Aigerim Janalinova is an entrepreneur and the Vice President of the Association of Social Innovators of Central Asia, a position she has held since 2022. Since 2018, she has simultaneously assumed the role of Director at "Aspan Life" LLC. She is Chairman of the Sub-committee on Development of Social Entrepreneurship at Atameken Chamber, where she continues to drive social entrepreneurship initiatives within Kazakhstan. From 2010 to 2013, Aigerim was a part of the team at Samsung Electronics in Kazakhstan and Central Asia as a Product Manager.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Enhancing Social Entrepreneurship in Regions and Rural Areas

The project supported social entrepreneurs in rural areas by providing them with necessary training and resources and facilitating networking opportunities to enhance their business models for social impact. Eight training programs on social entrepreneurship were organized, two podcast episodes on inclusive business strategies were produced, and participants were connected with expert mentors to help them to refine their business models, strategies, and social impact goals. Overall, the project fostered a greater awareness and understanding of social entrepreneurship, contributing to community development and empowerment. The project contributed to the increase in the number of officially registered social entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan. At the beginning of 2023, there were only 95,  now there are 275.

Aigerim was also a panelist for the IVLP Impact Awards Alumni Discussion Series panel on “Promoting Economic Prosperity,” which you can read more about here.

Click here to watch Aigerim's Training Podcasts

"This training opened my eyes to the power of social entrepreneurship in transforming communities. It's not just about business; it's about making a real difference." - Workshop participant

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Aigerim participated in the IVLP Project The Impact of Social Entrepreneurship, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center, in partnership with Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy, Global Ties Alabama, Cleveland Council on World Affairs, and the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors program branch in New York City.

Aigerim's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "During my IVLP experience, I was profoundly inspired by the dedication and passion of the social entrepreneurs I met in various cities. Their relentless pursuit of positive change ignited a spark within me to create something meaningful for my own community. The insights shared by a remarkable speaker like Professor Franz Kolb from Utah resonated deeply, reminding me that small actions can lead to significant impacts. The support and encouragement received from our gracious city host family further reinforced my belief in the transformative power of volunteering. It is with this newfound inspiration and conviction that the IVLP Impact Award Project was born, driven by the desire to empower individuals and catalyze positive change, just as I witnessed and experienced during my IVLP journey. "

U.S. Communities Visited

Huntsville, AL; Washington, DC; New York City, NY; Cleveland, OH; Salt Lake City, UT

"Our hope is to witness communities flourish as social entrepreneurs create sustainable solutions, leaving a lasting legacy of inclusivity, opportunity and prosperity for generations to come." - Aigerim Janalinova

Country: Kazakhstan

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