On September 8, the State Committee for Family and Women, the governor office of Surkhandarya province, the European Union (EU) and UNICEF launched a program to expand access to inclusive education, social services and legal assistance in Surkhandarya.

The EU’s contribution to the program is 1.6 million euros (about 17 billion soums). UNICEF, in cooperation with ministries and provincial authorities, plans to reach about 35,000 people.

The focus of the program will be on children, youth and families who find themselves in a precarious situation due to a number of reasons including violence, migration, forced migration from Afghanistan and other most vulnerable groups.

“This is a landmark event with a multi-layered strategy to enhance social cohesion and well-being of the local community, including the Afghan people, by creating common spaces for interaction, integration and solidarity. In this way, the European Union expresses its support for Uzbekistan and its efforts to create a strong and sustainable society, as well as for Afghans in need of help, including those in neighboring countries,” said Charlotte Adrian, Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan.

The grant will focus on strengthening the capacity of social service workers who directly play a role in promoting social justice.

The program also includes components of inclusive multilingual preschool and school education, specialized legal aid services and a skills development program for a target group of youth.

“When all residents in local communities, especially the most vulnerable, have equal access to social and legal assistance services, communities become more cohesive, stable and prosperous. It is important to note that having access to quality basic services guaranteed by the state, mahallas become less vulnerable and more resilient to external shocks,” said Munir Mammadzade, head of the UNICEF office in Uzbekistan.