The last 13 years have been particularly devastating for children in Azerbaijan. Especially vulnerable are children with disabilities who often have to spend their lives secluded at home or behind the walls of an institution. According to UNICEF, there has been a 20% increase in children living in institutions over the last 10 years. These institutions have fallen into deplorable states of disrepair, with staff under trained, underpaid and often unable to provide for a child’s basic needs. These statistics further emphasise the urgent need to expand community-based care, as an effective alternative to institutions in Azerbaijan.

Community-based care is an effective alternative to institutions and a sustainable approach to working with children with special needs.

Mushfig (officially the Public Union for Aid to Disabled People) is a day-care centre for children with disabilities, unique for this ex-Soviet republic. In addition to providing care for children ages six to 18, Mushfig also offers training for parents on how to adequately care for their children at home.

World Vision Azerbaijan and Mushfig propose to combine their efforts to provide community-based training for parents and children with disabilities in Gobustan village- an agricultural area located approx 65km south-east of the capital Baku.

Eighty-two children with disabilities have been identified in Gobustan. These children are completely isolated at home, do not attend school, socialise with other children, or receive any therapy or training. Although Gobustan village is situated only 25 kilometres from Mushfig, the centre is already at full capacity with sixty-five children with disabilities.

World Vision needs funding to create a mobile unit, consisting of a psychologist, physiotherapist, neurologist, and paediatrician that would travel daily from Mushfig Centre to Gobustan village to work with families over a one-year period.
World Vision and Mushfig will organise a Parent’s Club for caregivers who participate in training sessions to promote mutual encouragement and exchange of ideas. Mushfig Centre will also offer special follow-up training to Club members. The project will include 3 field trips for both the children at the centre and those in Gobustan village to encourage interaction and learning.