The work of the Association for Democratic Prosperity ZID during the COVID-19 pandemic In accordance with the measures prescribed by the Government of Montenegro, regarding the COVID19 pandemic, the work of ADP ZID changed its work regime by switching from office to online mode. In order to adapt to the situation in which the whole world finds itself, our service in which we work with gambling addicts and those who gamble at a problematic level has continued to function, but in the form of online counseling sessions through the application “Viber” and “Zoom”. The members of our team continued to follow the needs of our society in their homes and accordingly worked on the projects they received, in a slightly changed environment, but just as well as they have done so far. At the same time, adapting to the situation we found ourselves in, the rest of the ADP ZID team continued to organize a series of activities for this year, and one of those activities is the “i2space challenge days” challenge. By organizing this challenge, we offer young people, whose plans for seasonal work have been changed due to the new situation with the new Corona virus, or have lost their jobs, do not know what to do when the situation in the country stabilizes, the opportunity to have an idea of what to do next. , they develop with the help of a series of awards that we give them. With regular “Zoom” meetings, ADP ZID, with an innovative and team spirit, managed to confront the Corona virus, and to continue its activities as it did before the situation with COVID19.
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In the COVID 19 Pandemic Crisis situation, the Sensus Center has focused its capacity on organizing online education for parents of children on how to cope with isolation, especially targeting parents of primary school children. Sensus capacities are also focused on the preparation of online training for members of the network “The common story” on the topic “Creating guidelines for monitoring and protection of children’s rights in primary education in Mostar” within the project “Equal rights, egual education” ‘. Through project activities, they organize online counseling and support for their 25 volunteers. “Be conscientious, taking care of your health, caring for the health of others. Be gentle and supportive to yourself in times of isolation, and support for others”, said Sensus.
In accordance with the decision of the Government of Montenegro dated 16 March 2020, due to the Corona virus pandemic, Center for Roma Initiatives Nikšić introduced several necessary measures, one of which is on-call to the landline from 08:00 to 16:00 ha thereafter. re-routing to executive coordinator number, a mobile psychological counseling hotline was also introduced for victims of domestic violence 24 h.
Members of the organization at this time
provide the service of a confidential person for victims of domestic violence.
The organization is involved in the Home Security Campaign conducted by the Ministry of internal affairs, which provides a hotline for victims of domestic violence.
Also, a local mediator of our organization in Podgorica has been continuously sewing protective masks for the Roma and Egyptian communities since the start of the COVID – 19 pandemic.
Activists and volunteers of the Center
for Roma Initiatives participated in several food and hygiene packages with the
coordination of the Red Cross.
In an interview with the News, the Center
for Roma Initiatives called for the disinfection of Roma and Egyptian
settlements in Niksic. Rapid response of PE “Water Supply and
Sewerage” disinfection in several Roma and Egyptian settlements.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic start, the organization has been informing the general public about the current state of the community and urging the provision of emergency hygiene and nutrition packages for the Roma and Egyptian communities in Montenegro.
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United we are stronger – for all of our communities!
Juventas, Queer Montenegro, Association “Spektra” and LBT women Association “Stana”, a group of Montenegrin NGOs, continues to provide services during the COVID-19 epidemics despite all the changes in the working conditions, and following all of the guidelines of the National Coordination Body for the prevention of the new Corona virus spread. Persons from the LGBTIQ communities, people who use/inject drugs, sex workers, ex-prisoners, our main target groups, face many challenges at the moment some of which include: emerging or worsening mental health issues due to the long isolation and no contact with relevant others, additional economic hardship which can potentially lead to unemployment and homelessness, higher risk for the ones already facing domestic violence, as well as higher risk of discrimination happening due to changed health system priorities. People who use/inject drugs, sex workers and former and active prisoners are communities NGO Juventas works with in particular. The services being delivered to them are the following: 1. Distribution and exchange of safe injection equipment (syringes, needles, cookers, medical alcohol, elastic tourniquets…) in Drop in centers and during outreach 2. Distribution of free condoms and lubricants in Drop in centers and during outreach 3. Service of washing and drying of laundry and garments (on a regular basis, but now even more so as a part of measures preventing the spread of Corona virus) 4. Online and phone counseling with outreach and expert workers (doctor, psychologist, social worker) 5. Delivering food packages for the ones most economically challenged (once per week, quantity for 7 days)
According to measures issued by the Government, all external partners/associates are forbidden to provide additional services in prison. On the other hand, Juventas is supporting the work of this institution by providing materials for in prison tailoring of protective masks throughout the framework of a project this organization has. The services being delivered to the Montenegrin LGBTIQ communities are a product of cooperation and synergies of all four named organizations, Juventas, Queer Montenegro, Association “Spektra” and LBT women Association “Stana”, and these include:
