Nota Bene / The Baggage Man

Project facts

Project promoter:
Proti prudu
Project Number:
SK10-0041
Target groups
People at risk of poverty
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€68,491
Final project cost:
€68,491
From EEA Grants:
€ 61,642
The project is carried out in:
Bratislavský kraj

More information

Description

Homeless people are excluded from society. They have no job, no regular income, they are losing basic living abilities, social relations and self-esteem. That is why project objectives are to increase employ-ability of homeless's and provide them a opportunity of income, self-respect and social contacts. The main methods are selling of the Nota Bene street magazine by about 140 homeless's and providing of services of the luggage porters at the Central Train station in Bratislava by 10 people. They will be trained for this work and they will be employed in proper part time job. In addition, 5 specialized issues of Nota Bene will be produced and several events (conference, discussions, etc.) will be organized. Primary target group are homeless people, and secondary ones is general public. The role of the partner is to provide know-how of similar well developed activity in Norway, participate in some events and organize a trip to Norway.

Summary of project results

Homeless people are excluded from society. They have no job, no regular income. They are losing basic living abilities, social relations, self-esteem. Most of them are still interested in improving of situation, however their personal situation hinders it. That is why project objectives was to increase employability of homelesses and provide them opportunity of income, self-respect and social contacts. Main methods were selling of the Nota Bene street magazine by homelesses people and providing jobs to them via luggage carrying at the Central Train station in Bratislava. 10 luggage porters were provided not only by jobs but some of them also got individual assistance in solving their debts and other problems. The assistance group was established in which porters were providedand by legal and financial consulting and assistance. Thanks it some of them are on the good way to get out of problems. So, the project clearly showed that issue of homelessness is solvable by improving of living framework of homeless people. Beside luggage carrying 5 issues of Nota Bene were produced so the street magazine programme as a tool was countinued. In addition, several events were organized - not only presentation in schools and discussions, but also a large international conference on issues of homelessness. The role of the partner was to provide know-how of similar well developed activity in Norway, they also participated in some events and organized trips in Norway.

Summary of bilateral results

The Norwegian partner contributed to the project in a large scale. One aspect was transfer of know-how of the street magazine. Not only layout was improved but also new approaches were delivered and they will be used in further the Nota Bene magazine development (e.g. special Xmass issue, etc.). However, the knowhow tranfer was wider than only a magazine. Slovak and Norwegian methodologies of work with drug/alcohol addicts were compared during partners visits and presented on the internarnation conference organised within the project in Slovakia. Though Norwegian approach is not fully applicable in Slovakia, this comparision influences further development of Slovak programme. Slovak partner seriously deliberates launching SMS payment for Nota Bene as it is already implemented in Oslo. Slovak partner learned that it is important to provide homeless people with necessary services (food, accomodation, etc.) at place they live, usually city centres, as in Oslo. In Slovakia these services are usually provided on the city edges what does not solve a situation. Further collaboration of partners is anticipated.