IRIS Balkan Media Caravan on the way through the migrants route

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After 6 days of visiting refugee camps along migrants route in Macedonia, Serbia and BIH, we concluded the Balkan Media Caravan, an initiative of IRIS network which was held from 3rd – 8th of November. The event was organized by IDC Serbia and ASB South East Europe, with support of national partners.

The aim of the caravan was to enhance human, sensitive and objective reporting on migrations in the region by increasing the level of knowledge and information among journalists.

The caravan gathered 20 young journalists of reputable national and local radio stations, television, newspapers and digital media on the 6-day training aimed at sensitization of reporting about migrants and refugees while tackling the topics of integration of migrants and reintegration of returnees into the society.

The Media Caravan included trainings, workshops, lectures from human rights defenders and journalists from the region and field visits to refugee camps in North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the possibility to conduct interviews with migrants in these countries.

Participants were journalists from media outlets in Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and BIH.

During the Caravan, the journalists had a task to produce, as an output of the Media Caravan, up to 15 reports in their media outlets, which have been prepared under the guidance of experienced trainers-journalists and which have been published and broadcasted by journalists in their media outlets.

Besides training and field visits to migrant reception and transit camps in 3 countries the journalists had an opportunity to meet local CSOs providers of social services to migrants/refugees/returnees and the representatives from local health institutions.


The Balkan Media Caravan had high coverage during the trip and afterwards.

Participants were from different national and regional media outlets, covering all together more than 10 million people in Western Balkans countries:

1.            Radio Television Serbia

2.            Radio Television Bosnia and Herzegovina

3.            Radio Television  Montenegro

RTCG NVO Sektor – Balkan Medija Karavan

4.            Radio Television Albania

5.            Regional television N1 (Belgrade, Sarajevo, Zagreb)

N1 u kampovima Tabanovci i Vranje – Balkan Medija Karavan

6.            TV Alsat M North Macedonia

Alsat M on Balkan Media Caravan

7.            TV Clab TV Albania

8.            Radio MOF North Macedonia

Radio MOF on Balkan Media Caravan

9.            Daily newspaper Danas Serbia

Migranti od Avganistana do Severne Makedonije

10.          Daily newspaper Nezavisne novine Bosnia and Herzegovina

11.          Weekly newspaper Monotor Montenegro

BALKANSKA RUTA, PUT MIGRANATA KA EVROPI (II) – KAMPOVI U BOSNI I HERCEGOVINI: Zaglavljeni u beznađu

12.          National Agency FoNet Serbia

13.          Web media Faktor Albania

Up till now, 23 reports were produced and broadcasted regarding Caravan and migrants crisis on Balkan route: 10 TV, 8 printed, 1 radio, 3 agency and 1 web reports.

Additional to this, reach was increased by posting all reports that were produced in traditional media on their web sites, Facebook and Twitter pages, increasing also the frequency of the event and closely influencing on the our target group.

Over 7million people were potentially reached through broadcasting TV reports, with additional reach of almost 500,000 people trough newspapers, web and radio publications. Campaign on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram brought us reach over 200,000, so we can easily say that IRIS Media Caravan media outputs potentially reached over 7,5 million people across the Western Balkan countries.

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20 journalists from 5 countries spent 6 days on the caravan visiting 3 countries, 7 migrant camps and 10 CSOs providers of social services for migrants along the route

Balkan media caravan is organized in the framework of the project ” IRIS networking CSOs for protection sensitive migration management”, implemented by IDC Serbia in cooperation with partners ASB South East Europe, LIR CD, SOS Podgorica, Отворена Порта – Open Gate: La Strada, North Macedonia, and Nisma për Ndryshim Shoqëror, ARSIS Albania

Project is funded by the European Commission.

PAL Call for Participants North Macedonia

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For International Week 2020: Innovation in Humanities and Social Science

Date: 17 – 21 February 2020

Organizer: Faculty of Philosophy Skopje, North Macedonia

Peer Review Instrument

 

The project IRIS NETWORKing – CSOs for protection sensitive migration management is implemented by Initiative for Development and Cooperation (IDC) in partnership with The Initiative for Social Change Arsis – National Coordinator for IRIS Network Albania, LIR CD – National Coordinator for IRIS Network Bosnia and Herzegovina, La Strada – National Coordinator for IRIS Network North Macedonia, SOS Telephone – National Coordinator IRIS Network Montenegro and ASB – General Secretariat Serbia. One of the project activities is Peer Review Instrument within which Peer Review Reports will be prepared.

