Description
The project aims at strengthening economic and social cohesion, reducing economic and social disparities separating vulnerable groups from the rest of society. It will begin with a study designed to identify the needs of vulnerable groups from Dolj county, study that will be used to create a new work methodology (tested on minimum 150 people of which 25 % are Roma) and a local development plan ensuring anti-discrimination and inclusive practices based on equal opportunities. It will be set up an anti-discrimination and social exclusion prevention office that will also have an information / counselling / mediation bureau for vulnerable groups in Dolj county. Also, a local cooperative structure designed for decisions and / or identifying actions, etc. will be implemented in order to combat social inequalities. Also, new partnerships between public, private sector and civil society actors working with vulnerable groups, will create a new network of exchange and transfer of good practices.
Summary of project results
The project was implemented by the Equal Opportunities for Each Association in partnership with Penitentiary for Juvenile Craiova and County Agency for Social Benefits Craiova. The project was funded under Coherent Call and aimed to strengthen economic and social cohesion by reducing the economic and social differences which are separating vulnerable groups from the rest of society. The project targeted both youths jailed in the Penitentiary for Juvenile Craiova and youths at risks from the poorest communities from Dolj County. This goal was achieved by setting up a center called “Antidiscrimination and prevention of social exclusion pilot center Craiova” and developing activities in the penitentiary where also there was installed a sound equipment used to broadcast information during the project implementation period. 12 specialists offered to 168 youths specialized services like counseling, mediation and training. The beneficiaries were trained in the first part of the project on the following themes: communication, education and health, culture and traditions, discrimination and antidiscrimination measures, human rights, inclusion and social exclusion, fighting against social dysfunction and personal development. In the second part of the project, there were organized trainings in order to improve their IT competences and life skills. The project was promoted during 3 press conferences and by the dissemination of information and promotion materials like flyers, posters, also through a the project`s web page. During the implementation period, the promoter organized an awareness campaign which meant to organize 8 information caravans in 11 villages and in Craiova, with a total of 1225 people informed about the discrimination. A result of the project was creation of a network of mayoralties from Dolj County which aimed to improve social inclusion of vulnerable groups and this network was created as a result of four seminars where the main topic was promoting equal treatment and fighting against discrimination. Another result was the drafting of the Study on Exposing Disadvantaged Persons in Dolj County to Discriminatory Contexts / Measures, based on the research realized through the project.
Summary of bilateral results