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Description
The project aims to implement local development measures to reduce poverty and social exclusion in Ciceu commune, Harghita county by establishing an Integrated Community Center that will help improve the quality and access to social assistance services, education, health, employment and housing for 500 vulnerable people. Within the Integrated Community Center, services will be provided and activities will be carried out, as follows:
- socializing, recreation and leisure activities, social counseling, emotional support, psychological counseling, socio-medical, medical and legal counseling activities for 200 elderly people;
- remedial and non-formal educational programs for personal development in order to prevent early school drop-out and improve school results of children, socio-medical services of speech therapy and psychological counseling, medical services, remedial education activities, recreation and leisure, socialization, development of the independent living skills for 68 children aged 4-15 years and 42 people with disabilities and children with special educational needs who come from families that are in situations of socio-educational risk;
- social services through the social canteen for 100 people, children and adults who are economically vulnerable;
- temporary emergency social housing for a minimum of 2 families (maximum 4 adults and 4 children) living conditions that endanger their safety and health and / or face domestic violence;
- information and occupational counseling programs, job search support, respectively supporting entrepreneurship by developing entrepreneurial skills and business consulting through a vocational HUB for at least 180 people (young people aged 15-24 and adults).
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several socio-economic issues affecting the community of Ciceu, Harghita County, including:
- limited access to essential services – many residents, especially in rural areas, have reduced or no access to quality education, healthcare, social protection, and employment services;
- aging population and lack of services - a growing elderly population with limited access to healthcare and social support. there was no structured social assistance, and the only medical service available was a family doctor’s office;
- limited access to healthcare - elderly and chronically ill residents had difficulties accessing specialized medical services due to the low number of specialists in the area;
- educational challenges - low academic performance, affecting students'' future employability;
- risk of school dropout - financial hardships prevented children from fully participating in school, leading to a risk of early school leaving;
- youth unemployment and economic vulnerability - a significant portion of the population has limited opportunities for professional training, qualification, or job diversification;
- limited institutional capacity for social services - limiting support for vulnerable groups.
To achieve the objectives, a range of activities were conducted and the following main outputs were attained:
- 162 Elderly and Vulnerable Adults benefited from socialization and recreation activities, psychological counseling and emotional support, socio-medical and healthcare services;
- 109 children benefited from remedial education and personal development programs, logopedic and psychological counseling, educational and recreational activities, life skills training;
- a social canteen provided meals for 48 children and 52 vulnerable elderly;
- 42 unemployed Youth and Adults benefited from career counseling and vocational training through a career HUB, entrepreneurial skills development and business consulting;
- 43 parents and caregivers, 13 teachers, social workers, and project staff attended workshops, in order to create supportive home and school environment, equipping them with better strategies to support children at risk.
The project directly benefited 458 vulnerable individuals, leading to the following outcomes:
- elderly and chronically ill persons gained access to social and medical services, reducing their isolation and improving well-being;
- educational support improved school performance for children at risk of failure or dropout, offering better long-term employment prospects;
- social services were expanded, providing food security through the social canteen;
- job counselling and entrepreneurship programs helped unemployed individuals find jobs reducing economic vulnerability;
- increased awareness and skills in caregiving among families of beneficiaries, enhancing community support.
Unfortunately, the project only achieved partially its target because the construction of the building in which the multifunctional center was to operate was not completed within the required deadline (until the submission of the final program report). No functional operable components could be found, despite the structure being constructed, roofed, having windows and doors fitted, and having an electrical network in place. The situation is partly explained by the fact that PP reported that it was extremely difficult for them to ensure the necessary funds to complete the works (more than a half of the total costs). Significant price rises were caused by the shift in the original technical solution as well as the economic conditions brought on by the pandemic and the border war.
Nevertheless, the activities took place in different locations provided by the city hall and the project significantly contributed to reducing social exclusion in Ciceu, ensuring better access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.