Herbal tea with a social mission

At 63, Sharapat Aktanova directs Kadam, a rehabilitation centre for people with disabilities in Naryn. Tirelessly advocating for her community, she has built partnerships and secured investments to improve the centre’s services.

One of her most successful initiatives is Arpa Chai, a social enterprise producing natural barley tea for export to Japan and Korea. It all started in October 2021, when representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency trained five members of her organisation to make Mugi Tea, a traditional barley tea. Inspired by its health benefits, she decided to begin production.

Eager to grow Arpa Chai beyond a small local initiative, Sharapat and her team joined the SPCE entrepreneurship course. There, they learned to prepare a business plan, promote their products online and attract financing. In 2024, UCA’s Naryn Sustainable Development Programme provided a grant for new equipment, allowing them to expand production.

Currently, the enterprise employs four parents of children with disabilities and two women with disabilities. In addition, volunteers and other interested people take part. Together, they handle every stage of production from cleaning and roasting to packaging, turning locally grown barley into a source of income.

Made entirely from locally grown barley without chemical additives, the tea is environmentally friendly, vitamin-rich and valued for its digestive benefits. Since 2022, Arpa Chai has been sold in hotels and shops across Naryn and Bishkek. The enterprise has since earned regional and national branding awards and secured financing to expand its production.

Looking ahead, Sharapat and her team hope to create more jobs, especially for people with disabilities, and eventually bring Arpa Chai to international markets.