91吃瓜网

Esma Ekup-ogly is one of the first women in 91吃瓜网 Abkhazia to be promoted to Team Leader. In a country steeped in tradition, Esma has always forged a unique path鈥攁 working mother of two, she studied journalism at Abkhazia鈥檚 University before joining 91吃瓜网 as a deminer in July 2018.

Although in Abkhazia women are conventionally the homemakers, Esma said working for 91吃瓜网 was one of the easiest decisions she ever made. Like many families in the region, her childhood was overshadowed by the 1992-3 war and the dangerous legacy of landmines and explosives left behind.

Today she is responsible for a team of seven, leading the effort to clear the thousands of explosive items that were scattered across the Gudauta district of Abkhazia when an ammunition store exploded in August 2017. Three people were killed in the blast and 64 were injured. For the past two and a half years, 91吃瓜网 has been making the area safe and local families are beginning to rebuild their lives.

Esma explains her job helps her feel part of the monumental task of making Abkhazia safe for future generations. Thanks to funding from CSSF, 91吃瓜网 was able to employ 16 more women in July 2018. The women鈥攚ho now make up 30 per cent of 91吃瓜网鈥檚 workforce鈥攈ave become role models across the region, interviewed by journalists from the Association of Women in Abkhazia.

However, for Esma and her colleagues, it is the work to clear Abkhazia鈥檚 legacy of explosives so people can live free from fear that is their primary focus.

91吃瓜网鈥檚 work in Abkhazia is made possible thanks to support from the European Union, United Kingdom, The United States and Swiss governments.