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Description
According to the studies from the Eurobarometer, as well as data collected by the Central Statistical Office of Poland, Poland takes one of the last places on the list of European countries that measures long-term participation in volunteering programs among their citizens. Our project will be implemented in Chęciny and Nowiny municipalities (Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship). According to the analysis published in the ”Development Strategy for Sitkówka-Nowiny Municipality through 2025,” the municipality struggles with low civic engagement among its citizens and would like to take action to change that. We will address these problems by creating a Local Volunteering Centers in each of the municipalities. We will involve every interested individual, local NGOs, schools, and municipality offices. We will hold a number of meetings during which we will compose a list of partners and a strategy document for the centers. The project will also include a series of trainings in volunteering for selected individuals. These select few will later plan and implement programs through the center with the help from designated coordinators, such as integration retreats for both centers, and local campaigns. Both centers will have an opportunity for their members to meet and get to know each other, exchange experiences and ideas and plan working visits to organizations with a lot of volunteering experience. We will also organize the Municipal Volunteer’s Day that we will pair with a gala celebrating the most engaged and active participants. Finally, we will organize an event that will serve as a summary of the work done by all the involved parties and will watch a film about the value of local volunteering. The Assumpt Association based in Chęciny is the project partner. The association has the human and other resources, as well as a well-developed contact database necessary for the project’s success.
Summary of project results
The project addresses the problem of social exclusion and low independence and low proficiency of adults with disabilities living in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki. The number of people with disabilities benefiting from social assistance in the city is over 400. Local diagnoses indicate that people with disabilities do not independently take care of shopping and payments, contact with public institutions and offices. These tasks, as well as daily assistance, are usually undertaken by carers, most often parents. Lack of systemic support and social norms that are not conducive to developing independence for people with disabilities lead to frustration, feelings of helplessness and loneliness. As part of the project, workshops were held for people with disabilities and their carers from the district of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki. Workshops covered topics such as computer literacy and cyber-security, dietetics and food preparation, online banking, and being active on the labour market. People with disabilities also benefited from the cultural offer of the city, taking part in trips to the theatre and cinema. Their carers took part in various workshops, including regeneration or healthy eating classes. However, the most popular among them was the Life Balance Consultant (LBC) recovery consultation. As a result of the project, 25 persons with disabilities became considerably more independent and empowered, developing their skills to cope with everyday situations and challenges, especially related to safe use of the Internet, navigating the labour market and managing a household budget, and learning to plan for the future in the absence of a carer. In addition, they developed their social and communication competences, group work or decision-making skills. At the same time, 30 carers learned to support their adult children''s independence and self-reliance and benefited from the opportunity to take care of themselves.
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