The aim of the instrument is to enhance regional know-how exchange between CSOs dealing with provision of social services to vulnerable groups, including migrants, and to support focused peer-to-peer exchange. The Peer Review Reports will lead to innovative recommendations on how to combine existing practices. The mechanism is to strengthen CSOs IRIS Network members in building monitoring capacities for social service provision.

International Week 2020 Innovation in Humanities and Social Science

 

The Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje (North Macedonia) is the organizer of International Week 2020 Innovation in Humanities and Social Science that will promote the exchange of ideas and critical discussions between participants and lecturers related to the topic of ‘Innovation in Humanities and Social Science’. The five day event will include lectures, presentations and facilitated discussions in which both lecturers and participants will contribute.

Applications from participants involved in psychology, sociology, social policy and social work are welcome.

Selection of participants – CSOs IRIS Network members

IRIS Network members (staff members and/or volunteers) from the following countries can apply: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

Excellent command and understanding of the English language is a precondition for the application as English will be the working language.

The participants should:

  • Be engaged in an organization IRIS Network member
  • at least 3 years of active involvement and proven experience in CSOs and in the area of migration management and social policy
  • Proven familiarity with social and migration policies
  • Motivated to increase professional capacity and knowledge in areas covered by the International Week 2020
  • Demonstrated interest to increase quality standards of social services provided by his/her organization or to introduce new services
  • Open to new practices and willingness to implement them in his/her organization
  • Possibility to transfer gained knowledge and experience into policies and everyday work of his/her organization
  • Experience in conducting analysis and preparing similar Reports

 

Participant’s obligations

Following the International Week 2020 each of the selected participants IRIS Network members will be obliged to prepare a Peer Review Report on issues relevant for their organization and professional development based on one of the topics covered during the International Week 2020. The Participants will be obliged to submit the Peer Review Reports no later than February 28, 2020 to iris@iris-see.eu.

Participation in International Week 2020 is free of charge for those participants selected through the Call. The participants will receive board and accommodation free of charge, travel will be organized and costs covered by IRIS Network.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

 

The deadline for applications is October 31, 2019 at 5 p.m. Only selected candidates will be contacted.

If you are interested to participate in the event and are willing to prepare the Peer Review Report, please send the following documents/information in English, to Jelena Leskovac at iris@iris-see.eu and Stojne Atanasovska Dimishkovska at stojne@lastrada.org.mk)

  1. A short CV in Europass format
  2. 1 page cover / motivation letter clearly stating your motivation and objectives/learning outcome from attending the International Week 2020 and what you expect to achieve through attending; in the cover letter the applicant should indicate in which topic(s) covered he/she is most interested in.
  3. Recommendation Letter from your current employer – IRIS Network member

International Week 2020 starts on February 17 and ends on February 21, 2020.

Based on criteria indicated in the Call and submitted applications, in total six (6) participants will be selected.

Assessment of applications

The assessment of applications (in order to be placed on the shortlist) will be based on the application submitted by the candidate. Please clearly indicate in the motivation letter of your application:

  • How the International Week 2020 will impact your professional capacities and your organization’s

Selected participants will receive a fee for covering travel, accommodation and meals during the duration of the International Week 2020. Each participant will be responsible for organizing travel, accommodation and meals.

Int Week 2020, List of speakers

Extended deadline for application for IRIS Networking Media Caravan

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Application deadline: October 11th, 2019.

In the framework of the EU-funded project IRIS NETWORKing CSOs for protection sensitive migration management, implemented by Development and Cooperation (IDC) in cooperation with partners ASB South East Europe, LIR CD BiH, La Strada-Open Gate Republic of North Macedonia, Initiative for Social Change ARSIS Albania and SOS TELEPHONE Montenegro, a Media Caravan for 20 journalists from media outlets in Western Balkans (WB) will be organised.

