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Description
he pandemic confronted the Bulgarian Huntington Association (BHA) with the challenge of working remotely and exacerbated the condition of its target group. Lack of previous experience in working remotely and the severe social isolation of the families with Huntington’s disease placed the organization in a new reality in which it has to operate. The deteriorating mental health of people with chronic diseases as a result of the pandemic has been proved by a number of studies. Social isolation, exacerbated by the forced stay at home and interrupted treatment and rehabilitation, resulted in the urgent need of communication and sharing with specialists and people with a similar condition. The expected project results are as follows: a stronger CSO and thus a stronger civil sector and a vulnerable group that has been empowered and has recovered from the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis. The main project outcomes will be as follows: a team trained to hold online events, a training camp organized for the target group, a mutual help group set up, prepared Strategy for the development of the organization. The organization needs the project to continue working actively and recover from the consequences of the crisis. The project will help build capacity for holding online events and working remotely, improve the condition of the target group, that has deteriorated as a result of the pandemic, create a strategy for development in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The success indicators are fully implemented planned activities within the time frame and the frame of the approved budget and compliance with the requirements for publicity and visibility.
Summary of project results
The main goal of the project was to overcome the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and related restrictive measures and their consequences, by building internal capacity to function in times of crisis and reduce the consequences of social exclusion experienced by the families affected by Huntington''s disease. During the project, training for internal capacity and a number of consultations with the partner''s experts were carried out in order to increase the knowledge and skills to work with the target groups of the organization during the crisis. Despite the pandemic, a live training camp – HD WEEK - was held, during which participants had the opportunity to get to know and participate in support groups, art therapy, consultations with medical professionals, rehabilitation and self-help training. During the project, materials were prepared for free usage, and the participants in the HD WEEK camp learned techniques for self-help and maintaining their condition at home. A sustainable contribution was made towards building a stable partnership with medical organizations and increasing inter-sectoral competence for future cooperation with Bulgarian organizations in the field of rare diseases. A working approach to support families affected by Huntington''s disease in Bulgaria was established.
The project overview is accessible on this page: http://huntington.bg/hd-week-huntingtons-disease-week/
Summary of bilateral results
Conduct training for internal capacity and exchange experience with partners on approaches to work with target groups in times of crisis.