The Embassy of Israel together with Barama Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center of "Azercell Telecom” LLC presented a joint project called TOM (Tikkun Olam Makers) which is aiming to connect "makers” with "need knowers” in order to develop open-source solutions for daily challenges of people with special needs.

The opening of the project took place at the Heydar Aliyev Center on 5th February 2019 with the support of Azercell, Regional Development Public Unit ("RIIB”), PASHA Bank, JOY Child Development Center, Baku Engineering University, Media Center of Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Training and Sport and others. During the opening ceremony the website of TOM in Azerbaijan  was launched presenting the challenges and opening the call for the Makers.

During the ceremony speeches were delivered by:  Avital Rosenberg, Charge d’Affairs of the Embassy of Israel in the Republic of Azerbaijan Imran Baghirov, Managing Director of Barama Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Vugar Behbudov, Head of Social Services and Programs Department of the State Social Protection Fund under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Maftuna İsmayilova, State Committee for Family, Women and Children affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Chief Advisor

TOM is global movement of communities connecting makers, designers, developers and engineers with people with disabilities (aka – "need-knowers”) to develop technological solutions for everyday challenges. For more information about the project you can visit the website of the project in Azerbaijan and global TOM website:

http://tomglobal.org/

After the opening of the call for talents, the potential makers will have approximately 1 month (till 28th February) to register their participation. The names of the participants who will be working in teams on the 5 TOM challenges will be announced in March. They will all meet and start working on the challenge during a designated Pre-TOM Event. The teams will have approximately 1 month for creating a solution for the challenges. "SCHWATECH” LLC will support them during the project.