Description
This partnership project promotes volunteering among young people with special needs suffering from the incurable Type 1 diabetes in the provinces of Lublin and Małopolska. It will include the following activities: an off-site education session, a training workshop for teachers of young diabetics (they often face the challenge of meeting the health needs of diabetics while at school), meetings with a psychologist for parents and for youth to communicate the importance for patients to be pro-active in their communities and in society at large. The project will train 40 volunteers to work for diabetic organisation; we will give them essential skills and knowledge and provide exposure to real-life challenges by offering them participation in Type 2 diabetes prevention campaigns and voluntary work placements in diabetic organisations. The project will strengthen the human capital of our organisations so that they may be more effective and efficient working towards improving the quality of life of diabetic children.
Summary of project results
"Type 1 diabetes is an incurable illness and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. Young people suffering from it have to take 6-7 insulin injections daily, which often determines their social life. The illness often leads to apathy, withdrawal and inertia. This is caused by the belief that “I cannot do anything because I'm not capable, and because of low blood sugar, I will fail"". These problems lead to passive acceptance of what parents, guardians or charitable organization do. A study conducted by the Polish Diabetes Association (2010) shows that young diabetes sufferers have problems with social acceptance and integration, they avoid establishing relationships and finish their education much earlier than their peers. More often than healthy people, they do not get involved in professional and social activities, they do not engage in their community life. In the Lubelskie and Małopolskie voivodships, there are about 2,000 children and youth suffering from diabetes. The aim of the project was to promote volunteering among young people with special needs suffering from Type 1 diabetes. A group of 40 volunteers was established to work in diabetic organizations in the Lubelskie and Małopolskie voivodships. Majority of them are officially recognized as disable persons so they have to be assisted by teachers or parents who were also trained to be capable of conducting social activities that involve diabetics. During the project implementation, young volunteers took part in integration activities and in training workshops on volunteer work in diabetic organizations. Participants conducted social activities in their communities and helped with ongoing activities of the Association. Teachers and parents of diabetic children attended meetings and training sessions on specific aspects of working with young diabetics. The project beneficiaries were young diabetics from the Lubelskie and Małopolskie voivodships. The project partner was the Association of Assisting Diabetic Children and Youth from Kraków, which was responsible for preparing training materials on specific aspects of working with chronically ill children and youth, and provided staff for conducting classes with young volunteers."
Summary of bilateral results