14 oct 2012

History

There is a well-known saying: the history of mankind is the history of wars. The history of the peoples of Tajikistan is no exception. Of course, the war, and various epidemics, natural disasters, social cataclysms left a lot of social problems, that people have always tried to decide. Perhaps just with this human society is differ - a constant search for a way out of the most difficult situations, by mobilizing the full potential of all sectors of society. 

In recent years of the Soviet period cause of reduced state capacity to address social problems, social institutions were given the opportunity to create farms, and the revenues from them to cover a portion of their needs, which can be considered to some extent, solution of social problems.

Our time is characterized by reduced capacity of the state in solving social problems. But it also offers new opportunities - in the form of the appearance of rich people, organizations and institutions of various types of property that may be donors of social projects.

With local social problems of mahalla level (Mahalla - literally - a quarter, in a figurative sense - community) are engaged by mahalla committees (MC). Certain contribution to the solution of various problems of communities have made voluntary associations, private individuals, various institutions and organizations. Many international organizations have also helped to mitigate the various problems, including poverty, promoting community associations in the field, conducting and funding their socially - useful activities by providing grants. ASTI experience with Jamoats and community organizations, showed that the most effective way to help to solve community problems is to cooperate with mahalla committees and promoting in strengthen their capabilities. This also shows the results of ASTI research conducted in 2004 ( "The role and place of social institutions in the development of rural communities"). Attractive aspect of cooperation with the MC is that the MC, as a body of territorial public self-perform implements a large amount of public - useful work on the public, volunteer basis. The reason for sustained activity of MC, probably, lies in the fact that it is primarily for the traditional inhabitants of Tajikistan bodies of territorial public self-government and have more than a thousand-year history. They elected from among the respected and worthy members of the community by makhalla inhabitants and have the support of the people and governmental bodies(though the moral, and in some places, and material). They have a direct and sustainable impact on the inhabitants of their communities. And inhabitants address their problems just to them, especially poor people. Without guaranteed funding from government or business - sectors, MC relatively well effect to the problematic situation and contribute to their solution or mitigation.

Recently, attention of state and public organizations have increased to MC, including international organization, which see them as reliable partners to strengthen civil society, implementing the principle of participation, philanthropy and social activism. However, the possibilities of Mahalla committees are limited to financial capacity. As de facto, a public organization, MC is not financed from the state budget and forced themselves to look for financial sources of its activities. At the same time, they are not public organization and do not participate in grant competitions.

If to look at this picture, there highlighted, two points: on the one hand, there are promising in terms of its capacity to strengthen civil society, the institution of traditional civil society - the MC, which, however, financially very weak. On the other hand there is an opportunity to strengthen it by providing the opportunity of earning money through the creation in communities micro - and small enterprises producing and / or processing of local raw, providing services, trade, crafts, in general all those activities which permitted by Law of the Republic of Tajikistan "On entrepreneurship ", "On public associations" and " On charitable activities. Fortunately, the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan "On Local Self-Government and the local economy" (Article 6) allows to Mahalla Committees be legal persons and, accordingly, to conduct a complete socially-economic activities.

The implementation of the project suggests the possibility to change the mentality of the inhabitants of communities and society as a whole towards a better understanding and development of philanthropy, social humanism, social activism, civic responsibility and social partnership. This will be a kind of school where inhabitants of the communities in the process of implementing projects of a social business will be taught humanism, philanthropy, and acquainted with the principles of participation and, of course, to spread knowledge and presentation.

It is assumed that, having received a permanent source of funds, mahalla committees will be able to solve problems more effectively in their communities, will be able to cooperate and coordinate its activities with other mahalla committees. This will allow them to solve problems at a higher level than the problem of community. MC will have opportunity of multiplier of his experience horizontally.

However, development of such activities can not be conducted without the trained staff, with basic civic education, sustainable philanthropic and socio-humanistic worldview. In order to have such staff from among the members of MC, the ASTI needs extensive preparatory educational work.

Thus, ASTI focusing its efforts on developing the capacity of the Mahalla Committees, by providing:

- assistance in organizational and institutional development – conductance of educational trainings, consulting and technical support, including in the direction of formalization of the MC;

- strengthening the material and financial capacities through promoting the establishment and development of social business;

- Change the mentality of the members of MC, and through them the all inhabitants of communities and society as a whole in the direction of philanthropy, and social humanism.

This work can also strengthen links with ASTI representative and executive authorities in the field.

The above mentioned strategy of work on capacity development of MC does not preclude work with public organizations. ASTI experience has shown that the achievement of visible structural changes in the situation of the poor is possible only with the active participation of great amount of non-governmental organizations dealing with this problem. In this regard, ASTI also directs its efforts on strengthening and further development of NGO sector. Program of Development of Civil Society have made a significant contribution to strengthening the institutional capacity of more than 20 local non-governmental organizations, as well as a wide range of training modules and manuals on various aspects of non-governmental organizations in the Republic of Tajikistan.

Other news

13 jul 2017

Мо гуногун ҳастем, аммо як ҳадаф дорем

Тренинги мазкур, санаи 13 июли соли равон дар шаҳри Хуҷанд дар доираи лоиҳаи "Тақвияти ҳамкории ҷавонон дар ноҳияҳои наздисарҳадии Тоҷикистону Қирғизистон" бо маблағгузории Барномаи рушди СММ дар Тоҷикистон, ки аз тарафи Ассотсиатсияи зиёиёни илмӣ-техникии Тоҷикистон амалӣ мешавад, баргузор гардид.

18 mar 2017

Festival of friendship to commemorate Navruz holiday

The Youth Contact Group (YCG) of Ovchi-kalacha jamoat organized and conducted “Festival of Friendship” to commemorate Navruz holiday. At school number 8, the administration of which supports the initiatives of youth in the village

Regions of Activity