In 2006, six returned Peace Corps Volunteers who had been deeply moved by the young Turkmen they had come to know during their two years of service in Turkmenistan established what became the Arzuw Foundation. Arzuw is a Turkmen word which means "hope" or "dream" and represented the heart of our work and the young people that we served.
For 17 years, the Arzuw Foundation played an important role in funding dozens of Turkmen students’ educational aspirations through direct academic scholarships, no-interest “bridge” loans, and small grants. In 2024, the Arzuw Foundation ceased its operations but the dream continues, passed on to the next generation of Turkmen who are investing in the future.
For an example of such work, please check out the Progres Foundation here, a non-profit organization that supports initiatives that contribute to the understanding of contemporary Turkmenistan, and to shaping a new vision and approaches to sustainable human development in Turkmenistan.