More information
Description
The target of the project-to promote a civil tolerance and create a co-responsibility supporting Ukrainians, to activate and involve the society in contributions of the support provided to them. The main necessity is to increase an activity of the donation centre to support as many people as possible. At the moment (for the 5th Year )the donation centre ‘’Gūt var dodot’’ (To gain by giving) is supporting and helping people who due to different circumstances are in need for that. The centre can provide with clothes, footwear, bedding, curtains, towels, kitchen utensils, furniture, cosmetics, cleaning products, electrical goods. Everyone in need can get this help- single parents, disabled persons, large families, people with low income, homeless, refugees etc. Now is a large demand for help since the start of the war in Ukraine. This centre will be opened 4 days a week instead of 2 during this project. We should involve more employees as the work has doubled due to arrival of refugees from Ukraine. Sometimes we have to work at weekends and after working hours to get all done. We will be able to support more people if we can train more employees and expand our working hours during this project. Meanwhile we are preparing and handing out all kinds of information about options for Ukrainian people- how to aplly for all assistance needed (like- working permit, residence, benefits and other help from government and volunteers). Duration of the project-8 months.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several key issues and challenges:
1.Increased Demand for Assistance: With the start of the war in Ukraine, there was a significant influx of refugees, which led to a substantial increase in demand for assistance. The donation center was already providing help to people in need, but the arrival of Ukrainian refugees doubled the workload, overwhelming the existing capacity.
2.Limited Capacity of the Donation Center: The donation center “Gūt var dodot” was operating only two days per week, which was insufficient to meet the growing needs. The project aimed to expand the center’s capacity by increasing its operational days and working hours.
3.Lack of Adequate Resources and Manpower: Due to the surge in demand, the center needed more staff and volunteers to manage the increased workload. The project aimed to address this challenge by hiring and training additional employees to ensure that the center could operate more efficiently and help more people.
4.Lack of Access to Essential Items: Many people in need, including refugees, required basic necessities such as clothing, footwear, bedding, household goods, and electrical appliances. The project aimed to ensure that these essential items were available and distributed to those in need.
5.Information Gaps for Ukrainian Refugees: Ukrainian refugees needed guidance on how to apply for work permits, residence permits, benefits, and other forms of assistance provided by the government and volunteers. The project aimed to bridge this information gap by preparing and distributing relevant information to help them navigate the support systems in place.
In summary, the project aimed to tackle challenges related to the increased demand for assistance, the limited capacity of the donation center, the need for additional staff, and the lack of essential items and information for Ukrainian refugees.
The project undertook several key activities and produced specific outputs aimed at addressing the identified challenges:
1.Expansion of the Donation Center’s Operations: The project extended the working hours of the donation center "Gūt var dodot" from two days a week to four days a week. This increased the center’s capacity to handle more people in need, particularly refugees from Ukraine, who required urgent assistance due to the ongoing war.
2.Hiring and Training Additional Staff: To manage the increased workload caused by the influx of refugees, the project hired more employees. These new staff members were trained to efficiently manage the distribution of goods and assist people seeking help. The training ensured that the center could operate more smoothly and support a larger number of individuals.
3.Distribution of Essential Items: The project provided essential items to people in need, including single parents, people with disabilities, large families, individuals with low income, the homeless, and refugees. The items distributed included clothing, footwear, bedding, household items (curtains, towels, kitchen utensils), furniture, cosmetics, cleaning products, and electrical goods. This helped meet the basic needs of a wide range of vulnerable individuals and families.
4.Information Dissemination for Ukrainian Refugees: The project also focused on preparing and distributing information to Ukrainian refugees about how to access critical support services. This included guidance on applying for work permits, residence permits, government benefits, and other assistance provided by both the government and volunteers. The goal was to help refugees better navigate the available support systems and integrate into society.
5.Increased Operational Flexibility: The project also responded to the growing demand for assistance by occasionally extending working hours, including weekends. This flexibility allowed the center to handle the increased workload more effectively and provide timely support to people in need.
Outputs:
- The donation center operated four days a week, instead of two, doubling its capacity.
- More staff were hired and trained to manage the increased volume of work (20 volunteers together).
- Thousands of essential items were distributed to people in need, including refugees and other vulnerable groups.
- Information packets were prepared and distributed to Ukrainian refugees to help them access necessary legal and social support.
- The center’s operational efficiency improved, allowing it to assist a larger number of individuals more effectively.
In summary, the project expanded the donation center''s operational capacity, enhanced staff resources, distributed essential goods, and provided vital information to Ukrainian refugees.
The project achieved several key results, delivering significant outcomes and impacts for a range of beneficiaries:
1.Increased Support for Vulnerable Groups:
The project provided essential assistance to a wide variety of vulnerable groups, including single parents, people with disabilities, large families, individuals with low income, the homeless, and refugees. By distributing clothing, footwear, bedding, household goods, and electrical appliances, the project helped these individuals meet their basic needs, improving their living conditions and overall well-being.
2.Expanded Capacity of the Donation Center:
The project successfully increased the operational capacity of the donation center “Gūt var dodot.” By extending its working hours from two days to four days a week, the center was able to assist a larger number of people in need. This helped accommodate the growing demand, especially due to the arrival of Ukrainian refugees, ensuring more individuals received timely and adequate support.
3.Enhanced Support for Ukrainian Refugees:
One of the key groups benefiting from the project were Ukrainian refugees, who faced urgent challenges following the outbreak of war. The project provided these refugees with critical items and support services to help them integrate into the local community. In addition to material assistance, the project offered practical guidance on how to access work permits, residence permits, government benefits, and other forms of assistance, helping refugees adjust to their new environment more smoothly.
4.Increased Staffing and Improved Efficiency:
With the hiring and training of additional staff (20 volunteers), the project improved the efficiency and capacity of the donation center. This allowed the center to handle the doubled workload more effectively, ensuring that more people received assistance. The trained staff were better equipped to manage the distribution of goods and interact with beneficiaries, providing a higher quality of service.
5.Community Engagement and Awareness:
By promoting civil tolerance and co-responsibility, the project also engaged the wider community in supporting Ukrainians and other people in need. It encouraged local society to contribute to the center''s efforts, strengthening civic awareness and the spirit of solidarity within the community.
Outcomes and Impacts for beneficiaries:
1.Ukrainian Refugees: Received immediate material support (e.g., clothing, bedding, household goods) and crucial information on how to access legal, social, and economic support in their new country. This helped them stabilize their situation and better integrate into society.
2.Other Vulnerable Groups: Beneficiaries such as low-income individuals, single parents, and the homeless received basic necessities that improved their living standards and offered them a measure of dignity and security.
3.The Donation Center: Gained the resources and staff needed to operate more efficiently and expand its reach, doubling its capacity to serve those in need.
In summary, the project improved the lives of many vulnerable individuals, particularly Ukrainian refugees, by providing them with essential material assistance and helping them navigate local support systems. The project also had a broader social impact by increasing community involvement and strengthening the donation center’s capacity to meet the growing demand for help.