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Newsletter 2007 -third release
Umid HSSC started a new project
Since August of 2007 “Umid” HSSC has started implementation of a new
project - “Initiative of Expansion of Employment and Economic
Opportunities of the Youth along Baku Corridor”.
The project is being implemented in communities of Baku city Khatai
region’s Zygh Highway, Sabail region 20th branch, and Bayil, Bibiheybet
and Shikhov districts under financial support of BP Exploration (The
Caspian Sea) Ltd. and its partners within the framework of BP’s
“Community Investment Program -II”.
The project is seeking to conform the Apprenticeship Program to the
youths’ needs through formation of an available environment thereby
increasing the youths’ and community members’ appropriate habits
demanded by the market, opportunities for their employment and income
generation.
Within the project a support will be ensured to provide the motivated
youth with practical and theoretical work habits through Apprenticeship
courses, as well as to enhance craftsmen’s and entrepreneurs’ business
potentials and to help the most successful graduates of Apprenticeship
courses to build their entrepreneurial activities through Jump Start
Economic Projects (JSEP).
The project is scheduled to be implemented by August’ 2008.
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“…Umid HSSC
has accomplished a creative and effective strategy for income
generation and employment through Apprenticeship and BDS
services, and a great demand to it justifies growth of resources
and renewal of an attention towards it. Credit linkage program
has been firmed and strengthened relations with credit-makers.
Umid HSSC possesses a potential necessary for expanding and
managing its client base”.
Christopher Cyliski
Expert on Development in USAID which has an experience of
working in different European and Asian countries
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Education for Development:
Improving education conditions in IDP schools
Strengthening the skills of IDP youth and expanding economic
opportunities
Logistical support for vulnerable IDPs in Azerbaijan
Implementation of the project “Education for development, vocational
training for IDP youth and logistical support for vulnerable IDPs in
Azerbaijan” embracing activity directions of “Umid” HSSC - the
education, community development, expansion of economic opportunities,
and distribution of humanitarian relief items successfully continued
during this quarter.
Education for Development
For expansion of education opportunities in IDP communities
repairs-refurbishment works were made at 3 schools –Gubadly region’s
Demirchiler rural, Fuzuli region’s secondary #9 and Kelbejer region’s
secondary #117 schools, and given to usage of the schoolchildren on
September 15- “School Day”. To this effect, an opening ceremony of
classrooms repaired at Kelbejer region’s secondary school #117. The
event was attended by Mr. V.Toll, the head of UNHCR delegation in
Azerbaijan, Mr. G.Sadigov, the head of the department in the Cabinet of
Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan for problems of refugees and
IDPs, migration and work with international organizations, Mr.
J.Gurbanov, the deputy, and representatives of Kelbejer region Executive
Authority, Education Department and UNHCR.
At schools 15 classrooms and 2 community centers were repaired and
refurbished, and 2 classrooms and a community center (Fuzuli #9) were
constructed and supplied with furniture and equipment.
In order to ensure community members close participation during
repairs&refurbishment works at schools there were conducted round tables
and held community meetings with topics such as “Activity Plan of CAG
related with repairs-refurbishment works”, “Supoprt by a community in
repairs-refurbishment works”, “Evaluation of repairs-refurbishment
works”, “Results of an assessment conducted in the area in accordance
with the law on compulsory education” and “Preparation for new academic
year”.
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“Umid” HSSC’s
education effort is based upon expansion of education
capabilities of communities.
Improvement of education conditions includes repairs, renovation
or refurbishment educational institutions such as a school,
kindergarten, restoration of their water, sewerage, heating
systems, establishment of and richening the school and community
libraries.
In view of addressing education problems in communities
Parent-Teacher Associations are established and actions taken
for development of their capacities. These actions include round
tables and training sessions.
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7 training sessions on “Conflicts solution” and “Proposal Writing” were
conducted for capacity building of members of Teacher-Parent
Associations created with a view to address education problems in
communities. The sessions were attended by 90 TPA members.
