Description
The project addresses the need to help some of the most vulnerable groups, i.e. the elderly and the people at risk of poverty faced with limited employment opportunities, marginalization, domestic violence, poverty and social exclusion. The project proposes to help them by means of self-help and solidarity groups (SSG) where the people will be able to exchange and share ideas and support each other. First, the project team will arrange meetings with the authorities and informal opinion leaders to establish partnership with them. Then, an awareness raising campaign and a violence prevention campaign will be held. Next, 10 self-help and solidarity groups will be set up in 7 villages and 3 pensioners clubs in Haskovo municipality. The supporters of the groups will be selected and trained. The work of the groups will be monitored and the results will be presented in a report. The project will benefit about 400 vulnerable people increasing their chances for support in their plight.
Summary of project results
Some of the most vulnerable groups in Bulgaria are the elderly and those in risk of poverty. As people age, the ability to find a job reduces. Negative perception of them affects the formation of their own self-esteem. Vulnerable people declared the need of creating self-help groups where they can discuss their problems and find support so this is a guarantee they will function after the end of the project. The objective of the project was to implement an innovative idea to create groups of self-help and solidarity (GSS). Ten groups were formed in the Municipality of Haskovo. In these groups vulnerable people were given the opportunity to present their problems publicly, to exchange ideas, to take an active stance on issues in the community. At the end of the project more than 280 people were empowered and their proposals were included in the policy making at local level. Thus the chances of social inclusion of the target groups were increased. During the project implementation over 160 meeting were held in GSS; 26 problems, identified by elderly people were solved; more than 100 discussions on relevant issues were organised. H&D Gender Perspectives Foundation’s capacity to create groups of self-help and solidarity, to govern processes in them, to monitor them was increased. More than 20 partnerships with mayors of small villages and local formal and informal structures were established. 4000 informational materials were spread amongst elderly and those in risk of poverty. In seven small villages and in three pensioners' clubs were organized discussions on the listed above problems during prevention campaign. With the establishment of ten groups of self-help and solidarity people’s knowledge, preparedness for reaction, resource to combat crisis situations and solve pressing issues were increased. More than 280 vulnerable people were given the opportunity to present their problems publicly, to exchange ideas, to take an active stance on issues in the community. The round table at the end of the project helped representatives of vulnerable groups to present their suggestions how to solve problems before relevant institutions and organizations. Representatives of vulnerable groups took part in the established groups of self-help and solidarity. They had the opportunity to moderate the groups, to raise discussed problems, to make decisions how to solve these problems. Elderly and those in risk of poverty’s chances for social inclusion were increased.
Summary of bilateral results