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Description
The aim of the project is to improve the position of vulnerable groups - especially the Roma, by providing activities to acquire skills and increase the level of financial literacy of the target groups in order to make more effective use of personal finances and increase their chances of finding a job. The target group consists of individuals and families (children and adults) from marginalized Roma communities and other low-income groups - people with disabilities, families with many children, homeless people, who are looking especially for material help in our organization. Many families and individuals are unable to manage their finances economically, and this is passed on to future generations. By providing only the material assistance, these groups have no motivation to change their habits and become dependent on the help of others. The main part of the project is therefore the implementation of educational activities - food preparation courses, financial literacy courses and activities to develop work skills and work habits. The project is being implemented in the Novohrad region - south of central Slovakia, which is a region with high unemployment and a large proportion of the population with low education and marginalized Roma communities. The project envisages a direct impact on 100 participants of the vulnerable group.
Summary of project results
Our organization provides social counselling and material assistance to disadvantaged groups, including marginalized Roma communities. In this work, we encounter the problems of target groups, which result from a low level of education, including financial literacy, lack of job skills. People and families find themselves in an unfavourable situation, which often culminates in the loss of housing. The aim of the project was to prevent and partially address the unfavourable situation of such persons or families. In the project, we implemented three types of activities that followed the activities of the organization: cooking courses, which were to help improve the skills of mothers in preparing healthy and nutritious food with an emphasis on economical cooking (using raw materials instead of semi-finished products, using affordable food). Another activity was the development of work skills and habits and a community garden under the supervision of a worker. The third activity was financial literacy courses, which aimed to acquire basic knowledge in the field of currency, use of bank accounts and cards, but especially knowledge in the field of debt prevention, the need to create a domestic budget, the need to create a reserve and solving specific situations of project participants. The results of the project consist in improving the management of personal finances, improving nutrition, and increasing the chances of finding a job on the labour market for the target groups. The situation has improved for individuals and families who have regularly participated in activities - they have acquired knowledge that helps them avoid debt and to realize hidden expenses In addition to the impact about specific project participants, the project was also beneficial for the organization. Thanks to the implemented activities, we have verified and improved the methods of working with the clients, gained valuable experience in the implementation of activities.