The Media Caravan will be organized October 27 – November 1, 2019 (indicative date).   

About the Media Caravan

The European migrant crisis, since its beginning in 2015, has been marked by a trend of portraying the migrants in a negative light which is often manifested as racism or xenophobia. Unfortunately, this type of rhetoric is not limited to just one country but has become dominant on the European level. Media in WB failed to provide detailed and reliable information about the refugee crisis because of stretched editorial resources and due to the lack of presence of well-informed journalists able to provide in-depth and sensitive reporting. Moreover, reports about refugees and migrants were coloured by hyperbole and intolerance and confusion over what are the correct terms to use to describe migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. Even though major reduction in migrant numbers in countries along the WB Route led to fewer headlines on this topic in Serbia, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina “horror stories” about refugees and migrants are still very present. Such stories are transferred to the other media outlets in the region. The predominant negative picture of the “villain migrant” can be changed in the perception of the general public by using various channels – from the traditional media through social media.

The overall objective of Balkan Media caravan “Migration in Journalism” is to shift the prevailing perception that each and every migrant is automatically a criminal and to point out that they are human beings that have to be treated with respect and have certain rights that must not be broken. The caravan will gather 20 young journalists of reputable national and local radio stations, television, newspapers and/or digital media on the 6-day training aimed at sensitization of reporting about migrants and refugees while tackling the topics of integration of migrants and reintegration of returnees into the society.

The Media Caravan will include training/workshops/lectures from human rights defenders and journalists from the region and field visits to refugee camps in North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the possibility to conduct interviews with migrant/refugee /returnees in these countries.

Main topics that will be cowered during the training/workshops/lectures, amongst all are the following: 1) Who is refugee, migrant, IDP and returnee? Why is term illegal immigrant not correct? 2) Human rights issues arising in the context of mix migration; 3) Ethic in journalism: Hate speech and challenges in modern journalism; 4) Quality reporting on migration: Creating moving stories and covering sensitive issues; 5) Reinforce freedom of expression and equality in the media etc.

Participants will be journalists from media outlets in Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and B&H.

The Media Caravan will last 6 days and will be organised in North Macedonia, Serbia and BiH. 

The Media Caravan will start in Macedonia and will travel to Serbia and BiH. Participants / journalists will have the opportunity to produce appealing stories during the event. The participants / journalists will prepare, as an output of the Media Caravan, up to 15 reports in their media outlets, which will be prepared under the guidance of experienced trainers/journalists and which will be published/broadcasted by journalists in/on their media outlets.

Besides training and field visits to migrant reception and transit camps in 3 countries the participants / journalists will have an opportunity to meet local CSOs providers of social services to migrants/refugees/returnees and meeting with the representatives from local health institutions.

What does IRIS Network expect from you?

  • Willingness to learn about migrant management in Western Balkan
  • Need to increase professional capacity in the area of migrant management, integration of vulnerable groups, with focus migrants/refugees/returnees
  • Conduct interviews and prepare reports/article/reportage during visits to migrant camps which will contribute to social integration of migrants/refugees/returnees into local communities
  • Up to 15 media outputs need to be prepared by Media Caravan participants or minimum 2 media outputs per participant
  • A proactive attitude

Education, key skills and competences of applicants

  • High school diploma required, BA/MA in journalism/political science/law will be seen as an advantage
  • Good command of English
  • Proven track record in covering social and/or migration issues
  • Familiar with migrant management in Western Balkans
  • Proven experience as a journalist in a media outlet in Western Balkan countries (print/electronic/online)
  • Young journalists up to 35 years of age, however journalists above this age are also welcome as participants

Please note that this call is exclusively open for media operating in Western Balkans (Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro).

How to apply

If you are interested in participating in the Media Caravan please send:

  • your CV in Europass format
  • 1 page cover letter that clearly states your motivation and your objectives/learning outcomes following the Media Caravan
  • Recommendation Letter from your current employer – media outlet

to Sanja Vukelic at sanja.vukelic@asb-see.org and cc to Jelena Leskovac at iris@iris-see.eu by October, 11th 2019

Assessment of applications

The assessment of applications (in order to be placed on the shortlist) will be based on the application submitted by the candidate. Please clearly indicate in the motivation letter of your application:

  • How the Media Caravan will impact your professional capacities and your media outlet’s

Terms and conditions

The following costs will be covered during the 6 day Media Caravan:

  • Travel costs
  • Accommodation costs
  • Meals (3 meals per day)
  • Health insurance

The participants will cover by themselves costs that are not indicated above.

