Majority of refugee and asylum-seekers, having come to Azerbaijan, have no chances to receive an education or acquire any trade since their adolescent and youth period has come across with war and conflicts. These people, having no constant source of income, are obliged to manage only through limited assistance they receive.
Since 2003 so far, within frameworks of "Capacity building of refugee and asylum-seekers in Azerbaijan and Logistical support ” project, being implemented under donority of UNHCR for the most vulnerable asylum-seekers or those with disabled family member,as in previous years, not only the vulnerable asylum-seekers, but also physically defected – disabled people is benefiting from the project in the current 2009 year.
These youth desire to receive education or acquire any trade, and thus become active members of the society, they need a stimulation. Two disabled asylum-seeker youth, having involved in the apprenticeship courses this year, distinguished more than others. They differ from other disabled for they are not able to hear and speak.
Tsamkhayeva Maret is a citizen of Chechnya. She is 15 years old. Her parents approached to "Umid” HSSC for involving her in dressmaking courses together with her sister. We had some hesitation for this trade required much more responsibility. But any objection would lose all hopes. We decided to give Maret a chance after consulting with a trade-master Sarkarova Saymet.
It is already two months that Maret attends apprenticeship courses together with the youth of the same age, and is mastering hairdressing. Her sister Markha helps her in this work. She explains the words of the trade-master to her sister with her hands. Maret’s parents are very pleased for their girl is receiving on-the-job training together with healthy and normal people. They speak about positive changes which they have observed in their girl during her attendance in these courses. Beforehand, Maret was closed, preferred to be alone and used to do no work during a day. But now, Maret prefers to be in the society, tries to help her mother in daily household affairs and basically, tries to sew clothes for her little sister.
Her mother Makka told us with tears: "Recently, she sewed a skirt out of a fabric, given her as a training material, with the help of her trade-master, and showed it to all her friends very cheerfully”.
Afghanistan citizen Jamil Rezvan were involved in computer courses at her mother’s request. Rezvan is receiving on-the-job training individually twice a week. The first two training sessions were testing ones. After verification of Rezvan’s perception ability, he was decided to be involved in the courses.
Now Rezvan comes to the training with his mother Leyla, and understands sayings of a trade-master with the help of his mother. Trainer explains the operations to Rezvan’s mother, and she hands over trade-master’s words to Rezvan with the help of her hands. Rezvan is already able to do several computer operations independently during a short period of time. Rezvan knows letters, he can read and write. Currently, he is learning MS Word Program. After acquiring an ability to work in a computer independently, he is planned to receive a training on working on Internet. Through using Internet, Rezvan can get acquainted with physically defected youth like himself, create friendly relations, and thus can make his life variegated.
With a motto of "Let’s give the people environment for creating marvels”, "Umid” HSSC helps the people to see future with faith and hope as well.