Apprenticeship for IDP youth
On Apprenticeship component 30 youth acquired vocational skills on car
fitter, metalworker-painter, confectioner, welder, doors and windows
production, photo-video, dressmaker, hairdresser and barber and car
engine repairs obtained relevant certificates. 7 out of these youth were
provided with jobs and 1 built his/her own business.
At present 10 youth from IDP and vulnerable families are being
apprenticed on fields such as hairdresser, car engine repairs, mobile
phone repairs.
Logistical support for IDPs
Distribution of non-food humanitarian relief items being brought to
Azerbaijan by UNHCR ‘s support continued within the current quarter.
In July, August and September months of 2007 Umid HSSC provided 1924
IDP families (7341 people) inhabiting Sheki, Goranboy and Agdash regions
with quilts, layettes, weaving materials, medical-hygienic kits, soaps,
women clothes, pullovers and coats.
National NGOs were involved in the distribution process as well. 1140
IDP families (4698 people) inhabiting Gabala, Füzuli, Khyzy, Barda and
Baku city and 624 refugees (1615 people) taking refuge in Baku were
provided with non-food relief items by “Sona” Women’s Organization, Praxis,
For the Sake of Civil Society PU,
Norwegian Refugees Center and Community
Development Assessments, Training and Resources Center.
Future Communities Program
Future Communities Program aiming mainly at developing the communities
along the Eastern part of BTC/SCP into enterprising, self-governing and
self-organizing communities that can sustain by making use of their
income generation skills and instruments successfully continued its
performance this quarter. The program is implemented with the financial
support by BP Exploration (The Caspian) Ltd. company and its Partners
under collaboration of International Organization “Save the Children”
(USA) and Agro Information Center.
Development of Star CG and Municipalities in
direction of mentoring
In view of capacity building by using Living University Conception Star
Community Groups delivered to Nascent Community Groups and
Municipalities the following training sessions on new topics:
In respect of better perception of the training topics by the nascent
communities and effectiveness of training delivery process, each of Star
CG and Municipality leaders was provided with consultation hours.
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“...I’m trying to
deliver to developing communities knowledge I acquired from
“Umid” HSSC’s trainers who possess an ability to very easily
concord theory and practice during training sessions.
While conducting a session I’m using available training methods
and feeling that I manage to deliver training sessions once I
received”.
Alesger Alekperov,
“Ulduz” community’s leader
in Hajiqbul region Padar settlement
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Note that, 5 Star and 15 Nascent communities cover Yevlakh, Agdash,
Ujar, Kurdamir and Hajigabul regions.
Income generation
Business Development Services serving for development of business fields
existing in target areas, expansion of entrepreneurs’ knowledge and
skills are one of substantial components of the project. First, needs of
entrepreneurs active in the area for business development services are
identified, then business consultations are provided according to their
needs. Within the past quarter 15 business consultations were provided
in Chohranly community of Kurdamir region on topics such as Credit
management, Definition of business plan, Marketing, Financial analysis,
Recordkeeping, Calculation of face-value of a product, IDTP, Simplified
tax. Entrepreneurs marked that information they gained during
consultations would be helpful to more efficiently make their business.
To improve access of entrepreneurs to credit agencies meetings were
arranged with responsible officers from Ali-Bayramly affiliate of FİNCA
Organization and Azeri Star micro-credit organization active in Barda.
A training session on “Credit and its management” was conducted in
Ranjbar and Mugan communities of Hajigabul region with participation of
30 entrepreneurs.
Apprenticeship
Within the quarter Apprenticeship assessments were conducted only in
urban communities such as Sangachal, Sahil and Umid districts and 25
youth were involved in training sessions on 5 trade fields (car engine
repairs, hairdresser, welder, electricity engine repairs and mobile
phone repairs).