Media Caravan – Call for Particpants – JournalistsDownload

IRIS Networking Media Caravan

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In the framework of the EU-funded project IRIS NETWORKing CSOs for protection sensitive migration management, implemented by Development and Cooperation (IDC) in cooperation with partners ASB South East Europe, LIR CD BiH, La Strada-Open Gate Republic of North Macedonia, Initiative for Social Change ARSIS Albania and SOS TELEPHONE Montenegro, a Media Caravan for 20 journalists from media outlets in Western Balkans (WB) will be organised.

The Media Caravan will be organized October 27 – November 1, 2019 (indicative date).   

About the Media Caravan

The European migrant crisis, since its beginning in 2015, has been marked by a trend of portraying the migrants in a negative light which is often manifested as racism or xenophobia. Unfortunately, this type of rhetoric is not limited to just one country but has become dominant on the European level. Media in WB failed to provide detailed and reliable information about the refugee crisis because of stretched editorial resources and due to the lack of presence of well-informed journalists able to provide in-depth and sensitive reporting. Moreover, reports about refugees and migrants were coloured by hyperbole and intolerance and confusion over what are the correct terms to use to describe migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. Even though major reduction in migrant numbers in countries along the WB Route led to fewer headlines on this topic in Serbia, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina “horror stories” about refugees and migrants are still very present. Such stories are transferred to the other media outlets in the region. The predominant negative picture of the “villain migrant” can be changed in the perception of the general public by using various channels – from the traditional media through social media.

The overall objective of Balkan Media caravan “Migration in Journalism” is to shift the prevailing perception that each and every migrant is automatically a criminal and to point out that they are human beings that have to be treated with respect and have certain rights that must not be broken. The caravan will gather 20 young journalists of reputable national and local radio stations, television, newspapers and/or digital media on the 6-day training aimed at sensitization of reporting about migrants and refugees while tackling the topics of integration of migrants and reintegration of returnees into the society.

The Media Caravan will include training/workshops/lectures from human rights defenders and journalists from the region and field visits to refugee camps in North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the possibility to conduct interviews with migrant/refugee /returnees in these countries.

Main topics that will be cowered during the training/workshops/lectures, amongst all are the following: 1) Who is refugee, migrant, IDP and returnee? Why is term illegal immigrant not correct? 2) Human rights issues arising in the context of mix migration; 3) Ethic in journalism: Hate speech and challenges in modern journalism; 4) Quality reporting on migration: Creating moving stories and covering sensitive issues; 5) Reinforce freedom of expression and equality in the media etc.

Participants will be journalists from media outlets in Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and B&H.

The Media Caravan will last 6 days and will be organised in North Macedonia, Serbia and BiH. 

The Media Caravan will start in Macedonia and will travel to Serbia and BiH. Participants / journalists will have the opportunity to produce appealing stories during the event. The participants / journalists will prepare, as an output of the Media Caravan, up to 15 reports in their media outlets, which will be prepared under the guidance of experienced trainers/journalists and which will be published/broadcasted by journalists in/on their media outlets.

Besides training and field visits to migrant reception and transit camps in 3 countries the participants / journalists will have an opportunity to meet local CSOs providers of social services to migrants/refugees/returnees and meeting with the representatives from local health institutions.

What does IRIS Network expect from you?

  • Willingness to learn about migrant management in Western Balkan
  • Need to increase professional capacity in the area of migrant management, integration of vulnerable groups, with focus migrants/refugees/returnees
  • Conduct interviews and prepare reports/article/reportage during visits to migrant camps which will contribute to social integration of migrants/refugees/returnees into local communities
  • Up to 15 media outputs need to be prepared by Media Caravan participants or minimum 2 media outputs per participant
  • A proactive attitude

Education, key skills and competences of applicants

  • High school diploma required, BA/MA in journalism/political science/law will be seen as an advantage
  • Good command of English
  • Proven track record in covering social and/or migration issues
  • Familiar with migrant management in Western Balkans
  • Proven experience as a journalist in a media outlet in Western Balkan countries (print/electronic/online)
  • Young journalists up to 35 years of age, however journalists above this age are also welcome as participants

Please note that this call is exclusively open for media operating in Western Balkans (Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro).

