Description
Creating space to ensure that 45 children and young people aged 5-15 from dysfunctional families threatened by exclusion and marginalisation in the Praga North are integrated within the community. The project will apply an innovative approach to help transition out of the excluded and dysfunctional groups by combining day-to-day support to children covered by the project (food programme) with developing technical and digital skills through a tailored FabLab process based on Norwegian experience. Two FabLabs will be started in a facility which is subject to a long-term lease by Karan in Praga North. The FabLab concept will be tailored to the needs of the target group so that it can be used as a tool against social exclusion. Partnerships with business and local government will be established for the duration of the project and after it is completed.
Summary of project results
"A research study conducted by the Praga North District in Warsaw and data from the local welfare centre suggest that the biggest challenge faced by the local community is poverty, lack of livelihood and deficient parenting. Measures should be taken in order to provide care to children who do not have positive social role models at home, enough motivation to study and proper nutrition opportunities. The objective of the project was to combine existing child care to vulnerable children with training technical and digital skills in FabLabs established by the project. The project has improved the quality of life of 45 participants by helping them develop social and technical skills. The FabLab concept has enabled an individualised approach to transition out of destitute and dysfunctional family environment by offering day-to-day child support and training of technical and digital skills. The project established 2 fully equipped FabLabs and one curriculum customised to the target group, children from dysfunctional families in the Praga North District of Warsaw. Forty-five individual and 10 group projects were developed by children in the two FabLabs. Forty-fivechildren aged 5-15 benefited from the project. The Partner, a Norwegian organisation, trained the KARAN Association staff on the basics of FabLab projects. The experience of both partners helped customise the FabLab concept to the needs of children from vulnerable families in the Praga North District of Warsaw. This project has helped KARAN expand its portfolio of activities targeting socially excluded children and youth and build on the Norwegian practices and experience."
Summary of bilateral results
The Norwegian partner trained the staff of the KARAN Association during a workshop on the concept and principles of FabLabs. Using this experience, the Association developed a concept of FabLabs tailored to the needs of children from dysfunctional families in the Praga North district. A well-tested Norwegian model and lessons learned during the project implementation resulted in extending the range of services offered by the KARAN Association to excluded children and young people.