Nearly 40 young people with disabilities from Baku and the regions performed in the Fifth Annual “Life is Like a Show” Theater Festival of Youth with Disabilities, which took place today at the Actors’ House. The Festival was organized by "Independent Life" Center of Development and Aid and "Mushvig" Social Rehabilitation Center with support from the Consolidated Action for Sustained Changes (CASC) Program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs. The Festival’s goal is to showcase the skills of young people with disabilities, increase public awareness of their important role in the cultural life of Azerbaijan, and to decrease the stigma surrounding disability.

Most young people with disabilities have limited opportunities for employment and also face the challenge of stigmas and stereotypes, “That is why this festival is so important - it will raise awareness of the abilities of young people with disabilities and support the goal of social inclusion, while fighting the culture of stigma surrounding disability,” said Terry Davidson, Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Embassy, addressing the participants.

The event allowed young people to express themselves, and the challenges they face, through theater performances to government officials, business leaders, selected NGO partners, representatives from Heads of Diplomatic Mission Spouses, and children and their families.

Implemented by Save the Children, USAID’s CASC Program has provided support to improve the lives of approximately 30,000 children and 8,000 families in Azerbaijan. One of the goals of the program is to provide technical assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan and promote equal employment opportunities for young people with disabilities, as well as to improve their integration into society.