Description
The project addresses the need of the applicant to boost its financial and organizational sustainability. The project aims at boosting its sustainability through a series of trainings of the applicant’s staff and volunteers and study visits to similar centres in Greece. First, a 9-day training on the psychosocial rehabilitation of drug addicted persons and their families will be carried out in 2 parts. The first part (6 days) will be attended by the applicant staff, volunteers and experts. The second part (3 days) will be a discussion for the staff to improve its methodology. Second, 20 staff members will take part in 3 study visits to Ketea, Thessaloniki and Bilani in Greece. Third, 7 more members will be trained to develop their management skills. Finally, a strategic plan for sustainable development will be developed. The project will benefit the applicant, its staff and volunteers as well as indirectly the drug addicts and their families using the services of the applicant.
Summary of project results
Otvori Ochi Association (Open your Eyes) runs an Orthodox Christian Centre for Spiritual Care of Drug Addicts. The centre has implemented since 2008 a programme for structured change of behaviour in a residential environment and re-socialization of young people who are addicted to psychoactive substances. The association was set up due to the increased number of drug addicts in need of spiritual care. Until recently only priests and former addicts good at providing care but without any formal competence worked in the centre. The Managing Board of the Association recognized its lack of knowledge and skills to run such centre. For that reason and because of its lack of a sustainable strategy, the association faced many risks. The risks faced determined the need of such problem to boost the organizational development of the organization to make it possible for the organization to provide better care to young drug addicts. Six training sessions were carried out under the project and 68 people were trained including specialists, volunteers and relatives of drug addicts. Three of the sessions were for the association’s staff on the following topics: NGO management, Project Development and Management. In addition, 11 people (the staff of the centre, 2 members of the Managing Board and 3 volunteers went on a working visit to KETHEA (Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals) in Greece. The group of 11 people took part in a 3-day training session prepared by the hosts. In addition, the staff of the centre attended a seminar on psychosocial rehabilitation of drug users and their parents and families. The vision and guidelines for the strategy for sustainable development of the organization for a period of 4 years were developed. The project helped raise the competence and motivation for work of the 16 members of the organization. The organization had its capacity boosted and ended up with a skilled multi-disciplinary team for work with drug users; and the members of the MB and the Manager had their leadership skills improved. Thus, the overall implementation of the Programme for Rehabilitation of Drug Users improved. In addition, the project helped promote the work of the association and problems facing drug users and their relatives.
Summary of bilateral results