Blog Elements

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

IRIS Network is the new SOLIDAR member

June 20, 2016/in News /by Stef

As the result of cooperation with SOLIDAR, on 15 June at General Assembly, IRIS Network entered the membership of this European network of NGOs working to advance social justice in Europe and worldwide. During 4 years of cooperation SOLIDAR supported IRIS Network trough capacity building, policy and advocacy activities. Few of our many common activities […]

They don’t just believe in, they make tomorrow better

June 7, 2016/in CAPACITY BUILDING, News /by Stef

Association “Will for Life” of the people with cerebral palsy and infantile paralysis from Velika Plana is providing fifteen beneficiaries with work ability with a job and skills that are valued on the labour market. This assistance comes through the Project „Equal Chances“, funded via Small Grants Programme of IRIS Network. We visited Centre in […]

IRIS Network is the new SOLIDAR member

June 20, 2016/in News /by Stef

They don’t just believe in, they make tomorrow better

June 7, 2016/in CAPACITY BUILDING, News /by Stef

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

IRIS Network is the new SOLIDAR member

June 20, 2016/in News /by Stef

During 4 years of cooperation SOLIDAR supported IRIS Network trough capacity building, policy and advocacy activities. Few of our many common activities are: organizing traineeship and fellowship programs for IRIS members, participation on panel discussions within the European round tables which became voice of IRIS in EU, as well as monitoring the progress of the integration of the Western Balkan states in fields such are: employment policies, education and lifelong learning, anti-discrimination policies, active citizenship and social economy. IRIS members are participating in SOLIDAR Academy as well as in other programs and projects of common interest.

SOLIDAR has 60 member organisations based in 27 countries (22 of which are EU countries) – national NGOs in Europe, as well as some non-EU and EU-wide organizations. SOLIDAR voices the concerns of its member organisations to the EU and international institutions by carrying out active lobbying, project management and coordination, policy monitoring and awareness-raising across its different policy areas.

The network is brought together by its shared values of solidarity, equality and participation.

SOLIDAR was founded in 1948 to encourage international cooperation between social aid organisations connected to the labour movement. First know as International Workers’ Aid the organisation set up its headquarters in Brussels in 1995 and was renamed SOLIDAR.

They don’t just believe in, they make tomorrow better

June 7, 2016/in CAPACITY BUILDING, News /by Stef

Centres of hope and support

We were welcomed by President of the Association “Will for Life” Radovan Radulovic and the activist Duska Stupar, who took us around the Centre and showed the premises. Day Care Centre “Lane”, which exists since 2012, consists of Day Care Centre for children with disabilities and Work Centre for adults with disabilities. Also, the Association has at disposal Club “Heart into the hands” for disabled, provided by Municipality of Velika Plana.

Beside primary objectives such as providing daily services for disabled, premises of the Centre are also used as a space for workshops, educative and entertainment programs. Under the Project “Equal Chances”, Work Centre was fully equipped and then used for training, during which the beneficiaries learnt how to produce decorative items. Recently finalized training course, which lasted 21 days, had involved 15 of the Centre’s beneficiaries with work ability into the process of self-actualization which is, according to Duska’s words, essentially important for their social inclusion.

“Through the training, selected participants have gained elementary knowledge skills needed for decorative items’ production. The training also raised their self-confidence and ability to be employed, which is essentially important for them. We made selection based on work capacity assessment. Selected fifteen have learnt how to produce decorative candles, other souvenirs, clocks, magnets in different forms, icons, keychains and Easter baskets”, Duska is explaining to us while we’re sitting in the backyard. Wide, covered in greenery, surrounded by conifers – the backyard is place for playing and resting after workshops for all of Centre’s beneficiaries.

Valued on the labour market

We had a chance to see impressive collection of already produced items, stored in Work Centre, but also to observe the creation process – two of beneficiaries were very kind and presented their work to us. Process of decorative candles’ creation, for example, requires a lot of their focus, but it’s creative and makes them more independent.

All items are being sold on the street stall in the centre of Velika Plana, once a month. This makes their creators economic beneficiaries, which is of high importance. As Radovan has explained, people with cerebral palsy are extremely vulnerable group, because of narrow working abilities which cause poverty.

“’Equal chances’ is a huge step forward for people with disabilities, because the project is actively encouraging and involving them in working process. First of all, the step forward means raising the average of social inclusion of disabled. Secondly, the project insures direct economic benefit for them and their families – by selling items”, Radovan said.

Long term benefits of the project

As it was considered in discussion with Radovan and Duska – the social changes, which are to improve life conditions for people with cerebral palsy, are coming slowly and require a lot of efforts. It is important to underline that project brings long term benefit to people who are facing these difficulties – those who passed the training course can use improved skills long after completion of the project, which makes positive influence on their lives and economic status.

“Thanks to Small Grant Programme of IRIS Network we finally could equip the Work Centre, which created opportunities for job trainings, increasing the number of employed disabled people and stronger engagement in overcoming poverty in the community of people with disabilities”, said Radovan. He added that “Equal Chances” project strengthens relations between the Association “Will for Life” and local authorities – this partnership will insure permanent employment for some of Centre’s beneficiaries in future.

It wasn’t easy when it comes to leave-talking, but we left under the impression of optimism. We left beneficiaries in working atmosfere – the future we want to create together is becoming presence.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

IRIS Network is the new SOLIDAR member

They don’t just believe in, they make tomorrow better

IRIS Network is the new SOLIDAR member

They don’t just believe in, they make tomorrow better

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

IRIS Network is the new SOLIDAR member

They don’t just believe in, they make tomorrow better

SOCIAL

Pages

Recent news

Arhiva