Four years have passed since the opening of the DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Center

Over the past period, more than 820 beneficiaries from vulnerable groups have received services at the DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Center and its branches.

Today marks four years since the opening of the DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Center, operating under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population.

The Center was inaugurated on October 22, 2021, with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva. It stands as the first and largest inclusive space for creativity and development in the South Caucasus.

The DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Center was established on the initiative of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva. The institution supports the development of the talents and skills of people with disabilities, members of families of martyrs, children deprived of parental care, and other vulnerable population groups, contributing to their rehabilitation and integration into society.

To this end, the Center organizes creative training in 14 areas, including dance, visual arts, pottery, music, tailoring, carpet weaving, embroidery, wood carving, culinary arts, and performing arts, among others. In recent years, the institution — which plays a vital role in promoting an inclusive society — has expanded with the establishment of branches in the Ismayilli and Barda districts.

Throughout its activity, the DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Center and its branches have provided services to over 820 beneficiaries from vulnerable groups.

More than 150 inclusive events have been organized with the participation of the Center’s trainers and beneficiaries. The institution has also been actively represented at international events. For example, beneficiaries showcased their creative works at the 4th Winter Olympic Games Expo in South Korea, the 2025 International Children’s Art Exchange Exhibition, an event at the Palace of Nations in Geneva dedicated to World Autism Awareness Day (April 2), and the “Osaka, Kansai Expo 2025” in Japan.

At present, 226 beneficiaries are attending training sessions in various fields at the Center and its branches. The beneficiaries are also provided with social and psychological support services.