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Description
The main objective of the project is to create favorable conditions to enable elderly and disabled people functioning in a family environment free from violence. The project participants will gain awareness in the field of psychological and social violent behavior.
Recruitment criteria as well as activities in the project will include the policy of equal opportunities through targeted support for disadvantaged women and preferential support for people with disabilities. Information and recruitment will be conducted on the Social Welfare Centre website adapted to people with disabilities in accordance with the standards. The employees of the Social Welfare Centre are able to use sign language. Social workers will help people with disabilities fill in the necessary documents through individual meetings at home or in the Centre. The rooms will be marked in such a way as to facilitate access for everyone, including physically disabled people. The concept of the project allows people with various dysfunctions and disabilities to use support and services. Training materials will be prepared in an accessible form for everyone.
Information materials will be developed using gender-sensitive language, adapted to the recipient. The project management structure guarantees gender-balanced participation in decision-making process.
The project will have a positive impact on the equal opportunities policy by increasing the access of the inhabitants of the region covered by the project to social services, regardless of gender, as well as regardless of the place of residence, social status or age, and will also have a positive impact on the promotion of the equal opportunities policy, e.g. by enabling equal access of the society to activities aimed at counteracting domestic violence. Activities planned as part of the project, including workshops in kindergartens and primary schools, will be a way to combat gender stereotypes in everyday life and on the labour market.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to combat domestic violence, with a particular focus on especially vulnerable groups: seniors, people with disabilities, children and youth, and families at risk of violence. The objectives included breaking the social isolation of those experiencing violence, strengthening their self-esteem, and raising awareness about violence and available support options. Additionally, the project sought to develop the competencies of professionals working in violence prevention and implement extensive preventive and educational activities within the local community.
As part of the project, comprehensive actions were carried out, including individual and group support, education, and preventive initiatives:
Developmental activities and support groups – A total of 52 meetings were organized for adults, 50 meetings for children and youth, 52 support group meetings for seniors, and 52 meetings for people with disabilities. Workshops included floristry, cooking, music therapy, dance classes, sessions with a psychologist, and meetings with a beautician and hairdresser, all aimed at boosting participants'' self-confidence.
Individual specialist consultations – A total of 417 hours of consultations were conducted by six experts (a psychologist, a child psychologist, a pedagogue/speech therapist, an addiction therapist, a sociotherapist, and a lawyer). These sessions were attended by 237 women and 180 men.
Training and supervision for professionals – Three training sessions were conducted for 40 professionals, including two supervisions for members of the interdisciplinary team and working groups, as well as a two-day training retreat on the specifics of supporting individuals experiencing violence.
Social campaigns:Orange Ribbon – A campaign against violence towards children, which included storytelling therapy workshops in preschools, an anti-violence poetry competition for elementary school students, and a screening of the film "I Regret" for youth as a starting point for discussions on aggression and violence. Over 1,200 children and young people participated in these activities.White Ribbon – A campaign against violence towards women, featuring self-defense workshops for seniors, a concluding conference, and a broad informational and promotional campaign involving media and local institutions.
The project delivered concrete and measurable results, positively impacting the Ełk community:
- More than 2,700 individuals at risk of violence received support, significantly exceeding the initial target of 1,688. These included primarily seniors, people with disabilities, children, youth, and their families.
- A total of 417 people benefited from individual specialist counseling, receiving psychological, legal, and therapeutic support.
- 40 professionals enhanced their skills in working with victims of violence, contributing to more effective and efficient assistance in the future.
- Over 800 people participated in social campaigns, with their impact amplified through media collaboration, press publications, and radio broadcasts.
- A Model for Preventing Domestic Violence Against Seniors and People with Disabilities was developed, which can serve as a good practice framework for future use.
The project not only provided essential support to individuals experiencing domestic violence but also raised public awareness about the issue and ways to prevent it. These efforts had a tangible impact on improving safety and quality of life for many residents of Ełk.