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Description
At national level vulnerable groups targeted by the project (Roma, youth, children and families at risk) have a low level of participation in decision making processes, which causes a big gap between the authority’s agenda and the real needs of the people.
We target all decision-making levels from 40 communities at national level from both rural and urban areas. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of vulnerable groups from underserved communities to participate in decision making activities at local level and increase the quality standards of social service providers in order to maximize their impact in the communities.
Day centers for children and families at risk are the most valuable resource in underserved communities, but many times this resource is inaccessible due to poor finance or does not exist at all. Therefore, a key element of the project is the national network of day centers organizing for the first-time professionals working in day centers with various professional backgrounds. In this respect, the project will bring together at least 40 day centers and a minimum of 60 professionals that will benefit from the project activities by participating in accredited courses, advocacy and financial coaching. At the end of the project, day centers will increase their capacity of fundraising, good quality service delivery and skills development.
A total of 1068 professionals, stakeholders and vulnerable people will be directly engaged during project implementation with over 600 vulnerable people beneficiaries of direct services.
Project partners and Promoter are organizations with specific agendas to improve the life of vulnerable people adding value to the civil society at large.
The project will contribute to the 4 Program priorities of the Donor by increasing the inclusion of youngsters and Roma, operate in and build the capacity of underserved communities and strengthen the capacity of civil society in Romania.
Summary of project results
The project aimed at increasing the capacity of the members of vulnerable groups and professionals in day centers from 40 communities, as well as their involvement in advocacy actions at local and national level; increasing the quality and sustainability of the integrated services at the level of 40 day centers - urban and rural environment by promoting a new model of financial counseling and professionalizing the staff at coordination level and those working directly with the beneficiaries.
The project activities were the following: financial cousellling for 376 children, young people and adults from the day centers within the CentreZI RO network - National Network of Day Care Centers for Children at Risk of Poverty, network founded during the project (146 members, huge demand in comparison to the 40 envisioned to be included). 67 professionals of the day care centers participated at the training courses organized by CONCORDIA Academia. During the project, professionals participated in regional meetings at the network level, exchange visits and national conferences. The members of the network participated in 2 short-term trainings supported by partner 1 - FONSS with the objective to increase the capacity of professionals to involve beneficiaries of the day care centers in decision-making. 3 national conferences were organized in total, bringing together over 270 stakeholders from national, regional level and local, representatives of vulnerable groups and professionals from the day centers in the network. During these national conferences, 3 press conferences took place with the participation of journalists. At the partnership level of the project promoter and partners, the "Theory of Change" training was organized with the objective of organizational development.
The project contributed to increasing the quality and sustainability of integrated services at the level of the 146 day centers with a 20% component from the rural area, and to increasing the capacity of vulnerable group members through financial counseling. The project also contributed to the professionalization of the staff of the day care centers through the participation of professionals at the training courses organized by CONCORDIA Academia. COMPASS Project was awarded 1st PRIZE in the Social Inclusion category at Civil Society Gala 2023 for the Day Centers Network.