, an internship at AKF USA headquarters seemed like the perfect opportunity “to see how funds are secured and directed to the field and to narrow down [her] interests.”

Interning with the Programs department turned out to be an “empowering and inspiring experience” for Ramziya.  She was thrilled at the important responsibilities she was assigned, such as monitoring a water and sanitation program in Kenya .  Watching everything come together during the proposal development process, as her fellow Programs team members  remained “so supportive and professional despite impending deadlines” in order to secure funding for projects supporting child survival, village organizations and addressing HIV/AIDS, was another highlight of her experience.

Having grown up in a community supported by AKF and AKDN projects, Ramziya is now looking forward to making her own contribution to Tajikistan’s development.  Post-civil war, the Network switched focus from humanitarian assistance to development projects, like constructing pipes to bring water to her community and sponsoring her secondary school – the Aga Khan Lycee, now the best in the region due to its “quality teachers and resources.”  In fact, her family recently acquired an Aga Khan Agency of Microfinance (AKAM) small-business loan to start a neighborhood café.  Through her internship, Ramziya has reaffirmed her interest in development and gained the confidence to realize that she too “can be helpful at bringing about development in Tajikistan.”

As she prepares to journey back to Tajikistan, Ramziya is committed to ensuring a thriving future: for herself and for her country: comforted to know that she isn’t alone in that endeavor.  Observing hundreds of Americans gathered at the 2008 Partnership Walk in Los Angeles to show their commitment to alleviating poverty across the globe, Ramziya mentioned she was surprised and touched.  Participation at the Walk “shows solidarity to our grievances in Tajikistan.  You don’t have to deal with problems yourself -- you have constructive support.”