Baku - Ms. Aynur Aghabalayeva - a young, positive and confident woman whose life has been changed completely after she joined the project implemented by IOM Azerbaijan with support of USAID, now is a successful business owner.

But Ms. Aynur’s journey to success didn’t start easy. Prior to this, she was working from her home in the village, suffering from low income and unemployment. She had an old sewing machine, which she used to sew clothes for people in the neighborhood.

“I started sewing 13 years ago and used my skills as a tailor to earn a living. Even though I had experience, I couldn’t produce high quality clothes more efficiently, since my sewing machine was so old. Because of that my income was low and I couldn’t afford to buy a new machine,” she said.

But once Ms. Aynur learnt about the “Community Resilience to Vulnerabilities” activity implemented by IOM Azerbaijan and funded by USAID, her life was about to change. She attended a three-days business training conducted by IOM in Guba, Azerbaijan, where she had learnt how to develop small business plans. Following the training, she submitted her business plan for evaluation.

“And one day the IOM’s employee called and congratulated me on getting my business plan approved. Later I was given a grant tailored to my individual needs in creation of a small business,” Ms. Aynur said.

Thanks to the grant she had received, she could obtain professional sewing machines for a new tailor shop she opened in the village. At first, she worked alone, but soon the shop became known in the neighborhood for its quality services and affordable prices, so she started hiring employees and interns. Now she has not only learned how to stand on her own feet but has also helped 3 other women to stand on theirs.

Her journey started with USAID funded activity also provided here an opportunity to share her experiences in front of a large audience. On 24 October 2019, a special event commemorating the UN Day took place in ADA University in Baku. There, Ms. Aynur and other beneficiaries, shared their success stories with some 250 participants from the government, diplomatic community, civil society, academia and mass media.

Encouraged by the success of her business, she has set out on a goal of growing her business to ensure that she and her employees can aspire for a good life. “My goal is to turn my tailor shop into a Boutique Couture in the capital, with more employees and new clients,” Ms. Aynur says.

Since September 2018, the IOM Mission in Azerbaijan has been implementing the “Community Resilience to Vulnerabilities” (CRV) project funded by USAID. One of the key activities undertaken by IOM under the CRV project is supporting the beneficiary community member’s access to livelihoods and income-generating activities.

In March 2020, many in Azerbaijan learned about Ms. Aynur Aghabalayeva - a tailor from Gimilgishlaq, a village in Khachmaz district after local news agencies and TV channels broadcasted the news about her initiative to produce non-surgical masks for local community members (https://lnkd.in/eCvcEnN). Since the novel coronavirus outbreak started in Azerbaijan, due to scarcity of protective masks, Ms. Aynur Aghabalayeva and her employees have produced over 3,000 cloth masks which they are providing free of charge to local citizens who need them. She is aware that these masks are not standard WHO medical masks and there is not 100% protection from this virus, but still they are in line with the general recommendation these days to cover mouth and nose with available scarfs or masks, when going outside.

As per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://lnkd.in/gpPSrta) that cloth face coverings may slow the spread of the virus from people who have the virus and do not know they are transmitting it. Even while wearing a mask, it is still essential for you to wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, and maintain two meters of distance from other people.