Baku - Khanimnisa Isayeva, 28, is a young computer instructor residing in Astara, a region in southern Azerbaijan bordering Iran. A former librarian, Khanimnisa has long thought about starting her small business which would be useful for youth in her hometown. Participation in the vocational training course on European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) in 2019 was a turning point on her path to her dream.

Following the ECDL training course, in 2020, Khanimnisa participated in small business training sessions which helped her strengthen her knowledge about opening and managing a small business. The training courses also included English Language and Soft Skills modules. These training sessions were organized by the Public Action for Resilience (PAR) activity supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Azerbaijan. Following successful completion of the small business training, Khanimnisa applied for funding for her business initiative providing computer courses for youth in Astara city and surrounding rural areas with a symbolic fee. In May 2021, IOM Azerbaijan delivered six Monoblock PCs, one laptop, one projector, one projection screen, one printer, and one switch enabling her to start her business.

”The training sessions I participated in gave me a lot. I started my own course and I teach young people computer skills in Astara Youth House. This project became a lighthouse in my life,” said Khanimnisa.

Khanimnisa said that the main aim of opening this course was to let local youth, in particular, vulnerable girls, learn computer skills and have access to global resources. Her IT center is based in the Astara Youth House, which is a space for local youth to socialize and gain new skills and capabilities. Up to 10 young people attend her courses monthly, but Khanimnisa believes that the number of participants will grow in near future.

As part of the activity, IOM conducts small business training, income generation orientation sessions for youth and provides in-kind support for the selected micro and small business plans submitted by training participants. The USAID-supported activity aims to reduce the vulnerabilities of the population in target areas by enhancing their resilience, providing them access to participation in local labour market and by the promotion of multi-stakeholder dialogue among public sector, civil society, academia and the private sector on preventing vulnerabilities. The special focus is given to the youth population in target areas, and the relevant actors dealing with youth. Up to now more than 1050 local youth in project target areas have benefitted from empowerment interventions within the activity.