Description
The balanced participation on the labor market of both men and women regarding occupancy, wages, promotion and participation in continuous training – is closely related to family context. For these reasons, the necessity of applying coherent actions that would stimulate this process of harmonizing work, family and private life is necessary.The approach of these matters in this project proposal takes into consideration not only the economic dimension, but also the social and cultural dimensions within which gender stereotypes are perpetuated and which often cause an unequal distribution of economic and political power in society and a limitation of women’s access to various field of social life. The main objective of this project is to promote gender equality and balance between professional and family life in Iasi. The project will be divided into two components: Component (A): creating a day centre for children with disabilities aged 0-7 in Iasi, aiming to improve the balance between professional and family life of the families of children with disabilities. Component (B): informing and increasing the awareness of the public opinion regarding the importance of gender equality (focusing on Roma inclusion). The target groups of this project are as follows: 25 children out of which 5 Roma children; their families through complementary services; the Roma community; local social stakeholders.
Summary of project results
The Iasi municipality, through a grant of 317.560 euros opened a center for 25 children, out of which 5 of roma ethnicity. The center is specifically designed to serve the needs of children with disabilities, aged 0 to 7 years old. The activities offered by the centre to the beneficiaries are day care, as well as specialised therapeutic services (kinetotherapy, speech therapy, rehabilitation by sensorial stimulation). The center designed non-formal education activities that consist in activities for the adaptation of children to the day-care centre, cognitive stimulation activities, socialisation activities (such as correct table behaviour, in groups with other children or with adults), activities to develop personal autonomy, recreational activities. The activities are carried out by educators in individual and group educational programmes: speech therapy, counselling and psychological therapy, kinetotherapy, control of the health data and health education for children and temporary aid. During the implementation period, the promoter carried out numerous information and project promotion events, public opinion awareness to the importance of equal chances, with the attendance of women from the Roma community, on various themes. Two residential seminars and a workshop – best practices exchange to promote equal chances were organised. At these events there were identified general existing issues at local level on discrimination and equal chances, and there were proposed five specific actions to employ at local level. A methodology at local level was agreed on by all network members for an efficient communication and cooperation rules, with the existent resources or resources from the network or the community. Through the project implementation, a building in the patrimony of Iași County Council, previously in an advanced degradation status, was rehabilitated; at the same time, through the project, endowment for the centre was purchased, consisting of: modern and ergonomic furniture, medical equipment for kinetotherapy activities, bedding, IT equipment, household appliances, and others. For this promoter, changes to the budget compared to initial planning were required (when the budget was initially drafted, some expenditure was omitted. The renovation / refurbishing of the space was delayed due to the difficulty in obtaining the necessary permits to start the works.
Summary of bilateral results