Development of income generating activities with therapeutic character in institutions for people with mental health problems in Sughd region, Tajikistan

Project duration

April 2009 – April 2011

Donors

European Union, Open Society Institute East-East Programe, “Muskie and “UGRAD Alumni” small grant programme, World bank, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Netherlands (MANTRA programme).

Project goal

To contribute to economic development in Sughd region and to promote integration of individuals having mental health problems into the society through introduction of income generating and patient employing activities in institutions which provide mental health services.

Project results

During the project implementation administration and personnel of the Sughd region based insitutions that provide mental health services were trained how to organize income generating activities, prepare and implement projects, as well they were trained on the principles of the occupational therapy.

Collected information was the basis for preparation, selection and funding of 6 sub-projects. The main goal of these projects was to start income generating activities of the therapeutic kind in psychiatric hospitals, psychoneurological boarding schools and organizations uniting persons with disabilities.

Round table discussions were organized with local government representatives in order to discuss the needs of mental health care services and the possibilities to respond to the needs. Sughd society was informed about the project, their tolerance towards persons with disabilities was increased denying many existing myths and stereotypes about the (mental) disabilities.

Documentary film was recorded during the project implementation and a separate publication comprising training materials in Russian and Tajik languages was distributed to everyone who was interested in improvement of the mental health care system and entrepreneurship development.

Project budget – 354,413.00 EUR; European Union financial support – 283,530.00 EUR, other donors – 70,883.00 EUR.