"Human Rights XXI - Century Azerbaijan" organisation implemented the project "Let’s Create Social Inclusion Opportunities for Young Orphans" in two directions in order to achieve the main aim of the project which was to provide the young people from orphanages with necessary tools to integrate into society and to help them to be responsible citizens and free individuals. Within the project, trainings covering social rights as part of human rights were delivered and trainings were addressed mainly to the themes like housing, health, education, employment, legal and social protection, movement of persons, non-discrimination. At the same time, psychological trainings to support psychologically the target group for social integration were conducted and the topic of the trainings encompassed different themes serving to build up the sense of self-esteem and confidence in the young orphans` abilities.

Target group:

Participants were 14-18 years old young people abandoned by their parents when they had been small kids and they live in an orphanage school. They face big obstacles in the process of integration to the society after leaving the institution. Most of these young people after leaving orphanages become unemployed and do not live healthy lives in the end.

Social rights addressed: Within the project activities, the target group participated in trainings on social rights such as, housing, health, education, employment, social protection, movement of persons, non-discrimination. During the trainings, the trainer used “Compass- A Manual on Human Rights Education with Young People” of the Council of Europe which enabled the participants to discuss the topics concerning social rights.

Local authorities involved: The Ministry of Education provided my organisation with a support letter to run the project in the orphanage school and supplied a free space to conduct the training activities.

Results:

The project increased the awareness of the target group about their social rights, helped them to build up their sense of self-esteem and self-confidence. The project broadened their horizons and raised their awareness about their rights. Now they already know where and whom to refer in case of violence of their rights. They could express their opinion about local youth policy and their voice was heard by state bodies, mass-media, civil society organization through the round table meeting and the press conference.

Sustainability and follow-up:

In March 2011, our organization applied to a local donor organization (Council of State Support to NGOs under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan) to promote social rights. As a result, now we implement "Let’s Create Social Inclusion Opportunities for Young Orphans" stage two and continue the same concept of the project.

Our organization decided to advocate the project target group and that is why we have already created contacts with them. We have encouraged them to apply to the "hot-line" and "legal advice" services in the frame of our organisation in case of legal support and counselling in their social and professional life.

The current stage of your project: Finalised