At present in Kurdamir, Yevlakh, Ujar, Hajıgabul regions 26 youth are
acquiring vocational skills on Apprenticeship component. 4 youth having
acquired knowledge and skills they desired near experienced craftsmen
completed the apprenticeship courses.
Improvement of potable
water provision in communities along Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) and
Southern Caucasian Pipeline –II stage
The project “Improvement of potable water provision in communities -II”
being implemented with the purpose of improvement of potable water
provision in communities along Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and
meeting the population’s need in potable water, is follow-up of the I
stage of that project and covers 5 new communities of Ujar and Kurdamir
regions.
Project activities mainly focus on presenting the technologies and
meeting the potable water needs of the community which will maintain the
sustainability of devices to be mounted. Thus efforts made for capacity
building of the community are pursuing a goal of providing or enhancing
demanded commercial knowledge, and technological know-how on water
purification.
In order to increase organizational and institutional capacities of
newly selected communities (Kurdamir region’s Chohranly, Atakishili and
Teze Shilyan, Ujar region’s Alpout and Garabork communities), members of
CAGs of these communities and representatives of Municipality and local
authorities were involved in training sessions on “Organizational
Management and Planning”, “Information Management” and “Effective
Presentation” within “Future Communities Program”.
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DRINK PURE WATER!!!
Education activities being undertaken in communities aim at
awareness-raising of the population on pure water. Just to this
effect, meetings are arranged through posters and booklets among
either schoolchildren, or population about quality and
importance of water purified through water purifiers installed
in communities.
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In the communities, construction of the
building where water purifiers will be installed, construction of water
precipitating reservoirs, and fencing the surrounding areas are
performed by “Sema F” LLC selected via a bid. During the construction
works community members, representatives of municipality and local
executive authorities are taking active part.
In the first stage of the project in 6 communities work with LLCs
established to manager daily run of water purifiers and to ensure
transparency of receipt and spending of income from water sale is
continuing.
So, to improve water sale process and meet community members’ needs in
pure water 2 automobiles of model QAZ-3302-18 were purchased, 2-tone
water tanks were mounted over these automobiles and given to the usage
of LLCs.
There are constantly arranged consultation hours to increase commercial
knowledge and skills of LLCs.
USAID’s Community
Development Activity
“Umid” HSSC proceeds with expansion of local economic opportunities by
rehabilitation of economic infrastructure within USAID’s “Community
Development Activity” Program underway in north-west region of the
Republic with support of USAID and CHF organizations.
In target communities arrangement of round tables, consultation hours
and community meetings in direction of community development were
continued, capacity building of community development councils and
community members was supported.
6 communities involved in the process - Khachmaz region’s Uchgun,
Gusarchay, Guba region’s: Mohuck, Davudoba, Gusar region’s: Boyuk Murug
and Xuray communities were provided with “Identification of Social and
Infrastructure Needs” training sessions. During the session priority
needs were identified, accordingly a project proposal and budget was
designed and submitted to International CHF org.
This quarter witnessed continuation of the implementation of social and
infrastructure proposals in the following communities:
Gandab community – Electricity system restoration
Ashagy Zeyid community - Electricity system restoration
Amsar community - Water system restoration
Piral community - Irrigation system restoration
Hajihuseynli community – Refurbishment of school’s gym
Balagusar community - Irrigation system restoration
Badirgala community - Water system restoration
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Success story - May be life of
yours as long as water…
October 3, 2007. This date left a
trace which will not drop for a long time from memory of
Garachay Jek inhabitants. That day was a day of reporting about
successes achieved by Garachay Jek community during a period of
one and half year owing to community development process. Thus
the community members assembled for an opening ceremony of
“Water system restoraton” project implemented within Community
Development Activity Program being carried out jointly by CHF
and “Umid” HSSC under financial support by USAID. At last the
community, which have been demonstrating a diligence, activity
and belief for several months in this work, could reap the fruit
of their labour. People having gathered in the event shone with
joy and their faces expressed satisfaction.
