Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva is a proponent of philanthropy

If philanthropy means, the desire to promote welfare in others, then Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva is most definitely a proponent of that. Born in Uzbekistan, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva recognized a need back in her home country and responded by launching a foundation called You Are Not Alone in 2002. Along with her husband, Timur Tillyaev, the organization aids orphaned and abandoned children to have a second chance in life.

The concept of philanthropy differs from that of charity by looking beyond the immediate needs of those it assists. Where charity may breed dependence, philanthropy invests in the capabilities of those receiving assistance with the longer-term goal of imparting skills to enable them to achieve autonomy. In this way, over time, recipients develop the ability to support themselves unaided. It is for this reason that while, Lola Karimova and her foundation, You Are Not Alone do provide a variety of services like healthcare, the major focus is education. In their own words; “Education is at the heart of everything the You Are Not Alone foundation does,” (http://timurtillyaevtimurtilliaev.over-blog.com/you-are-not-alone-foundation-timur-tillyaev-lola-karimova).

Guided by the philanthropic ideal that, to give a man a fish and you’ve fed him for a day; teach him to fish you feed him for life, the You Are Not Alone Foundation’s Educational Centre has assisted over 2,500 children and seen no fewer than 240 go onto to university.

Though philanthropy by necessity requires a certain amount of financial resourcing, true philanthropy goes far beyond that. It entails a sincere investment of time and personal attention. Here too Lola Karimova demonstrates how philanthropy applies in the furiously-paced, globalized world of today. Whilst being a mum to her three children and running her own perfume house, The Harmonist, Lola still finds the time to be regularly engaged in You Are Not Alone, it is this personal commitment that truly demonstrates the depth of her attachment to philanthropy.

In 2004, Lola Karimova expanded her philanthropic commitments in Uzbekistan by opening the National Centre for the Social Adaptation of Children. This ambitious project seeks to “provide life-enhancing opportunities to children with disabilities” and offers “diagnosis, orthopaedic and neurological treatment, speech therapy and education free of charge”.  Since opening, the centre has assisted over 7,500 children and their families.

Top 5 Amazing Attractions When Travelling in Bukara

Chor Minor, meaning the four minarets in Persian, would appear to be a fairly apt name for this gorgeous edifice. However, the towers do not function as minarets. The building was originally part of a much larger structure which has long been demolished. Happily, for us, Chor Minor did not meet the same fate for there is nothing else quite like in the entire city. Interestingly, each tower is decorated with unique motifs. It has been suggested that they reflect four of the major, historically significant religious influences of the region; Christian, Buddhist, Zoroastrian and Islamic. Thanks to the efforts of UNESCO of which Lola Karimova was a member, this jewel of Central Asian architecture has won the protection of World Heritage Listing. 

But who is Lola Karimova?

Lola Karimova is the perfect representation of Uzbekistan. Lola Karimova was born in Uzbekistan and is a businesswoman, mother and married to businessman Timur Tillyaeva.

Lola Tillyaeva loves Bukara and enjoying all the fantastic places that this city has to offer.

Few cities anywhere can offer a shopping experience quite like Bukara. Forget your glassed-in, air-conditioned, mammoth shopping malls with the music piped in. That just isn’t how things should be done on the Silk Road. Follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo and other great travelers of yore. Since the 16^th  century, Bukara’s trading domes have drawn traders and merchants from near and afar. Designed to circulate cool air, the maze of domed rooves, bazaars and alleyways is an attraction in itself.

Central Asia in general is a tea-drinker’s paradise. In Bukara, you’ll find most folk drink green tea (kuk-choy) but black tea (kora-choy) is still common. What is less common is drinking tea with milk, so maybe leave your Irish nana at home. As a rule, the locals also drink their tea without sugar, so if you’ve a sweet tooth, best order kand-choy (tea with sugar). Apart from that, there’s an exciting array of spiced teas and herbal teas to explore. Probably the best place to start would be to plonk yourself down in chaikhana (teahouse) in one of the trading domes and just soak up the atmosphere. Though fans of the bean are less spoilt for choice, all is not lost. The internet is abuzz with reports of the rich, smooth cappuccinos at Wishbone Café.

Given Uzbekistan is a rich grain producing region, bread and noodles are common. Plov is the national dish and features rice, meat, carrot and onion. However, there is much, much more to it than this simple description would suggest. Like any national dish it varies enormously from place to place. In Bukara, for instance, their preference is to include mung beans. As sheep are widely farmed in Uzbekistan, meat lovers will be enticed by cutlets, stews, roasts and the ubiquitous kebab. Happily, most of Bukara’s best eating options are within strolling distance of the Magoki Attor Mosque. Hence, your best bet might be to simply amble about and follow your nose.

For a city of 250,000 people, Bukara punches well above its weight in terms of accommodation options.  200 Euros will allow you to live like a king at the Orient Star Varaxsha for a full weekend and still have enough left over to cover dinner. Alternatively, you could try the romantic, small scale retreat, Emir. Featuring a flower-filled courtyard, it is a gorgeous taste of traditional style Uzbek home-making.