Description
The project addresses the social exclusion faced by the disabled in Vratsa District. The project aims at empowering and social including people with disabilities through support groups and forums to voice openly their issues. First, Advisory Social support Councils (ASSC) will be set up in the towns of Mezdra and Vratsa and the villages of Chiren and Pavolche to provide social support though counselling and advocacy. Second, 4 art studios will be set up in the 4 places. 40 people will be trained in applied arts and entrepreneurship (200 classes).Third, the artefacts created in the art studios will be presented at 4 local forums for empowerment and social inclusion. Finally, the applicant’s team will boost its competence and technical capacity. The project will benefit people with disabilities from the four localities and the local community in general.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the social exclusion faced by the disabled in Vratsa District. It contributed for achieving social inclusion, self-confidence, acquiring artistic and entrepreneurial skills and emotional rehabilitation of the involved people with disabilities. The results were achieved by means of applying a socially therapeutic model for social change and self-help capacity building of 40 people with disabilities from 4 settlements in Vratsa District and holding empowerment and social inclusion fora. The art workshops took place in a favourable artistic environment, in the spirit of harmony and therapeutic community, in which the participants acquired artistic and entrepreneurship skills, created beautiful artefacts and improved their self-confidence and emotional stability. The project contributed for the implementation of sustainable social inclusion policies; training programmes were developed and participants from the vulnerable groups were included and empowered. An Advisory Council for Social Change was set up and after the project end it would continue to support people with disabilities for the implementation of efficient local policies to improve their quality of life. Five empowerment forums took place where the participants presented the skills acquired via open art studios and exhibitions. 40 people with disabilities were supported to make their own way in the world. The art entrepreneurship programme, the established partnership, the website, the art studios in the village of Pavolche and Vratsa will continue to exist after the project ends. The project participants included 40 people with disabilities, 10 association members and 20 representatives of NGOs, decision-makers, the business and the media. For more information, see:
www.bg-jarava.org
Summary of bilateral results