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Iris Network COVID19 reaction stories – Juventas

April 30, 2020/in News /by Stef

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 […]

IRIS NETWORK REPORT SOCIAL SERVICES DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES

April 28, 2020/in News /by Stef

Iris Network COVID19 reaction stories – Juventas

April 30, 2020/in News /by Stef

IRIS NETWORK REPORT SOCIAL SERVICES DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES

April 28, 2020/in News /by Stef

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Iris Network COVID19 reaction stories – Juventas

April 30, 2020/in News /by Stef

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 REPORT SOCIAL SERVICES DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES

April 28, 2020/in News /by Stef

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.

IRIS NETWORK REPORT_Social services during pandemic Download

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Iris Network COVID19 reaction stories – Juventas

IRIS NETWORK REPORT SOCIAL SERVICES DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES

Iris Network COVID19 reaction stories – Juventas

IRIS NETWORK REPORT SOCIAL SERVICES DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES

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Iris Network COVID19 reaction stories – Juventas

IRIS NETWORK REPORT SOCIAL SERVICES DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES

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