Author: Olesya Kravchuk, AFEW International
AFEW International continues looking for possibilities of helping key populations at risk for HIV, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis and community organisations in the Russian Federation. AFEW’s executive director Anke van Dam visited a couple of NGOs and community-based organisations during her recent visit to Moscow and Kazan.
In Kazan, Anke van Dam visited Fund for Resocialization of the Republic of Tatarstan. This fund for the first time in Russia successfully tested the model of purposeful employment of those who went through all stages of rehabilitation. For more than three years, the Fund for Resocialization offers employment to people who were using drugs, who are working on modern production of ventilation systems.
“What Daniyar, the director of the Fund for Resocialisation is doing, is amazing. He gives people with a history of drug use and sometimes of imprisonment as well, a chance to earn their own living again. With the job they regain their self-esteem, which helps them to get in touch with their family and participate actively in society again,” says Anke van Dam.
The Fund for Resocialization of the Republic of Tatarstan, is engaged in the development and implementation of the state regional program for the resocialization of people who use drugs.
“It is resocialization that will allow us to establish new links with the society, to consolidate, to approve and apply the knowledge and principles obtained at the stage of rehabilitation in the social environment. We all know that for people who use or used drugs it is not easy to find jobs. They often have problems with their relatives, and some of them even do not have their own housing. Many of those who had treatment, again find themselves in the surrounding that provokes drugs use soon after they left the hospital,” states on the Fund’s website.