How to apply

If you are interested in participating in the Media Caravan please send:

  • your CV in Europass format
  • 1 page cover letter that clearly states your motivation and your objectives/learning outcomes following the Media Caravan
  • Recommendation Letter from your current employer – media outlet

to Sanja Vukelic at sanja.vukelic@asb-see.org and cc to Jelena Leskovac at iris@iris-see.eu by October, 9th 2019

Assessment of applications

The assessment of applications (in order to be placed on the shortlist) will be based on the application submitted by the candidate. Please clearly indicate in the motivation letter of your application:

  • How the Media Caravan will impact your professional capacities and your media outlet’s

Terms and conditions

The following costs will be covered during the 6 day Media Caravan:

  • Travel costs
  • Accommodation costs
  • Meals (3 meals per day)
  • Health insurance

The participants will cover by themselves costs that are not indicated above.

Media Caravan – Call for Particpants – JournalistsDownload

Second Regional Social Academy of IRIS Network

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Second Regional Social Academy “Social Enterprises – An Innovative Model for sustainable service delivery and integration of marginalized groups in the labour market and society” was held from 27 – 30 May 2019. in Tirana. Under the framework of IRIS Networking CSOs for protection sensitive migration management, project is funded by European Commission and implemented through joined forces of 6 NGOs from 5WB countries: IDC Serbia, ASB South East Europe, SOS Podgorica, LIR Civil Society from B&H, ARSIS Albania and La Strada North Macedonia

Summary of our 4 day journey you can see in video below

Call for Applications for Western Balkans Policy Analysis Laboratory School in Montenegro

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The project IRIS NETWORKing – CSOs for protection sensitive migration management is announcing Call for Peer Reviewers who will participate in the Western Balkans Policy Analysis Laboratory (PAL) School organized by The Future of the Welfare State in the Western Balkans Network on welfare issues, which will take place in Montenegro (Budva, Bečići) from 21 to 25 October 2019. Center for Social Policy (Belgrade, Serbia), member of the Western Balkans Network, is in charge of organizing PAL School.

One of the project activities is Peer Review Instrument within which Peer Review Reports will be prepared. The aim of the instrument is to enhance regional know-how exchange between CSOs dealing with provision of social services to vulnerable groups, including migrants, and to support focused peer-to-peer exchange. The Peer Review Reports will lead to innovative recommendations on how to combine existing practices. The mechanism is to strengthen CSOs IRIS Network members in building monitoring capacities for social service provision.

The PAL School is aimed at mid-level career professionals working in the social sectors either as policy and decision makers, service providers (from the state, NGO and private sectors), administrators, activists, advocates, think tank analysts, researchers, lecturers or service users from across the Western Balkan countries. The official language of the Policy Analysis Laboratory is English.

The deadline for applications is 30 August 2019 at 17 p.m. Only selected candidates will be contacted.

If you are interested to participate in the event and are will to prepare the Peer Review Report, please send the following documents/information in English, to email: iris@iris-see.eu

  1. A short CV in Europass format
  • 1 page cover / motivation letter clearly stating your motivation and objectives/learning outcome from attending PAL and what you expect to achieve through attending; in the cover letter the applicant should indicate in which of the three topics covered within the PAL School he/she is most interested in. Rank your first and second choices of PAL streams (we cannot guarantee that everyone will be placed in their first-choice stream)
  • Recommendation Letter from your current employer – IRIS Network member

The PAL School starts on October 21, 2019 in the afternoon, after the arrival of the participants and ends on October 25, 2019.

Based on criteria indicated in the Call and submitted applications, in total seven (7) participants will be selected.

More information about PAL School and application you can find HERE.

Agenda of the Policy Analysis Laboratory School you can find HERE.