Another reason for this joy was related with greeting of high
level guests for the first time at the history of the community.
Representatives of US State Departmet and USAID arrived at the
community for participating at the ceremony. Likewise, Lale
Abbasova, a deputy of Milli Mejlic who met with village
inhabitants in July, CHF’s and “Umid” HSSC’s management also
attended the ceremony for sharing joyfulness of the community.
The guests merged with the event arranged in the project area
and congratulated the Community Development Council and simple
village inhabitants for their achievements and wished successes
in their further works.
150 Garachay Jek village which has a history of over 150 years
and inhabited by 560 poeple is located at 14 km from Khachmaz
region center. The community has been involved in USAID’s
Community Development Activity Project since May’ 2006. During
past months the community members and selected Community
Development Council acquired organizational skills through
training sessions and weekly meetings on different topics, and
within a short period of time managed to accomplish “Repairs of
roads inside the village” and “Water system restoration”
projects with total value of 22 811,92 AZN (CHF– 15 010,2 AZN;
community -7 801,72 AZN) in direction of improvement of
socio-economical infrastructure.
During this process selected CDC members applied their
capacities to a great extent. With a view to ensure its
involvement in entire projects in the form of a contribution the
community established a Community Fund, mobilized its financial,
material and labour forces and developed an activity plan.
While sharing her delight with us Zinyat khanum, a CDC member
expressed her impression from the event so: “If one year ago
this day of ours has been described for me, I would simply guess
it as a dream. Since my birth I hadn’t seen such a reviving in
our village. There are a plenty of problems waiting for solution
in our village. Significant one among them was a lack of potable
water. Especially women always felt this difficulty. But the
village had not enough financial support for removing this
provlem. While the inhabitants were hopeful for receiving an aid
for this problem we achieved this support. CHF and Umid
organizations having been cooperated with us since may of the
last year didn’t leave us in the lurch. They helped us to
address our two problems –firs road nd then water one. Knowledge
and skills we acquired during meetings having been held since
our collaboration helped us to carry out this projects. Thanks
to young adults and women of our village. Everybody gave a
contribution they could. Somebody by money, somebody by labour.
I think, main gain we achieved is just union of inhabitants and
activity of women. Because our women are a little bit secluded.
But now you can observe how many women are participating in this
event. So, owing to the community work we managed to solve one
of the most difficult problems. We are glad for this.
Today’s event will be borne in our memories, be it the memory of
the children or the elderly people. This one of the most pivotal
historical moments in the history of our village.
Now we belive that Garachay Jek community will worthily reap the
fruit from collaboration with you and make a step to a new stage
of its way to development. We are garteful to each of you for
stimulating our enlivening”.
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Capacity
Building of refugees and asylum-seekers in Azerbaijan and logistic
support
The implementation of the project “Logistical support and Vocational
training for the refugees and asylum-seekers settled in Azerbaijan”,
with its main goal being the increase of economic opportunities,
business and vocational skills of those seeking for asylum in
Azerbaijan, has continued in July-September months of 2007. The project
is being implemented in Baku with the financial support of UNHCR
Within the past period 17 asylum-seeking youth received training
sessions with experienced craftsmen on the fields such as dressmaker,
haidresser, cooker-confectioner, car fitter, cosmetologist, computer
programmist (PHP), and successfully graduated from the courses. At
present, 11 youth are acquiring vocational skills on fileds such as
dressmaker, hairdresser and car repairs.
65
refugees and asylum-seeker desiring to use internet services and acquire
skills for working with internet approahed the internet center organized
at “Umid” HSSC’s field office and benefited by these services. Likewise,
these persons received relevant consultations for increasing their
computer skills.
The refugees and asylum-seekers in Azerbaijan are constantly being
provided with non-food humanitarian relief items.
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