This project helped many in the community gain the confidence to enter the workplace, along the way to support a number of talented and creative people.
In Fall 2019, the United Nations in Turkmenistan has partnered with the British Embassy in Turkmenistan and the public association “Yenme” to provide at least 90 persons with disabilities with the skills of creating hand crafted works and a knowledge of professional orientation during three-day trainings in Dashoguz, Turkmenabad and Ashgabat.
Promoting the rights of the most vulnerable is always on UN agenda as it embraces the main principle of the Sustainable Development Goals as “leaving no one behind” that world leaders and partners cannot ignore anymore.
“This year, the United Nations in Turkmenistan has partnered with “Yenme” to provide more employment opportunities, to involve people with disabilities into social processes, ensuring financial stability. We are ready to expand this project to other regions of Turkmenistan”, noted Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan.
The joint UN project builds on the UNDP experience of mobilizing the private sector of Turkmenistan to employ people with disabilities. But this time, the UN and partners have embarked on providing professional training based on the need and opportunities available at the job sector of the country. UN has also invited the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Turkmenistan to provide its expertise in profiling and case management and support the initiative by providing an overview of the programmes available for the employment of the vulnerable groups of the population.
“As part of the NGO community in Turkmenistan, I work in Dashoguz on disability issues since early 1990s. But the last training in professional orientation or capacity building which we have received was in 2003-2004. Being remote from the capital leaves us alone to struggle with the issues that we face. Trainings like this one inspire positive thinking and problem-solving attitude in each of us. We are glad that the United Nations and the British Embassy decided to conduct this project here in Dashoguz,” noted Ibragim Nurjanov, Specialist of the Physical Culture and Sports Club of the Disabled in the Dashoguz Region.
Partnering with the local public association “Yenme” provided an opportunity to empower civil society sector on one hand and ensured wider access to the targeted audience and the public associations in the regions. “Yenme” is a well-known public association that works on disability issues and targets other vulnerable groups of people. Thus, the joint project benefitted from its wide network of partners, meticulous approach to project planning and a wide expertise in the are of disability rights.
The project culminated with the Christmas Fair, where over 13 participants from the Dashoguz and Lebap regions, 16 participants from Ashgabat together with other over 20 supporters an artists gathered to present, sell and demonstrate their art and handcrafted works in Ashgabat on the New Year and Christmas eve.
The Christmas Fair brought together over 600 visitors to purchase seasonal gifts for close ones.