1. Distribution of free condoms and lubricants – NGO Juventas
2. Online and phone counseling with outreach and expert workers (doctor, psychologist, social worker) – NGO Juventas
3. Service of washing and drying of laundry and garments (on a regular basis, but now even more so as a part of measures preventing the spread of Corona virus) – NGO Juventas
4. Delivering food packages for the ones most economically challenged (once per week, quantity for 7 days)-NGO Juventas andNGO Queer Montenegro
5. Peer online and phone individual and group counselling and support- NGO Queer Montenegro 6. Free legal aid- NGO Queer Montenegro 7. Peer online and phone individual and group counselling and support for
8. LBTQ women-LBTQ Women’s Association “Stana”
9. Online self-support group for trans and gender variantpersons- Association “Spectra”
10. Individual online and phone consultations for trans and gender variant persons- Association “Spectra”
In addition to services we are delivering for more than 10 years already, but also in trying to answer the needs of the communities we work with and lessen the burden the COVID19 pandemics brought along, Juventas and Queer Montenegro started with the distribution of food and basic hygiene package for the ones most vulnerable in communities we are working with. It is important to note that these have been adapted to the living conditions of our clients, some of whom do not even have the basic requirements for a dignified life: electricity and/or water. Juventas and Queer Montenegro, in cooperation with international donors, have set aside a part of their funds in order to fully and adequately provide this service to our clients. Delivery of food and personal hygiene packages is being implemented on a weekly basis and received a special permission from the National Coordination Body for the Prevention of the New Corona virus Spread. Two teams made out of two outreach workers are responsible for food packages delivery. Throughout the process – from the supply of food to its direct distribution, all engaged persons fully comply with all the prescribed preventive measures and use the available protective equipment. Outreach workers and associates are dedicated to communicating with clients based on their needs, whether online, telephone or in direct contact, again with preventive measures in place. Online communication with all our communities is conducted through social networks (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and various communication platforms such as Viber, Whats App, Skype and the new Houseparty application which, in addition to communication, enables people to play social games. It is important to note that the phone numbers of team members of all of our organizations are available and visible on the platforms listed. Also, we have prepared specific guidelines for our team and clients. All our four organizations have been advocating for the protection and human rights of all the communities we work with since the outbreak. It is our great pleasure to be able to provide these services to our clients coming from all of the communities we are working with, and we are using this opportunity to thank all of our colleagues for their hard work in trying to alleviate the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Iris Network conducted the survey “Social services during coronavirus pandemic in Western Balkan countries” in order to assess the current state of the pandemic as well as the repercussions it will have on the provision of social services to beneficiaries provided by IRIS Network members in the local communities. The results of the survey serve as a baseline for this Report. The Report provides a particular overview of the actual challenges and hardships that CSO providers of social services encounter in working with beneficiaries in light of the pandemic predicament. It also serves to map assistance models and as an instrument in advocating for policies and measures of national/regional/ EU Institutions which focus on service providers during and after the crises implicated by COVID-19. IRIS network is the only regional network that brings together over 200 organizations that provide different type of social services to more than 10.000 people in the South East Europe region. IRIS was founded in 2012 as part of the project “Improving the provision of SSD in SEE funded by the EU”. The network aims to strengthen the role of non for-profit social service providers through South East Europe and to ensure that these organizations are recognized as equal partners by the public sector. This project is funded by the European Union During December 2017, IRIS Network commenced a new regional initiative “IRIS NETWORKing – CSOs for protection sensitive migration management” developed by IDC and its partners from ASB, SOS Podgorica, LIR CD, La Strada and Initiative ARSIS. The Project aims to significantly contribute to the improvement of service delivery and policy framework related to the migration in the region of Western Balkans (Albania, BiH, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia). The main objective of the project is to empower CSOs to be effective, accountable and independent actors and to improve their capacity for dialogue with governments for the purpose of influencing policy and decision-making processes. The Project is supported through the European Commission Programme Consolidating Regional Thematic Networks of Civil Society Organizations. As IRIS Network members are facing unprecedented challenges from COVID-19 and the strain on the services and resources they provide is tremendous, we would like to take proactive steps to protect the Network members, support their ongoing activities and assist them to cope with current hardships as much as possible under the scope of the Project.
