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Description
The project aims to increase the access to quality integrated social services, for 300 children from vulnerable families, including those whose parents have gone to work abroad or emigrated, in 6 communities from Sibiu County (Brateiu, Valea Viilor, Slimnic, Atel, Avrig, Agnita). The project primarily targets rural communities (4 out of 6), 3 of them located in the micro-region with the largest number of children in the special protection system, with the most reports of violence against children, with the most children with parents who went to work abroad and with most Roma people.
The target groups are: 300 children from vulnerable families, including those whose parents have gone to work abroad or emigrated, 150 parents, 85 professionals working with vulnerable groups from existent services at local and county level, 36 members of community consultative structures set up at local level.
Activities include: educational activities for children (day and after school services), occupational mediation / preparation of adults for employment (e.g., assessment of skills, finding a job, accompaniment for keeping the job), psychological counseling of families, health education for families, parental education, training activities and methodological coordination for professionals and members of community consultative structures. Through all the proposed interventions, an intervention model will be developed that will be promoted in order to be taken over by the other communities in the county. These results will be obtained within a partnership established between private and public entities from Romania, but also in partnership with an organization from Norway. The SOS Children`s Villages Norway will contribute to the proper implementation of the project by identifying and disseminating existing practices in Norway in working with vulnerable families, by supporting the project promoter in ensuring good project governance and by organizing a study visit to Norway.
Summary of project results
The socio-economic situation of the family is the main cause of the risk of separation of children from the family. Family poverty has strong effects on children whose chances of success in life are greatly diminished. Any major imbalance in families can lead to the impossibility of providing support for one''s own children and the emergence of situations of neglect, labor exploitation or abuse. Very often, socio-economic problems and the inability to see a different future for themselves and their families lead to domestic violence.
Children left at home after their parents go to work abroad, deprived of their affection and supervision, are exposed to several risks: dropping out of school, self-isolation, the appearance of emotional and behavioral disorders. Moreover, the lack of both parents or legal representatives’ limits children''s access to primary health and educational services, legal protection, or social benefits.
From the analysis of the local strategies for the development of social services, it emerged, for all communities, the need for the organization of social services addressed to vulnerable families, social services aimed at preventing the separation of the child from the family, preventing school dropout, counseling adults to obtain a place to work, to solve problems related to housing, identity documents and property, etc.
The project contributed to increasing access of children from vulnerable families, including those whose parents work abroad or remigrated to quality social services, from at least 6 communities in Sibiu County. The project mainly targeted rural communities (4 out of 6), 3 of them located in the micro-region with the highest number of children in the special protection system, with the most reports of violence against the child, with the most children with parents who went to work abroad and with most Roma people.
In the city of Avrig was founded a Resource Center for children and young people. Also, the project led to the development of the Community Assistance Service in Sibiu by expanding the geographical area of action - 6 new communities were included.
The main activities of the projects included:
- Provision of social services for children and parents (e.g., psychological and speech therapy services material support to be able to go to school - clothes, shoes, supplies);
- Provision of educational services for children (e.g., school support, mediating the relationship with the school, school/vocational counseling services);
- Provision of employment services for parents (unemployed or inactive) and youth;
- Training activities for local professionals (regarding taking over the cases of child victims of violence and those at risk, vocational counselor, parental educators);
- Training activities addressed to the members of the advisory community structures.
As a consequence of implementing these activities, the following outputs have been obtained:
340 children aged between 0 and 14 years from 107 families benefited from social services, 180 young people and adults were supported through the project; 21 participants in bilateral exchanges (the number has been exceeded to 18 to 21); 60 professionals were trained as Vocational Counsellor and Parental Educator.
Many disadvantaged people who would not have otherwise had access to quality services, were able to access health and education services, or social benefits. This is important particularly for those who live in remote communities and children whose parents are working abroad.
For professionals directly involved in working with these vulnerable groups, the ability to identify and provide support to children and the adults who care for them has increased.
Additionally, by giving to local community structures tools and training, the project made it easier for them to function. Consequently, the six communities involved in the project have established excellent institutional linkages with one another.
Summary of bilateral results
P2 SOS CHILDREN''S VILLAGES NORWAY is a basic partner of the project promoter; they are members of the same International Federation and have worked together on various projects under the EEA funding mechanism from 2009 to 2014, including ensuring co-financing. SOS Norway swiftly reacted to the invitation to participate in this cooperation, contributing both to the co-financing granted to the project promoter as well as to the facilitation of access to necessary documents and the planning of the study tour to Norway.In recent years, the activity of SOS Norway has varied significantly further, and the knowledge gained in the projects in which it was and is participating is also transferred within this project - programs directed at unaccompanied children and adolescents, childcare in substitute homes,Another contribution that SOS Norway brings to this project is its constant concern for sustainable development goals and innovation. Relevant materials made available by SOS Norway, were disseminated in English or Romanian to all partners involved in the project.