Children’s Welfare Programme

CARD has been working to improve the lives of institutionalized children for many years. We work in a babies’ home (0-3 year olds) and an older children’s home (3-18 years). We provide essential care by:
• Providing supplementary feeding
• Supplying nappies and cream for all babies, preventing serious skin problems
• Renovating accommodation and building new areas.
• Sending children for operations to correct various physical problems such as cleft palates and seeing and hearing difficulties
• Running a child development programme
• Working with institutions to enable children to return home.
• Providing clothing and other basic needs

Child Development

Years living in an institution mean children are deprived of warm, loving care, stimulating play and variety in their day, which all aid their development into well-rounded, secure people. Through our pre-school programme we aim to build children’s self-esteem, teach them about the outside world, which many of them have never even seen, and develop their mental and physical skills through creative play and activities.

In conjunction with our skilled local worker, Dilshad, we have designed a programme for the babies and toddlers to enjoy and we are seeing wonderful results in their emotional and physical well-being.

One person who recently visited the babies home for the second time after a gap of several years commented,

"Before everything was dull and sadness, now it’s wonderful; the children are cared for and loved but most of all, they are smiling."

SOS partnership

CARD is a partner with another local children’s orphanage, training nursery teachers & volunteers to deliver quality education, making educational manipulatives & working with the children to encourage excellent development.

Operations

Often dealing with the stigma of a child’s physical problem and lack of understanding leads to families abandoning children at the homes. We have been able to help by educating staff and parents and seeking expert medical help in Azerbaijan and overseas for many of the babies who have come through the babies’ home. Many times this has led to parents accepting their child back or adoption into loving local families

Understanding

We offer training and support for families and staff at the homes to enable these wonderful children to be as accepted and helped as possible and to improve their future chances of a normal, happy life.

Renovations

CARD has renovated many of the children’s bedrooms, bathrooms and play areas and provided a water supply to parts of the children’s home for the first time. We have also provided a dedicated teaching block to enable further education on site.

Nappies and Feeding

We also supplement the children’s food with milk, porridge, treats and fruit. Nappies and clothing ensure the children are dry and warm. When the summer months come we also take the children for picnics.