Description
The project’s aim is to improve quality of life for people from different age groups (children, young people, people with disabilities, seniors) who are subjected to social exclusion risks, and to introduce new forms of social services in the Vidzeme region. The project will ensure availability of social services (psychologist, speech therapist, physiotherapist, etc.) as close as possible to the residence of the people who have had limited accessibility to such services so far and ensure that all the target groups learn new knowledge and skills, thus reducing their social exclusion and improving quality of life. Experience with developing voluntary social work will be adopted from the Norwegian Red Cross. Voluntary work by young people will be promoted within the project and the local community will be motivated to get involved in NGO work and in informal teams to improve the quality of life and tackle social problems.
Summary of project results
Youth unemployment, aging population and poverty are some of the challenges Latvia is currently facing. The unemployment index rose in 2012, and one third of the Latvian population is now exposed to risk of poverty and social exclusion.The aim of the project was to improve the quality of life for people from different age groups at risk of social exclusion.We have introduced new forms of social services in Vidzeme region.The project promoted youth volunteering and community involvement in order to improve the quality of life of the target group (children,youth,seniors,persons with disabilities) and address social problems in collaboration with Cēsis and Valka Municipality.The participants of the project took part in volunteer trainings and workshops in practical skills.A health club for seniors which included Nordic walking lessons for seniors and people with disabilities has been organized. During the project a project partner-the Norwegian partner organized a visit to Latvia for volunteer coordinators to advise on voluntary social work in each county and to introduce the Norwegian experience in Latvia.The results: the accessibility of social services (such as psychologist, speech therapist, physiotherapist and specialist consultations) as close as possible to the place of residence of the persons who so far have had limited opportunities to use them 87persons have received psychological consultations,67persons-nutrition consultations,129persons-speech therapist consultations,136children-psychotherapist consultations,82young people have acquired new knowledge and skills in voluntary social work Promotion of development of youth volunteering in order to improve the situation of the beneficiaries of the services(72 seniors and people with disabilities)by the volunteers 218 children and young people across different cultures and social groups have acquired new knowledge and information through communication,active citizenship,healthy lifestyle and voluntary work
Summary of bilateral results
The Norwegian Red Cross was involved as a partner. The main benefit of having a partner is to learn from such an experienced organisation. It allows implementing activities in Latvia more effectively. For project the participation of the Norwegian partner a visit in Latvia was included for the volunteer coordinators to advise on voluntary social work in each county and to bring in the Norwegian experience. The Norwegian Red Cross representative shared good practice examples from the Norwegian city of Halden, where senior volunteers are actively involved in Red Cross activities. The essential part of the cooperation with the Norwegian partner is the chance to implement activities in fields that have not been enough emphasised in Latvia before. Furthermore, it is a great opportunity to actively work on continuous collaboration between partners that are united by positive experience so far and willing to achieve more in the future.