Description
The fullfillment of national obligations emerging from certain international treaties in relation to the pubic participation of disabled people fostered by the promotion of environmental awareness among them gets in question when there is no suitable and standardized metdodology for that. Therefore the project aims at developing and testing such a methodology (the „Green Dwelling” scheme ). The seat dwelling house for mentally disabled people of the grantee in Érd will be renewed on the grounds of sustainability and environmental considerations. The inhabitants, care staff as well as specialists from other relevant institutions will be trained and prepared through a workshop serial, while a model vegetable garden will be created that will be cultivated by the inhabitants on the long run (also with therapic purposes). In order to realize a higher level of social integration economical and cultural cooperation will be initiated within the surrounding neighborhood by promoting exchanges and community events.
Summary of project results
The project aimed at overcoming the methodological deficiencies of the environmental education of disabled people as well as of the systematic motivation in residential homes. For these, with the involvement of environmental and social professionals, the project has managed to develop the “Green Housing” methodology also adaptable to other similar institutions. In terms of the adaptation, carers and tenants of the foundation's home in Érd town have been trained for the application of different aspects of "green housing" and "healthy lifestyle" by the means of three courses each of them composed of 5-7 training session. As part of the reform of the operational framework, green measures have also been introduced – these included the design and application of a system of selective waste collection, but a large-scale horticultural development has been carried out too. In the framework of the latter, soil replacement, creation of beds, planting of fruit trees and bushes as well as various perennial and annual vegetable plants has been realized. Gardening has a therapeutic significance for the residents, but the quality of their catering can be improved as well through the garden products in a cost-effective way. During the project, great care was taken to improve the relationships with the residential environment: neighboring households were contacted in person, their willingness to cooperate was surveyed through questionnaires, and a small-scale exchange trade has been also started with them. In order to spread the methodology, co-operation was initiated with 10 organizations operating similar residential homes. Some of these were visited personally, but with the active involvement of the residents themselves the possibilities of adapting the methodology were also presented to and discussed with them at a professional workshop.
Summary of bilateral results