I am not alone when I am in a team
Date:
Village Furudgoh is located in one of the remote mountainous Jamoats of Nurobod district – Komsomolobod. UN Women selectedNGO “Azal” as a partner organization for implementation of“Improved rural livelihoods” project of the Regional Migration Programme in Rasht Valley. The project contributes to poverty reduction by improving livelihoods of migrants’ families and reducing the impact of labour migration on families left behind.
One of the main components of the project is mobilization and establishment of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and building the capacity of its members.
Odinaeva Zinat is the member of Self Help Group “Sayhun” that has been established as part of the project in this village. Zinat is 33 years old woman, who was born in Samsolik village of Nurobod district. When it was time to go to school, the civil war erupted , and she was not able to receive education because the area was badly affected by war. As a result, she did not even attend the primary school. Zinat got married when she was 21 and moved to a different village. She divorced with her husband, when her son was only one year old, and was forced to return to her parents' home. Her son is now attending boarding school because Zinat can’t afford to be with him all the time - the relationship with her stepfather is strained and she receives only 40 somoni (about $8) alimony from her ex-husband.
Zinat says “When the project started its activities in our village I decided to be a part of these mobilization efforts as local women formed a group of those who can sew. I do it very well and this work saved me from things I wanted to do to myself because of darkness and despair. The project gave me hope because I have been learning how to do business, improve my skills, make money and even interact with others to solve common issues. We are a real force, and you know, my relationship with the rest of my family improved as relatives began to treat me and my son with more respect. The major achievement is that my son is again with me."
"We have big plans for the future and I do know that I can cope in a team and with support of Azal staff and UN Women. Never before, I had the chance to meet and talk so openly with people, who are here to teach us and learn from us. It is so pleasant when someone cares about you! I will do my best to overcome all problems and bring up my son well educated to be able to take his own independent path towards a better life….”
Sayhun SHG was formed in early October 2014 in Jamoat “Komsomolobod” of Nurabad district of Rasht valley within the project on social mobilization of migrants’ families, which is being implemented by NGO “Azal” in cooperation with UN Women and financial support of the Government of Great Britain. The project empowers the most vulnerable by improving their livelihoods and providing access of vulnerable women to free legal services by bringing multidisciplinary expertise and experience of UN Women and IOM.
Azal covers two districts: Nurabad and Rasht. The project has 283 SHGs formed in the course of project and has already mobilized 1,716 women.
Contact information:
Nazarov Sergey, Azal NGO director
[ Click to reveal ]