More information
Description
The project targets one of the main challenges affecting the social life in Romania: social inclusion of vulnerable groups. We directly target young people from vulnerable groups, especially young people who have come out of special protection systems and who are facing problems related to: lack of independent living skills, poverty, poor education, lack of preparation for employment, exclusion due to ethnicity, lack of skills and motivation to participate in community life. After leaving the system, they also face the fact that they do not have access to integrated services that provide them with the basic needs and concrete support to express their needs and expectations.
The situation is also acknowledged by policies / strategies (eg Nat. Strategy on Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction, Min. Labor and Social Protection, Youth Strategy, Local Plans).
The project will directly address the issues of young people, through activities aimed at mobilizing, involving and consulting them, providing counseling, providing services, as part of youth mobilization activities, increasing civic skills and involvement. All 120 young people from target group will benefit directly from activities, and 80 will benefit from empowerment measures. All the instruments and information capitalized in the project will be included in the intervention model that is elaborated. The project also targets development of relations with donor states and organizational development of national partners-2 NGOs that will increase their capacity in participatory organizational governance, management, advocacy and public policies. The project is carried out in a partnership consisting of: Applicant and 1 national partner who bring complementary expertise in activities and 1 partner from the Donor States that brings its know-how and international experience.
Summary of project results
The project aimed at the social inclusion of young people from vulnerable groups, especially those who have left the special protection systems, who face multiple challenges (lack of independent living skills, poverty, low education, lack of job readiness, lack of motivation to participate in community life).
During the project, young people participated in advisory group meetings and camps, issue identification sessions using the legislative theater method and legislative theater performances, counseling sessions, and development workshops. 8 young people took training courses for different professions. The project produced the Compendium for activities with young people, which will also be used during the sustainability period. The project addressed a secondary target group, through work that included training of 20 practitioners (course and follow-up sessions; toolkit). 2 know-how transfer seminars with Norwegian partners were organised. In the organizational development objective, financial procedures for the project promoter, strategic planning, communication and fundraising strategy, training and planning for partners were carried out.
Due to the involvement in the project, young people were able to openly participate in meetings in organizations, NGOs, and public institutions, with improved communication skills and more self-confidence. They acquired competences/skills such as ability to identify problems and immediate effects of access to rights; understanding of public sector mechanisms; increased ability to express oneself, increased capacity to get involved.Those who received counseling and participated in workshops managed to obtain or maintain a job.
Summary of bilateral results
The Norwegian Aid partner (Stiftelsen Norsk Nødhjelp) contributed with international expertise and know-how related to social services in Norway, in particular services for young people from socially vulnerable backgrounds. The collaboration took place in the framework of activity A6 (Transfer of know-how from partners in donor countries) through 2 workshops. The interaction with the Norwegian partner and the guests/experts present at the workshops was very good. Discussions were also held with the partner to establish details related to the overall management and implementation of the project.