Baku - When the corona-virus pandemic has led to a shortage of personal protection equipment such as face masks in Azerbaijan some residents of the shelter for Victims of Trafficking and Domestic Violence belonged to Clean World (Temiz Dunya) Public Union took the initiative and with their best efforts they try to assist in solving the problem during that time- lack of face masks, for themselves, but also for the other local community. They used the available materials and sewing machines to start sewing masks at the shelter for their own use and protection and for workers of communal services who are out in public.

Sevda (pseudonym) – a potential victim of trafficking, is an experienced tailor who got training as part of the IOM project funded USAID, led a group of women from the shelter who together sewed thousands of face masks to fight against COVID-19 in Azerbaijan.

“When COVID-19 hit the country, the head of the organization suggested us to sew face masks. I gathered all women residents of the shelter and taught them everything I learned in sewing courses. On the first day we sewed thousand face masks until midnight. Before travel restrictions were applied, we distributed them also to other organizations and people that were in need,” says Sevda.

Sevda is one of the dozen women – victims or potential victims of trafficking, domestic and gender-based violence, that resides in the shelter. She was sold in infancy and raised by another woman who replaced her mother. When that women died, a 13-year-old girl was kicked out from the house by her relatives. After that she was able to find her parents with help of a popular TV show program, but they abandoned her again.

Her mother's girlfriend took Sevda to her house, but despite being a minor, she was sent to work at a perfume shop. There she met a young man who promised to help her. Deceived and raped by the young man she returned home. After the incident, the girlfriend of her mother refused to take care of her and handed her to the police. “The police brought me to the shelter. By the time I got here, I was on the verge of committing suicide. I often thought about it,” says Sevda.

With the help of the shelter's staff she received a psychological and medical assistance. Besides that, the shelter helped her to get a profession to live independently.

“I participated in six months sewing courses organized in the shelter with IOM help. As I had interest in sewing, I learned details of this profession with great enthusiasm,” says Sevda.

She also currently studies bartender profession at the Baku Vocational School of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture. She participated in the seminars held by the organization (starting a business, women's rights, etc.) and received 3 certificates.

All these services were provided through USAID/Azerbaijan financial support for the shelter.

At the same time, considering the individual's interest in sewing, she was provided by USAID a sewing machine and fabrics which is a great support for her personal development.

In addition to working as a tailor, she wants to be a good actress or pastry chef, and a cook. She loves fashion shows and closely follows them, loves the songs of the singer Damla, because she is attracted to music that reflects more loneliness. This is nostalgia for the real family that she did not has. As Sevda says she loves an actor Gurban Ismayilov in the TV soap opera "Father Hearth". The reason is that he perfectly embodied the image of the father of whom she dreamed who can gather family members together.

Today Sevda turned from a teenager who wanted to commit suicide into a self-confident and more educated person with potential leadership skill who care for the lives of others.