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At the time of measures aimed at suppressing and preventing the transmission of virus coronas, measures were also introduced at CAZAS to protect the health of employees, and the organization of work was modified. Namely, one employee is on duty at the main office every weekday from 9 am to 2 pm. Other employees work from home. All activities that involve gathering more than one person in one place are postponed until further notice (seminars, round tables, meetings, etc.). During this period, emphasis was placed on online activism and online counseling. Working hours of drop-in centers in Podgorica and Bar, in accordance with the Government’s measures, were reduced to the period from 16 to 18h, while the field work remained unchanged, with mandatory observance of measures of protection and preservation of health. In order to protect the health of employees, the provision of hygiene services in drop-in centers is currently suspended, while counseling with a psychologist, social worker or physician is done exclusively by telephone or through a social media account at @smanjenje_stete_cazas. Lunch packages are distributed to customers without modification, while the exchange and distribution of injection supplies is done in large quantities to reduce the number of social contacts.
Iris Network conducted the survey “Social services during coronavirus pandemic in Western Balkan
countries” in order to assess the current state of the pandemic as well as the repercussions it will have on
the provision of social services to beneficiaries provided by IRIS Network members in the local
communities. The results of the survey serve as a baseline for this Report.
The Report provides a particular overview of the actual challenges and hardships that CSO providers of
social services encounter in working with beneficiaries in light of the pandemic predicament. It also serves
to map assistance models and as an instrument in advocating for policies and measures of
national/regional/ EU Institutions which focus on service providers during and after the crises implicated
by COVID-19.
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The global pandemic COVID -19 is, unfortunately, an opportune time to increase the volume of all forms of domestic violence. Therefore, since the start of the pandemic in Montenegro, there has been a reorganization of the work of the SOS Telephone Podgorica, which introduced a 24-hour on-call service and, in addition to the two existing ones, activated another number available to clients (067 805 297). The changes that have been made include the availability of counseling services 24 hours a day, instead of the planned 8 during the work week.
Within
the counseling services, trained and competent staff provide support and
assistance to victims of violence, which, in addition to counseling services,
provides emotional support, which is very important for beneficiaries at these
times. With consent, we mediate the beneficiaries to the institutions of the
system and work to quickly suppress / end the violence. We guarantee users
anonymity and confidentiality, respecting their rights and integrity above all
else.
SOS Podgorica is also part of the #SafetyHome Campaign launched by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro, Police Directorate, SOS Podgorica, SOS Niksic, Center for Women’s Rights, Safe Women’s House and Center for Roma Initiatives. The aim of the campaign, supported by the British Embassy Podgorica / United Kingdom Embassy in Podgorica, is to show the victims that they are not alone and that they can get help and protect themselves and other family members from violence
Organization for Development and Democracy, Bujanovac launched a support program for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the municipalities of Bujanovac and Presevo. The organization has formed a volunteer expert team that will provide free advice, consultations and assistance on tax breaks and direct financial assistance to businesses. Assistance can be requested in two ways: by telephone – 063/1785420, on weekdays from 11am to 2pm, as well as by email at bizpompomccovid19@gmail.com. What users have to prepare before contacting the team is the business ID. In this way, ORD Bujanovac would like to contribute to reducing the economic consequences of the COVID19 pandemic and the state of emergency in Southern Serbia.
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Women’s Association “Nature”, Bratunac immediately after declaring the Corana virus emergency made all its available resources available to the Bratunac Red Cross Municipal Organization and the Center for Social Work. The staff and volunteers of Nature have become volunteers of the Red Cross, and the Chancellery of Nature and the technical resources at our disposal serve the needs of this situation. Volunteers distribute masks (which some of our members and sew) on a daily basis, on calls coming to the Red Cross info center deliver food to elderly people who cannot move, deliver medicines according to prescriptions delivered from the health center, pack and distribute food and hygiene packages to vulnerable populations. “Nature” pay particular attention to vulnerable categories, which are their beneficiaries, such as women victims of war, women from large family, single mothers, women at risk of domestic violence or women victims of domestic violence. Women’s Association “Nature” currently considering setting up a SOS line for psychological support for this vulnerable category.
