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Description
The experience of the non-profit organization Voices from six years of work in the Trenčín region shows that younger and older people still know relatively little about the activities of civic initiatives and associations, especially about the work of people in the helping professions. At the same time, there are gradually more organizations in the region that are systematically and boldly looking for solutions to current societal challenges. Unfortunately, often the professionals who work in these organizations are seen only as optimistic enthusiasts rather than recognized professionals well versed in their profession. The project will improve the position of vulnerable groups. Thanks to ten events in Café Na ceste, where people with mental disabilities serve, guests will naturally become acquainted with supported employment. In addition, there will be 10 quality interviews with people who enrich life in the city of Trenčín with civic activity. In the guests and readers of the blogs, the project will support empathy and respect for helping professions, as well as strenghten the relationship with the city. The main idea of the project: „Positive energy will bring good to the whole community“.
In addition to volunteers, the project will cooperate with reliable partners: Triple Fingers (graphic and DTP works), the City of Trenčín, the Cultural Information Center, friendly spaces (promotion and communication). Although the project is local, it can inspire other people throughout Slovakia through online space.
Summary of project results
The project implementers planned to improve the position of vulnerable groups in the city of Trenčín. Despite the fact that, due to the epidemiological situation, it was not possible to organize events directly in the Kaviareň Na ceste, where people with mental disabilities are served, the project implementers involved them in an activity called Notes from Trenčín, where they conducted interviews with personalities from the city. They talked about supported employment with each guest of ten interviews. At the same time, an original gift was always prepared for them in the cafe and the packing room. Thanks to the varied communication of the activities, the project fostered empathy and respect for the helping professions in the guests and readers and deepened the relationship with the city.
Despite the pandemic, it was possible to show the general public that people with mental disabilities can work and can be much more independent and self-confident than we can imagine. In the course of 2021, a total of 10 longer in-depth interviews with people who enrich life in Trenčín were prepared and published. Their life and activities were brought to the general public in the form of blogs in the online space - especially at www.facebook.com/voices.sk and www.voices.sk/zapisky.
More than 150 people participated in the activities, the planned results were fully achieved, the indicators were fulfilled. The unplanned but all the more striking results were that the project managed to implement a pro bono crowdfunding campaign #naceste and collect over €11,000 for the social workshop Kaviareň Na ceste, also to hold an exhibition of Notes from Trenčín at the Space event and that the OZ Rotary Laugaricio Trenčín decided to change its name to Trenčín Na Ceste (Tremčín on it´s way - which was also the name of this project).
The sheltered workshop Kaviareň Na ceste had untapped potential. With the project, they became aware of the public and with the money collected in the pro bono campaign, they bought an ice cream machine, an air conditioner, a sealing machine, participated in events and hired a ninth employee. In addition, it was possible to invent and have glass doors made, thanks to which they are visible to passers-by even in the colder months.
In the long term, the project implementers perceive it as a great benefit that supported employment is significantly better known and the participation of people with disabilities in events is perceived as much more natural.