MUJI×JICA PROJECT Kyrgyz #04 Messages received from the manufacturing communities and their next steps. | MUJI Laboratory for Living

#04 Messages received from the manufacturing communities and their next steps.

This time, we would like to introduce messages received from the manufacturing communities who have now become felt product professionals. By experiences through this project, the participants have gained the opportunity of earing income and will be opening a new OVOP (One Village One Product) store in November, 2012.

1．Ms.Zamira from Bosteri Village

Picture: Ms. Zamira with her products in an apple field. Kyrgyz is famous for apples.

Looking back on the 2012 MUJI-JICA Project and goals for next year.

We enjoy making felt items very much and the MUJI-JICA project was an interesting experience. We learned the standards for making high quality products and requirements for international trading.
Personally, I learned and experienced the importance of working together as a group and overcome difficulties without giving up.
We are very satisfied with the project and looking forward to next year's opportunities.

Message from Ms.Zamira

The Kyrgyzstan felt items do not contain extra substances and is made from natural materials. Therefore they are very clean. The wool for the felt is shaved from sheep, washed using only soap and water, and is compressed by hand.
We carefully hand made all our items and would be happy if many people enjoy the use of them. We hope the connection between your country and Kyrgyz will be enriched through our products.

2．Ms.Zuura from Ak-Sai Village

Picture: The lady in the red dress at the center of the picture is Ms.Zuura.
A picture taken with other members of the manufacturing group and MUJI-JICA project members.

Looking back on the 2012 MUJI-JICA Project and goals for next year.

This year's MUJI-JICA project was more fulfilling compared to last year, since we were able to manufacture better quality items. Also, we were able to keep the requested deadlines.
We feel happy and proud of the opportunity of being introduced through the internet enabling people around the world to know about Kyrgyz.
The MUJI-JICA project was a valuable opportunity for the development of Kyrgyz and also was a motivating experience for us. This year we had more people join the project from our village, sharing tips with one another and supporting each other.
The women in our village are already ready for next year's project.

Message from Ms. Zuura

Representing our group, I would like to thank MUJI and JICA for the opportunity of participating in this project. We were able to experience, achieve and learn a great deal of things. We have carefully made each and every item, and hope you will like our products.

3．Ms. Zoya from Korumdu Village

Picture: The lady second from the left is Ms.Zoya, with members of her community.

Looking back on the 2012 MUJI-JICA Project and goals for next year.

We think the MUJI-JICA project was very fulfilling. The training for the phone case and card case was a great learning experience. Also, the project gave us, the women of the village, opportunity of earning incomes to support our families. It also led us to communicate with other manufacturing groups to share each other's experiences.
We are looking forward to taking part in next year's project and will aim for higher quality products based on what we have already learned.

Message from Ms.Zoya

Please take a close look at our items. We hope the connection between your country and Kyrgyz will further develop through the products. Thank you all, and to the people of Japan, we pray for no more disasters in your country.

4．The following are income usage is of the earnings from MUJI - JICA project.

Muji income usage ( 1som = about 0.02US$ )

#	CBO name	How they used
1	"Syimyk", Ak-Sai Village	From our Muji income, we collected CBO fund from each of us 500 som. It will be used for joint necessities. For instance from that money we already used to purchase lime and paint to whitewash and paint our working place. The rest we will keep and use upon necessity. One of our members purchased potato seed for next year in order to plant in a bigger field & sell potato thus making income. Others, purchased 2 sheep, used for minor construction works at their house, bought furniture and paid education fee of children who are studying in Bishkek.
2	"Tor -Ene 1", Kashat Village	Each of us used that money differently: some of us used for household necessities such as construction works ,others purchased warm clothes for children since winter is coming and used for personal health improving expenses such as dentist visit expenses etc.
3	"Semirai", Bosteri Village	Some part used for re-paying credit which I borrowed before and the rest added into construction expenses since we are doing household building works at home.
4	"Iygilik", Ak-Sai Village	We are new CBO, but we realize that we need a CBO fund, therefore we put aside 3000 som. And our members used their income just for everyday life issues such as paying children's education fee, buying for them clothes and other necessary things.
5	"Demilge", Ak-Sai Village	Some of the members used for re-paying their credit borrowed earlier. Others purchased things like washing machnine, stove etc and one of our member used for operation of her child.
6	"El-Aiym", Cholponata town	As a CBO, we jointly purchased a car for 4000$. We will use it for CBO needs such as bringing raw material or delivery of ready products or visiting other CBOs for training. Tomorrow we are having training in Tor-Ene CBO to teach them how to make slippers, so we will go there by our car. We are having a big order from Russia for slippers, so it will be like Muji joint activity. We will complete it together, because only one CBO can not do it.
7	"Shharsheeva", Kara-Oi Village	We purchased sheep which gives good quality wool and we want to develop this activity of sheep breeding in order to be able to have our own wool in the near future.

Information

1. MUJI took part in the "Global Festa(*1)" on October 7th, 2012. The audience of this gathering was people who are interested in international cooperation. There, we introduced the goals and experiences of the "MUJI-JICA Project - Revitalization Through Holiday Gift Manufacturing", together with the items produced through the project.

2．In November, 2012, an OVOP store opened in Bishkek the capital of Kyrgyz. This store functions as a showroom for the products produced through OVOP projects. Here, the manufacturers will be able to earn income and also analyze sales results to develop better selling items. MUJI will support the opening of the OVOP store by purchasing 200 pieces and exhibiting details of the MUJI-JICA project on panel boards.

Picture: Panel explaing the details of MUJI-JICA project.