Description
As a result of high unemployment rate, low incomes, and low standards of living, many residents of Łódź city are at risk of social exclusion. The objective of the project is to empower vulnerable groups by engaging them in voluntary work. To prevent passive attitudes of social assistance clients, a Unique Activity Academy will be created. It will involve a reversal of social roles: from a person who needs help to a person who provides help, and thus boosts his or her self-esteem. 7 teams of 20 people each will be formed and trained to support daily operations of the Food Bank and seek new forms of activity. They will pass their knowledge and skills to other people. As the representatives of vulnerable groups will be invited to participate in managing the project, it will become an incubator of new solutions and a debate about solving problems of socially excluded citizens. The project will benefit clients of social assistance.
Summary of project results
"Łódź is described as a city of residents threatened with social exclusion for reasons of poor living standards (in 2012, 100,000 - around 14% - residents used social welfare support), salaries ranking among the lowest in Poland, an approximate unemployment rate of 12% (2012), and a 25% share of persons above productivity age. Łódź has around 30,000 Food bank beneficiaries: the unemployed, persons addicted to psychoactive substances, the homeless, single mothers seeking shelter from violence, chronic disease sufferers, health- and old-age pensioners, and others. The project purpose was to change participant attitudes, ranging from passivity and discouragement with social life to negative reality outlook. Involvement of the excluded based on social role reversal, on transition from requiring support to offering help and thus developing self-esteem. Thanks to the Extraordinary Activities Academy, 140 persons developed new skills and engaged in volunteer work to assist others. Project participants helped set up the Academy board and project team, allowing them to co-decide about all activities launched. Seven 3-month training cycles were designed, 20 persons per cycle. One hundred and forty persons attended theoretical training courses in home budget management, office work, nutrition, labour health and safety (36h), volunteer work (130h), and social campaign organisation classes, attending social campaigns themselves. Tutor assistance (20h) and psychological aid expert aid was offered. An “ABC of Volunteer Work"" manual was published. All participants were issued a Volunteer Work Leader certificate. Project participants included 140 persons threatened with social exclusion for reason of addiction, poverty, and homelessness - clients of centres working with Food Banks. The project partner - the WolontarJA-TY Association - was responsible for recruiting participants and preparing activities for the needful. Association representatives attended Project Board works."
Summary of bilateral results