Beksultanova Chinara (11.21.1967) In 1991 graduated from the history department of the Kyrgyz State University. She has been working at the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnology since November 2005. She is a member of the ICH Conservation Working Group under the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic. \n- Research interests: material and spiritual culture of the Kyrgyz people: traditions and innovations, cultural changes in market conditions, the development of handicrafts and ways to preserve the cultural heritage of the people.

Chairperson of Maldives Authentic Crafts Cooperate Society (MACCS) and an advisory board member of Homenet South Asia, Aminath has been dedicating her work to the revival of traditional handicraft in the Maldives and empowering homebased workers, especially women. With Aminath’s leadership, MACCS has facilitated the market for buying and selling some traditional handicrafts while creating and establishing a network of homebased workers and crafters across the country. The women led corporative, MACCS has also completed projects on restoration and regeneration for natural vegetation, strengthening the livelihood initiative of homebased workers in the SAARC region, strengthening of market links for sustainable hau cultivation in Fiyori, livelihood support program for wetland management-climate change adaptation and piloting alternatives to single use plastic bags in Male’ amongst others. Aminath, has documented various traditional crafts emphasizing the need for supporting sustainable livelihood activities