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Description
The Świdnica against violence project pursues the objective of "Improving the functioning of the system for counteracting domestic violence" by establishing the Family Centre, coordinating cooperation between entities working for the benefit of the residents of Świdnica in the area of relationship support and early prevention of violence: Interdisciplinary Team for Combating Family Violence, social services, police, prosecutor''s office, Crisis Intervention Centre, Psychological-Pedagogical Counselling Centre, NGO Support Centre, Addiction Treatment Centre, parishes, educational institutions.
The Centre will operate in a mixed model: coordinated and network model, based in the Municipal Social Assistance Centre, which will provide its administrative and office support. The Centre will be responsible for the substantive coordination of the implementation and progress of the integrated domestic violence prevention model at municipality level, meetings of the entities cooperating within the Centre and the organisation and monitoring of the activity.
The project assumes equal access to its products and will create a friendly environment for everyone. It will provide the target group and beneficiaries with the opportunity to fully participate in the project and use the tools developed within the project.
The project assumes full accessibility for everyone and ensures non-discrimination, in particular on the grounds of gender. The base value of the general objective of the project indicates differences between the position of women and men among people experiencing domestic violence. In addition, information and education activities are designed to break and eliminate negative stereotypes in terms of gender inequality.
Summary of project results
The aim of the "Świdnica Against Violence" program was to improve the domestic violence prevention system and reduce the risk of its occurrence, including by equipping participants with knowledge and skills to enhance and strengthen the quality of family relationships. Another important aspect was the improvement of cooperation with organizations working for the residents of Świdnica in the field of domestic violence prevention at the municipal level.
As part of the "Świdnica Against Violence" project, a Family Center was established to coordinate cooperation between institutions such as social welfare services, the police, the prosecutor''s office, and educational institutions.
As part of the "Świdnica Against Violence" project, a Family Center was established to coordinate cooperation between institutions such as social welfare services, the police, the prosecutor''s office, and educational institutions.
The Family Center was located in the Municipal Social Welfare Center in Świdnica. It coordinated, organized, and monitored the following activities:
- Family counseling
- Psychological counseling
- A support group for individuals who have experienced or are experiencing violence
- An open-format youth support group
- Workshops for students of Świdnica’s primary and secondary schools on assuming present and future roles in relationships and learning to build healthy relationships
- Training for professionals, including social welfare workers, educators, court staff, police officers, healthcare professionals, and representatives of the police
- "School for Parents and Educators" workshops for parents
- WenDo self-defense and assertiveness workshops for women and girls
- A media campaign promoting healthy relationships in families and partnerships
The project significantly exceeded its initial targets in multiple areas:
- 133% – Number of at-risk individuals who accessed support services. Due to the broad outreach campaign, more Świdnica residents sought help than initially anticipated.
- 260% – Number of preventive actions implemented. The project delivered far more initiatives than originally planned, expanding its impact.
- 215% – Number of campaign recipients. Thanks to effective promotion, information about the project reached nearly 43,000 people.
- 94% – Number of reported domestic violence cases (despite legal changes in 2023 that made the "Blue Card" procedure more challenging to implement).
- Adult workshop participants gained practical skills in communication, conflict resolution, and violence prevention.
- Parents and caregivers improved their parenting skills, leading to healthier family dynamics.
- Young people learned how to establish positive relationships and recognize toxic behaviors.
- Women and girls attending WenDo training increased their confidence and personal safety.
- Social service professionals received advanced tools and knowledge to better assist individuals at risk of domestic violence.
As a result of the project, Świdnica has permanently implemented new support services, including:
- Free individual psychological and therapeutic consultations,
- Ongoing specialized training for professionals in violence prevention and addiction counseling,
- Regular educational workshops for young people and parents.
Thanks to the program’s comprehensive approach, we expanded the range of support services in the city and improved the functioning of the domestic violence prevention system. This led to an increase in the number of people seeking professional assistance. Moreover, the idea of fostering high-quality family relationships was actively present in many city-wide events, not only within the framework of the "Świdnica Against Violence" project but beyond it, as the initiative gained widespread recognition.
Furthermore, Świdnica residents continue to have access to free individual consultations with therapists and psychologists, as well as specialist training on violence prevention, addiction prevention, interpersonal communication, and the "School for Parents and Educators." These activities have now become a permanent part of the city''s support services.