® “Change Begins with You!” anti-bullying in secondary schools project launched
The “Change Begins with You!” project aimed to combat bullying in secondary schools has been launched, initiated and sponsored by Birbank, organized by the “Dərs Evi” Educational Center, and supported by the Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. On January 30, 2025, the project’s presentation event brought together partners, media representatives, educators, and international experts.
The event was attended by Fargana Mammadova, a member of Birbank’s Management Board and Chief Human Capital and Organizational Development Officer, Fuad Garayev, Deputy Director of the Institute of Education, Anar Gadimaliyev, Deputy Head of Baku City Education Department, Nigar Baimova, Executive Director of “Dərs Evi” Educational Center, international anti-bullying expert Mariya Afonina, and other officials, who shared their thoughts on the importance of the initiative. During her speech, Fargana Mammadova emphasized, “Bullying is a serious social issue that affects not just individuals but the entire society. Beyond physical and emotional harm, it diminishes individuals' self-confidence and obstructs their future growth. Schools are one of the most critical environments where an individual’s personality is shaped. Therefore, it is essential to prevent such negative behaviors within educational institutions, implement preventive measures, and promote awareness.”
Bullying in educational environments includes physical or psychological pressure, insults, and similar behaviors among students, causing anxiety, reducing self-confidence, and negatively impacting their psychological well-being. This initiative aims to create a healthy, safe, and positive environment in schools and tackles a growing social problem that continues to affect society.
The “Change Begins with You!” project will initially be implemented at Secondary School No. 18. During the project’s presentation, a Charter of Cooperation was signed between Leyla Fatiyeva, Director of Secondary School No. 18, Aynur Hasanzade, Head of Internal Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Department of Birbank, and Nigar Baimova, Executive Director of “Dərs Evi” Educational Center. As part of the project, international experts will conduct special training sessions for teachers at the “Dərs Evi” Educational Center. These training sessions will help teachers enhance their knowledge and skills in raising awareness about bullying and ways to combat it. The trained teachers will then deliver educational programs to their colleagues in secondary schools, spreading strategies for effectively addressing bullying on a broader scale. The effectiveness of the project will be monitored through school-based surveys and assessments.
It is worth noting that Birbank, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, pays special attention to socially significant issues and regularly supports various social initiatives. The fight against bullying, a globally relevant social issue, is the bank’s latest significant contribution in this direction.
In addition to this project, the bank continues to support various initiatives aimed at improving community welfare. Birbank’s efforts in both education development and addressing social challenges contribute not only to the country’s socio-economic growth but also to creating a sustainable environment for future generations.
Birbank, known for delivering the latest digital innovations and banking products, serves its customers through its mobile app with over 3 million active users, 118 branches, and 54 departments, making it the largest branch network in Azerbaijan. Until 2025, the bank operated under the name Kapital Bank, the country’s first bank and it’s a part of Pasha Holding. Kapital Bank continues its activities as a financial institution. For more information about the bank’s products and services, you can visit https://birbank.az/ , call the 196 Information Center, or reach out through the bank’s various social media pages.
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