Description
Project goal is to activate 110 visually impaired people aged 60+, encouraging them to live a more active life, help them regain a sense of self-esteem, rebuild social networks, and prepare 44 volunteers to assist visually impaired people. Both groups will come from Śląskie voivodeship. The group of visually impaired people pre-trained in the areas of motor improvement, healthy lifestyle, computer skills and knowledge of specialized software for the blind, legal, psychological and geriatric issues will then represent the core of self-help support groups that we intend to establish, on a pilot basis, in 5 local units and in the Regional Branch. Volunteers will learn how to assist people with disabilities, especially those with visual impairment. Activities will be carried out in the form of training and workshops. Self-help groups will be established to motivate visually impaired people to change their lives and share their experience with others who encounter similar challenges.
Summary of project results
"Elder blind and visually impaired persons form a group that is particularly endangered by social exclusion. They have problems with moving around and have no motivation to leave their homes. They have no access to nor skills to use computer and Internet. They are not able to participate in open initiatives that are not suited for special needs of visually impaired senior people. The aim of the project was to counteract exclusion of blind and visually impaired elder people 60+ through activating them, motivating them for active life, rebuilding social ties, and preparing volunteers for helping persons with visual disability. Participation in the project and the knowledge and skills gained let participants enhance their self-confidence, encouraged them to join various initiatives and increased their skills in using information systems. In 6 divisions of the Polish Association for the Blind (Katowice, Sosnowiec, Chorzów, Ruda Śląska, Świętochłowice, Bytom) lectures in psychology, medicine, law and economy were organised, as well as computer trainings and workshops for relaxation, physical fitness, therapy for arthritis and healthy lifestyle. Participants were given assistance in reaching the places of the events. 44 volunteers were trained. Activity of 4 self-help groups was initiated (28 persons). Beneficiaries of the project were 110 persons that were either blind or heavily or medium visually impaired and 44 volunteers. "
Summary of bilateral results