A new Lada Niva for Umbaki, thanks to CDC and the Bhoys of Baku

Community Shield Azerbaijan (Baku) - News Archive

22nd October 2005 - Renovation completed at the Shuvelan Sanatorium
Shuvelan sanatorium is home for around 35 children suffering from respiratory problems. The entire facility has fallen into disrepair, but the toilet, bathroom, and dormitory facilities were particularly bad.
Through donations from the Baku Irish Society, the Holycross & Kyleakin Football Clubs, Netherland Trains, Caroline Featherstone, and the Anglo Azerbaijani Society, the toilet and bathroom facilities have been given a complete overhaul, windows have been replaced in the dormitories, and the children have new beds.

17th September 2005 - Opening of the Centre for the Homeless & Elderly
Through the activities of the Baku Caledonian Society, BOS Şelf, the Wee Helping Hands Club, and CSA (Baku), a Centre for the Homeless and Elderly has now opened in Baku, serving different groups of elderly people hot meals five days a week, and also providing food for the homeless one day a week.

7th September 2005 - Opening of refurbished residential block at the Umbaki leprosarium
The last of the residential buildings at the Umbaki Leprosarium has now been refurbished. The proceeds of the BP Leadership Team Beer Pull, and a donation from Eran Muduroglu enabled us to transform an old, draughty building into a residential block providing apartments consisting of a sitting room, bedroom, shower room, and kitchenette for seven couples.

26th November 2004: A brighter future for the young people at Gizildash
On Friday 26th November, the official opening took place of the latest stage of the renovation at Gizildash orphanage - a complete overhaul of the electrical wiring in the residential building, an enormous project made possible by the generous contributions of CCIC and Rovshan Oguz.

3rd August 2004: Reliable transport for the Umbaki Leprosarium
To reach the leprosarium in Umbaki, a 90 minute journey from Baku on half-made roads is the only option. A reliable four wheel drive vehicle is essential, particularly for the director of the leprosarium, Dr. Vidadi, who must make the trip several times a week to bring to Umbaki all the supplies necessary for the well-being of his patients.

The Bhoys of Baku heard about Umbaki's plight, and donated the majority of the money needed to buy a new Lada Niva 4WD car. The Caspian Drilling Company contributed the rest, and the Niva has now been officially handed over to Umbaki's director.

3rd June 2004: New accommodation opened at Umbaki Leprosarium
A newly refurbished accommodation building at the Umbaki Leprosarium, south west of Baku, was opened. The building will provide accommodation to some of the Leprosarium's least mobile residents.

27th May 2004: Second phase of Gizildash orphanage renovation completed!
The second stage of the refurbishment work at Gizildash is now completed, providing modern sanitation throughout the orphanage, and a communal living area for orphaned boys living there.

19th March, 2004: Initial phase of renovation at Gizildash college orphanage completed!
The project, sponsored by BOS Şelf, BP Sunbury, Rovshan Oguz and the Irish Society, has provided weathertight toilets and showers for the orphans and refugees living there. Previously, none of the toilets or showers had glass in the windows, and the facilities themselves were in an atrocious condition.

The completion was marked by a party, thrown for the orphans by Rovshan Oguz and BOS Şelf, which coincided with the Azerbaijan festival of Novruz Bayram. The party, complete with food, dancing to a 3-piece band, and presents for the orphans given by Rovshan Oguz, proved a fitting way to mark this point in a highly rewarding project.

16th March, 2004: Work has begun to refurbish living quarters at Umbaki Leprosarium
The refurbishment will provide accommodation and bathing facilities for residents who are not able to live independently, as a consequence of their disease.

20th February, 2004: Renovation at Gizildash College gathers pace!
Renovation of toilet and shower rooms at Gizildash College is gaining pace. Already, new uPVC windows have been fitted, making the rooms palpably warmer, and walls are currently being clad with plaster board, in preparation for sealing, painting and tiling.

14th January, 2004: BP raffle raises almost £1500!
The Christmas raffle held at BP's offices in Sunbury, U.K., has raised almost £1500 for Community Shield Azerbaijan! The proceeds have enabled us to begin renovation of the orphanage at Gizildash College, just south of Baku.

9th December 2003: Hot Meals for the Disadvantaged now being served
We have begun serving hot meals for the elderly and disadvantaged of Baku. With the assistance of a local Baku restaurant, we are now providing one hot meal a week to up to 50 people at a time.

October 2003: Children’s Ward opens in Baku Psychiatric Hospital No. 2
Thanks to a large donation from the Caledonian Society, furniture from the British Embassy, offers from companies such as Ace Forwarding, and numerous individual sponsorships, the special Children’s Ward at Baku Psychiatric Hospital No. 2 is now open.

The ward, accommodating 15 people, has been designed with the needs of both children and their parents in mind, and has received much attention for its innovation and professional setup.

September 2003: Umbaki Poet published by BP
Thanks to the donation of a typewriter, a poet residing at the Umbaki Leprosarium has finally been able to see his work in print. The poems of Mahmud have been published by BP, and money raised from the sale of his book will provide further support for the Leprosarium.

Summer 2003: The Rest and Labour Home for Young Invalids
We are providing assistance with the sales and marketing of products created by craftspeople living at the Home. With our help the Home is working towards becoming self-sufficient, thanks to the money raised from their efforts.

Summer 2003: A Laboaratory and Pharmacy for Umbaki Leprosarium
Thanks to a donation from EUPEC, we have been able to convert two more shipping containers into a laboratory and pharmacy. These are now in place at Umbaki.

March 2003: Major Improvements at Umbaki Leprosarium
In March 2003, we handed over five converted shipping containers to Umbaki Leprosarium. The containers were donated by USAID, and converted by Caspian Modular Buildings into a laundry room, shower room, rest room, barber shop, and morgue. This has enabled us to replace an existing building that was condemned after earthquake damage.

Improvements to the road to Umbaki, and also the water supply to the whole village have been made, thanks to work by Absheron Water, and an individual contribution.