PAL Call for ParticipantsDownload
PAL AgendaDownload

Granting support for 25 local advocacy initiatives in SEE

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Out of 32 received project proposals, IRIS Network awarded 25 grants under Support to projects of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) – social service providers in SEE in scope of the project „IRIS NETWORKing – CSOs for protection sensitive migration management“. IRIS network Project Evaluation Committee decided to support total of 25 projects in 5 project countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. 

Implementation of all supported project starts on 15th July 2019 with the duration of eight to twelve months. Each project deals with important social issues and strives to strengthen civil society organizations role in  the creation of social policies and social protection programmes. Overall objective of the SGF is to build capacities of the grass-root organizations for service provision and  advocacy at the local and/or national level, as well as to have outreach in the communities for the purpose of building a more resilient and inclusive society, bringing positive change in the community. 

The specific objectives are:

a) to achieve greater commitment of CSO networks to give citizens a voice and influence public sector reform processes through analysis, monitoring and advocacy, contributing to the better assistance/integration of the migrant population at the local level;

b) to strengthen the CSOs capacities for the protection sensitive migration management in order to improve overall service delivery.

The projects assessment criteria included: organisational performance; comprehensiveness of information including relevance of the proposal to objectives of the fund, objectives of the project and addressing identified need; capacity of identified activities to achieve defined objectives; the relationship between the proposed actions and the financial plan; the intended impact of the project and future sustainability.

Iris network would like to congratulate all of its member organizations who received grants, but also to thank all applicants who sent us their project proposals. Final list of all organizations who received grants can be found in the following table.

Social enterprising on Second Regional Social Academy

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Second Regional Social Academy “Social Enterprises – An Innovative Model for sustainable service delivery and integration of marginalized groups in the labour market and society” was held from 27 – 30 May 2019. in Tirana. Under the framework of IRIS Networking CSOs for protection sensitive migration management, project is funded by European Commission and implemented through joined forces of 6 NGOs from 5WB countries: IDC Serbia, ASB South East Europe, SOS Podgorica, LIR Civil Society from B&H, ARSIS Albania and La Strada North Macedonia

Over 30 participants, IRIS network members, distinctive mid-career public servants, scholars, activists and professionals from civil society organizations from the region, who were selected to participate on Academy, had a unique opportunity to benefit from a diversified training package, introduction of legal framework and practical models of social enterprises in the region, exploring innovative entrepreneurship activities for the development of the region through higher inclusion of migrants, Roma, women, youth and PwD and other marginalized groups into labour market, and social services delivery.

Participants attended 4 day tailor-made training consisted of different learning methodologies including lectures, workshops, discussions and field visits.



At the beginning of this four-day journey, Jelena Adjelkovic, project Manager in IDC Serbia and Masa Mitrovic, Project Manager from ASB South East Europe, presented Iris Network activities to all members and introduced participants to Social Academy agenda.

On first training day, Anto Janković form Center for Economic Prosperity and Freedom in Montenegro and Juliana Hoxha from Partners Albania for Change and Development introduced participants with main Academy topics:

What is Social Enterprise?
Concepts and Schools of Thought
Different models of Social Enterprises – From Service Delivery to Sustainable Social Enterprises

Leaded by Anto & Juliana, through presentations and tactical workshops, participants learned how to start with social business and how to place it on the market.

On second training day, Anto joined forces with Marko Moracic from HUBChe Belgrade and Erila Haska representing Partners Albania for Change and Development.

Marko provided to participants first-hand experience when it comes to how social enterprises can recognize opportunities in the community and the market. He also gave some inputs how to determinate customer and target groups, ways of finding sources for funding social enterprises and how to measure the social impact!

Start thinking big, if you think small, everything will be small and unreachable. Change always comes from inside, said Marko

Afternoon on second training day was reserved for business model canvas and how to use it for social enterprise design. Participant had hard mission this afternoon, to create business plan for developing their own social brand. Results were outstanding thanks to mentoring support of our trainer’s trio.

Iris Network

Peak of the Academy was third day who was reserved for filed visit and introducing with successful examples of social enterprising in Tirana.

First visit was to YAPS, Youth Albania Professional Services, which is the first social business in Tirana. The company works in the fields of parcel delivery, cleaning and fix-it services. It was founded in 2001 and currently employs 112 people. The employees are orphans, Roma, Egyptians or people coming from a difficult financial background. Before they start to work for the company, they receive training by YAPS.

