Tajikistan
In our health education project in Tajikistan, our partners have seen how important health education and counselling are for women in their communities. Lessons cover mental health, diabetes prevention, healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, and family wellbeing.
Nasiba attended an International Women’s Day celebration for the first time in her life. Her daughter worked hard to help her attend because she wanted her mother to have this special experience. During a discussion about the value of women, inner beauty, emotional wellbeing, and health, Nasiba became emotional and cried. She said it meant so much to be included and to hear that women are valuable and important. It was a powerful reminder of how much encouragement and affirmation many women need.
Zulfia is a woman with a hearing impairment. Like many other women facing similar challenges, she has had limited access to information throughout her life. She often needs basic health information explained carefully and clearly. Through our health lessons, she is learning new things and becoming more confident in understanding her health and managing her daily life.
We also met Malika, who underwent surgery for a herniated disc last year. She believed that her monthly periods had stopped because of the back operation. During our discussion, we discovered that her uterus had been removed during a separate medical procedure, but she had never fully understood this. Her story highlights how vital health education is and how many women still lack access to clear, understandable medical information.
The project is helping women gain knowledge, confidence, emotional support, and a better understanding of their health. Through health education and counselling, families and communities are becoming healthier, stronger, and better equipped to care for one another.
Partnership Opens the Way to School
There are many barriers for a child with disability to access education in Tajikistan. Sometimes this barrier is seen in the attitudes of people that think children with disabilities don’t belong in school or should be kept separate from other children.
Promoting Inclusion
An annual conference for mainstream school teachers and school transition support services helped promote inclusion in local communities.
Amina, a young girl with speech and cognitive delays,
Knowledge That Changes Lives
In our health education project in Tajikistan, our partners have seen how important health education and counselling are for women in their communities. Lessons cover mental health,
Health is Everyone’s Responsibility
Health is everyone’s responsibility, and Bibi grew in her health knowledge and confidence through our training and put it into practice for the good of her community.
Perseverance Brings Progress
Now Rustam can express himself, he is socializing with his peers, and he is participating in the cultural events of the organization. Rustam is ready to go to school!
Opening Doors to Equality
Children with disabilities (CWD) are being given the chance to learn at mainstream schools thanks to one of our partner organisations in Tajikistan.
School accessibility is one of the most important components of providing inclusive education and promotion of the rights of children with disabilities.
Empowerment and Advocacy
Through the project, Akmal was introduced to a world of possibilities.
Standing Strong
Farhad is a bright seven-year-old and the third child in his family. However, unlike his siblings, he has faced significant challenges since birth due to Cerebral Palsy,
Full Participation at School
In the summer, our organisation received a request to build a ramp and an accessible toilet at this school to allow the school to accept children with disabilities so that they could socialise and study with their peers.
A Beacon of Hope and Empowerment
Malika is a young woman from Tajikistan, is a poignant reflection of the challenges faced by many women in her community. Growing up in a traditional society,
A Celebration of Dignity
This year’s International Women’s Day celebration under the Women’s Empowerment Project (WEP) was unlike any we had ever held before. For the first time, the gathering was filled predominantly by women from the deaf community,
Never too late to learn!
With the support and help from the staff I learnt how to take care of a child with disability.
The Miracle of Life
Maftuna knew about the book through one of Operation Mercy’s community health trainers. She herself went through Operation Mercy’s general health and pregnancy lessons, as the trainers do not only work with the local women in the village but also the wives of Operation Mercy staff.
Journey to Health and Hope
They started eating healthier foods, exercising regularly, and seeking medical care for their children.
A Community United for Mubariz
As part of our partner’s project on accessibility, the team launched a district-wide assessment in Rudaki. Here they met a teacher who was homeschooling a 9-year-old boy named Mubariz,
Hope Starts in the Small Things
Most importantly, hope is present for Hamidjon because he has a loving mother, who, through our project, is able to experience support and acceptance, receive counselling and process her grief.
We Learn Together to Improve Our Lives!
Nazira is a mother of a child with disability, and a new staff of our partner organization. She participated in a training on early intervention for children with hearing and visual impairments.