Description
The project aims at developing the association so that it becomes a sustainable reference structure in the provision of integrated services: social, psychological, legal and shelter for victims of domestic violence in Cluj county. The need for the project lies in the very needs of the target group - victims of domestic violence – who do not currently receive integrated services for solving the problems they face. Expected results of the project are the establishment of two centers - recovery and counselling, developing and providing social services, establishing 40 sustainable partnerships, raising awareness to 15,400 citizens and the organizational development of the association. The results will be disseminated broadly and may serve as a model for implementation of further projects.
Summary of project results
Before the project started, in the county of Cluj there was only one shelter, located in Campia Turzii, and there was no provider able to solve the wide range of problems faced by victims of domestic violence. The need for intervention for victims was urgent and acute and there were no cooperation agreements between entities that would provide a solution to the problems victims were confronted with. The project aimed at developing the association so that it becomes a sustainable reference structure in the provision of integrated services: social, psychological, legal and shelter for victims of domestic violence in Cluj County. Within the project, a counselling and a recovery centre were established, providing social services to 44 victims of domestic violence (aged 21 to 55 years old): psychological counselling, support groups, social assistance and mediation in relation with authorities, legal counselling etc. Out of them, 18 victims and their 35 children benefited from shelter services. The promoter reported effective changes in the lives of those who have benefited from these services, such as: awareness of the situation and of the impact and consequences on the family, opportunity to get out of the violence situation, overcoming obstacles set up by their own mentality and that of others, material difficulties. Most of the victims have found support and encouragement for proactively searching for an exit from the situation they were in. 21 law actions were undertaken for the victims, regarding protection orders, divorces and child custody. Provision of services was possible due to the over 40 partnership agreements concluded by the promoter with institutions and organisations with responsibility/interest in the field. Community members were targeted through awareness raising campaigns on domestic violence (information sessions in rural areas, distribution of information materials in Cluj city), with involvement of volunteers. Based on project experience, a book comprising 4 volumes (legal aspects, general information, information for psychologists, and guide for victims) was printed in 1,000 copies and distributed to interested stakeholders (partner institutions and organisations, libraries, general public).
Summary of bilateral results