Samaya is one of eighteen newly trained female deminers accredited in November 2023 in Baku. “I’m not afraid of anything”: the story of a female sapper from Azerbaijan Peace and security
“My family didn’t agree at first, but my father supported me in this decision. It was unusual for my mother to see me in overalls, but now she has accepted it. She still worries a little, she calls me regularly.”
Samaya is one of eighteen newly trained female deminers accredited in November 2023 in Baku with the support of the Azerbaijan Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), the European Union and the Development Program (UNDP).
Thanks to theoretical and practical training provided by international Mine Action Advisory Group (MAG) experts, the first teams of female deminers acquired the basic knowledge and skills to recognize, locate and mark mines and unexploded ordnance, and to provide first aid.
“You need to be cold-blooded. “And I’m not afraid of anything,” says Samaya.
She comes from Aghdam. Samaya worked as a geography teacher for six years, but was always interested in the army.
You have to be cool-headed. And I’m not afraid of anything
“I started work with great enthusiasm, as if it were a reward,” she says.
Samaya talks about her school friends who didn’t expect her to become a sapper, but now follow her career with great interest. She is very happy.
The girl had difficulties at first, it was not easy for her to work under the sun in hot weather, but later she got used to it.
“I’ve always had white and sensitive skin, so I avoided the sun, but here I got a tan,” she jokes.
Samaya very proud to be part of this first initiative in Azerbaijan to involve women in demining work.
Two demining teams consisting of 24 people, including 18 women -sappers, were created within the framework of the project supporting the return of internally displaced persons through capacity building ANAMA, funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP in partnership with ANAMA and MAG.