After some start-up financing they are now a commercially run company. The director, Arben Shamija, explained that with their surplus YAPS has financed a kindergarten for the city and some other social projects. One of the secrets of his success is making the employees as responsible for their own work as possible.

Although this enterprise had great success in short time, they are all still struggling with funding, legislation and bureaucracy, Even they fully employ marginal groups and persons with disabilities, they have no benefits what so ever, paying full taxes and have no such as support from the Government.

Next stop on our field visit was Qendra Xhonatan / Jonathan Center, a nonprofit organization, with the purpose of helping children with Down’s syndrome, autism and children with similar special needs, and at the same time to increase the awareness of their families to achieve the best for their life. As they say, intention is to bring a change in the spiritual approach and the possibility that Albanian society can accept and create an environment where the children with special needs can be integrated and achieve the best in life.

Work therapy, music therapy, psycho-social workshops and many other things, help these children not only to survive and have a life, jet to have fun and happy life and integrate in society.

As a part of the center, in coffee shop Qendra, children with special needs are serving coffee, organizing events, karaoke, shows, theater…

Johnatan Centre is fully funded from the coffee shop profit and donations.

On last Academy day, Nikica Kusinikova and Eric Layton from European Network of Social Integration Enterprises – ENSIE talked about Legal Framework & Practices of Social Enterprises around the Region and Europe

Klotilda Kosta, from Partners Albania for Change and Development, closed the Second Regional Social Academy of Iris Network with workshop and presentations on policy recommendation on Social Enterprises development

All 30 participants successfully finished this adventure! On closing ceremony, they obtained certificates, and entered Academy Alumni.

Also, participation and great results that participant achieved on this Academy will be seen as an advantage when applying for EU based traineeships organized by IRIS network.

Now, upon finishing this adventure, some of participants will have the opportunity to receive the scholarship for traineeship in the relevant organization social service provider located in EU.

Until next Iris Regional Social Academy…

Extended deadline for application for Small Grants Scheme

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The deadline for application for Small Grants Scheme for Iris Network members is extended until May 31st.

All information and document for application you can find HERE

Small Grant Scheme  is open only to IRIS national networks member organizations from 5 countries, especially grass roots, those who show initiative in implementing quality standards in their work, have active approach to policy making and advocacy during project implementation. Priority will be given to joint initiatives between two or more IRIS member organizations.

Corrigendum

Regional Social Academy of Iris Network – socialize and learn

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A few days left until Second Iris Network Regional Social Academy. Applications are collected and news is expanded that in the end of May in Tirana will be held one of the biggest regional event that brings together civil society organizations and experts in these areas. The cities have already been filled up, the plan has been made and the materials are ready. Intrusive lectures and field visits will enable students and academia to gain knowledge and experience both theoretically and practical experience.
The Academy offers participants a unique opportunity to benefit from a diversified training package, Introduction of legal framework and practical models of social enterprises in the region, exploring innovative entrepreneurship activities for the development of the region through higher inclusion of migrants, Roma, women, youth and PwD and other marginalised groups into labour market, and social services delivery.

Outstanding results at the Academy will be seen as an advantage when applying for EU based traineeships organized by IRIS Network. After the Academy, participants will have the opportunity to receive the scholarship for traineeship in the relevant organization social service provider located in EU.

How it all looked like and how the first academy was important for our participants, you can see in the videos below.

Training on First Regional Social Academy of Iris Network, Belgrade 2018
Field visits, Elementary School “Branko Pesic” and Asylum Camp Krnjaca,
First Regional Social Academy of Iris Network, Belgrade 2018

Second Regional Social Academy, which will be held in Tirana, Albania from 27th to 30th May 2019. organised by Arbeiter Samariter Bund South East Europe together with Iris Network national partner – The Initiative for Social Change ARSIS

Regional Social Academy is part of the regular IRIS programme activities, organized annually in each of the WB state.

Pictures and impressions from First Regional Social Academy you can see here.

See you soon, stay tuned!

For application and additional questions contact iris@iris-see.eu.