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Description
The main objective of the project is to improve the functioning of the system of counteracting violence by establishing a Family Centre in the municipality of Dzierżoniów and taking actions to prevent violence. As a part of the project, communal units are planned to take steps to increase social awareness of violence by shaping the attitudes and beliefs of residents towards the problem of violence. The commune will undertake promotional and preventive actions in the field of counteracting violence by organizing a social campaign on violence. As a part of the project, it is planned to organize counselling and prevention activities as well as workshops aimed at ensuring safety and strengthening the sphere of psychophysical and social functioning. Actions will be focused on supporting parents which, as a result, will teach them to identify their problems and will also improve the quality of relationships in the family. The main result will be the implementation of the program for counteracting domestic violence focused on the integration of services provided by various institutions in the area of social assistance which will be achieved among others by creating a Family Centre. The second result will be the implementation of the Parent''s Guide on how to raise a child without violence. The achievement of the results will contribute to the achievement of the project objective, i.e. improvement of the functioning of the system of counteracting domestic violence which will be achieved by carrying out activities in the area of early prevention.
The project complies with and contributes to the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and non-discrimination, including accessibility for people with disabilities.
The project complies with the principle of gender equality and takes into account the needs of both sexes and gender-specific determinants.
At all stages of implementation of the project a gender perspective will be taken into account.
Summary of project results
The project "Implementation of integrated domestic violence prevention programmes - establishing Family Centre in the Municipality of Dzierżoniów" aimed to combat domestic violence and improve the functioning of the system for addressing it. The key problem was insufficient public awareness of violence and the lack of appropriate support for families and individuals experiencing it.
The project responded to the need for early prevention, increasing residents'' awareness, and ensuring access to comprehensive psychological, legal, and therapeutic assistance. As part of the initiative, actions were also taken to change social attitudes towards violence and integrate various institutions working for families.
The project aimed to solve the problem of domestic violence and improve the functioning of the violence prevention system in the Urban Municipality of Dzierżoniów. The main challenges addressed included:
Low public awareness of domestic violence
Domestic violence is often trivialized or improperly recognized by society. Victims frequently do not know where to seek help, and witnesses of violence are unsure of how to respond. The project aimed to raise public awareness through educational and preventive campaigns.
Lack of effective tools to support both victims and perpetrators of violence
Despite existing legal regulations, gaps remained in the support system for those experiencing violence. There was a lack of an integrated network of institutions that could provide comprehensive assistance, including both crisis intervention and long-term psychological and therapeutic support.
Low quality of cooperation between institutions helping families
The project also addressed the problem of insufficient coordination among various services, such as social care, schools, police, courts, and non-governmental organizations. A lack of cooperation resulted in ineffective assistance and delays in intervention efforts.
Insufficient competence of specialists
People working in institutions supporting families—pedagogues, social workers, probation officers, police officers—often require additional training to better identify cases of violence and take appropriate action. The project included specialist training to enhance their competencies and enable more effective responses in crisis situations.
Difficulties in preventing violence at an early stage
Many anti-violence initiatives focused primarily on intervention after incidents of violence had already occurred. This project focused on prevention, aiming to stop violence before it happens through workshops, public education, and psychological support.
The project was based on the establishment of the Family Center, which became a support hub for individuals experiencing violence and a platform for integrating the efforts of various institutions addressing this issue. Several key activities were carried out within the project, including:
1. Educational and Preventive Activities:
- Organization of two municipal conferences on family violence and working with perpetrators.
- Film workshops and a film competition for young people titled "Faces of Violence", enabling them to identify different forms of violence.
- Relationship workshops for children, teenagers, and families, such as "Be Active, Not Aggressive", "Say No to Violence – TUS" (Social Skills Training), and "A World Without Violence".
2. Training for Specialists:
- Collaboration with the National Emergency Service for Victims of Domestic Violence, “Blue Line”, which conducted training sessions for specialists (social workers, pedagogues, teachers, probation officers, district police officers) on interpersonal relationships, family mediation, and working with both victims and perpetrators of violence.
- Supervision meetings for interdisciplinary teams and professionals involved in combating domestic violence.
3. Direct Support for Residents:
- Opening a specialized counseling center offering support from psychologists, addiction therapists, marriage therapists, psychiatrists, and lawyers.
- Creating a support group for victims of violence and corrective sessions for perpetrators of violence.
- Self-defense classes for residents of Dzierżoniów and preventive activities for caregivers of the elderly.
- Development and distribution of the parenting guidebook "How to Raise a Child Without Violence", aimed at improving parenting skills.
4. Promotional and Informational Activities:
- Organizing a public awareness campaign about domestic violence.
- Distributing promotional materials (leaflets, city banners, lanyards, pens, T-shirts).
- Promoting the project in local media, including TV Sudecka, Meloradio, "Goniec Dzierżoniowski" newspaper, the "Doba" portal, and social media platforms.
The project brought significant results in raising public awareness and improving the domestic violence prevention system. Key achievements included:
- A twofold increase in reports of domestic violence – in 2022, there were 70 reported cases, while in 2023, there were 141, indicating greater public awareness and willingness to seek help.
- Improvement in the quality of work of specialists – training sessions and supervision meetings enhanced their ability to identify and combat violence more effectively.
- Increased number of people using psychological and therapeutic support, contributing to an improved quality of life for many families.
- Greater community engagement, particularly among young people, through film workshops and creative activities, helping them understand and combat violence in their peer environments.
- Positive impact on families receiving support from the Social Welfare Center (OPS) – participation in relationship-building workshops helped many families resolve conflicts and build healthier bonds.
The project had a real impact on the residents of Dzierżoniów, especially those experiencing violence, families in crisis, and professionals involved in social assistance. Thanks to comprehensive prevention, training, and support initiatives, the project succeeded in increasing family safety and improving the domestic violence prevention system in the municipality.