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Description
Poverty in the European Union is a real problem, it limits fundamental rights of many persons and opportunities to reach their full potential, brings high costs to society and threatens sustainable economic development. Pensions in Croatia are increasingly lagging behind wages and expenses, and thus behind the poverty line that most retirees not only do not cross, but do not even approach. Last year, 67% of pensions were below the Croatian poverty line (2,927 kuna / 388,48 Euro). The line is now set at around 3,200 kuna/427,71 Euro, 75% of all pensions will be below the line. The poverty rate in Vukovar-Srijem County is a worrying 31.9% (20,4% at national level). Along with other problems faced, especially in rural areas such as isolation, lack of social assistance and demographic aging, this county is one of the least developed in Croatia.
Humanitarian organizations can best witness the problems that citizens, especially the elderly, are struggling with, primarily in the countryside. Through the implementation of calls like the FEAD, these organizations were key in providing better conditions and helping elderly people in the countryside. The new programming period threatens to break this chain. With this project we will address the problem of rural poverty through:
-networking and strengthening the capacity of humanitarian organizations for sustainability
- sensitizing the public to the existing problem through video testimonies, campaigns, data collection through surveys and public activities, and
- advocating for a more efficient and regionally acceptable poverty reduction policy in Croatia
The project strongly re-examines the values of today''s society, the solidarity. What we want to make the public aware that by ignoring the problem, we are deleting our elderly people/grandparents due to the administrative burden. The campaign will raise awareness among citizens at all levels about the importance of philanthropy and intergenerational respect.
Summary of project results
One of the fundamental civil rights is the protection from poverty and social exclusion. Poverty in Croatia is a real problem and has a tendency of continuous growth. This is supported by the fact that 2/3 of the population is an elderly population with incomes below the poverty threshold. Small humanitarian organizations, social self-services at the local level play a big role in the care of elderly people. The work of small humanitarian organizations and social self-services relies on donations and project financing, which are often not sufficient to achieve the necessary continuity in services that are of vital importance to users, securing funds for sustainability and strengthening the capacity of organizations, lack of quality communication with relevant stakeholders in decision-making are common problems of small humanitarian organizations.
Therefore, this project was aimed at establishing and strengthening the capacities of the network of humanitarian organizations in the Republic of Croatia, sensitizing the public and encourage them to provide assistance to elderly people in the rural areas through the support of civil society work, and advocating for a more effective and regionally acceptable policy to combat poverty in the Republic of Croatia.
After the cooperation was established, education on fundraising was carried out and a fundraising plan and communication strategy were defined.
Various set of activities were implemented for the purpose of sensitizing public. DUGA has produced two videos presenting their work and video stories - testimonies about the life of the elderly people in the rural areas. An online campaign was carried out with targeted and promoted publications on social networks. During community events, promo materials were distributed and a survey on philanthropy (part of a larger research in the project) was carried out answering the questions about how much, when and why citizens donate.
In order to establish a better dialogue with the decision making bodies regarding the future financing of humanitarian organizations and their involvement in making important decisions, a “Teach giving” research was conducted. Collected data included information about the activities/services of non-profit organizations that implement social self-service programs in Croatia, their beneficiaries, regional coverage, needs of rural areas, philanthropy and demographic data at the level of the Vukovar-Srijem County. The research results were presented at two panel discussions. They were also presented in the media and finally the open letters were sent to the relevant government institutions.
Through the partnership and education, capacities of the targeted social service providers have been strengthened for the implementation of programs that will ensure respect for human rights, social inclusion and dignity, especially for older people.
The public is sensitized and encouraged to provide assistance to elderly people in the rural areas by supporting the work of social service providers. In the long run it will ensure regional equality of projects aimed at reducing and preventing social exclusion in the Republic of Croatia and the expansion of these services in areas where they are not available.
The conducted research represents a useful tool/baseline for advocating of public policies to relevant government institutions regarding the future financing of humanitarian organizations and their involvement in making important decisions.