Founded in 1999, Reliable Future (Ümidli Gələcək) is a civil society organisation in Azerbaijan dedicated to protecting the rights of children and women and supporting vulnerable communities including children, persons with disabilities, refugees and families facing hardship. Through an integrated model of social, psychological and legal assistance, the organisation has built trusted services that help those most at risk access safety, justice and opportunity.
Reliable Future has also led several national firsts that strengthened protection systems for children. In 2007, with support from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ombudsperson, the Ministry of Science and Education and UNICEF, the organisation established Azerbaijan’s first Juvenile Justice Centre to prevent offending among minors and to advance a youth-friendly justice system. With UNICEF, it went on to create a Child Rights Clinic to expand public legal literacy and provide child-focused rights advice. In partnership with the Ministry of Science and Education, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs and Azercell, Reliable Future launched the 116111 Hotline for Children and Women in Baku. In 2011, again with the State Committee’s support, it opened a Social Rehabilitation Centre for children affected by violence and crime. The organisation’s service centres are officially accredited by the Social Services Agency under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, and today provide model social, legal and psychological services that are unique in the country.
Our Partnership
Reliable Future began partnering with Aflatoun International in 2009. Since then, the team has translated and localised Aflatoun materials and trained educators through a Training of Trainers approach, ensuring quality delivery in Azerbaijani schools. With the official support of the Ministry of Science and Education, the programmes AflaTot for early years and Aflatoun/AflaToun for primary have been introduced in Baku and are now set to expand to regional schools. Building on this momentum, the organisation is preparing to adapt and deliver Social & Financial Education (SFE) in TVET colleges and universities, widening access for older learners.
Why this work matters is clear. In communities across Azerbaijan, particularly among low-income and regional families, limited familiarity with modern financial tools and social opportunities can increase children’s vulnerability to poverty, risk and exploitation. Reliable Future’s SFE initiatives help young people plan and manage everyday money, use banking and digital services safely, and avoid debt and fraud; practical skills that can break intergenerational cycles of disadvantage. In parallel, the social education component strengthens communication, confidence and rights awareness, equipping children and adolescents to recognise abuse, challenge discrimination and seek help when needed. Together, these competencies broaden life chances for learners and contribute to more resilient communities.
A recent pilot of Aflatoun programming in Baku has already shown strong engagement from both students and teachers. Educators trained by Reliable Future report that the lessons are practical and motivating; students respond enthusiastically to hands-on activities that connect classroom learning with real-life decisions. With ministerial backing secured, the next phase will take these benefits beyond the capital bringing SFE to more learners nationwide and into post-secondary settings, where young people are preparing to enter work and adult life.
As Reliable Future scales its partnership with Aflatoun, the organisation remains anchored by its broader protection services: the juvenile justice and child rights initiatives, the national 116111 hotline and the rehabilitation centre all operate as vital referral and support pathways for families who need more than classroom learning. This combination of quality education programmes alongside accredited social, psychological and legal services ensures that children and young people receive the right help at the right time.