Description
There is currently no centre for children at risk in the locality of Vilkija. This project will establish a centre for children between 7 and 18 years old who are at social risk. The Centre will provide the following services: information, consultation, agency, communication, psychological consultation, meals free of charge for children, material assistance (depending on possibilities), training of social skills, help with homework and searching for solutions to learning problems, organization of socially important activities and summer recreation (depending on possibilities), providing safe environment for playing, growth and development, help for families, family empowerment services and more. The recipients of the services at the Centre are children who live in families at social risk. After the establishment of the Centre alternatives of various after-school activities will be proposed for children, and employees of the centre will seek to prepare children for a self-sufficient life while securing positive socialization and integration to society.
Summary of project results
According to the statistics of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour 4.4% of Lithuanian children live in families at social risk. Due to low education of parents, declining moral values, inability to adjust to changing economic and social conditions in such families develop not self-confident and harmonious personalities, but members of society who are unsure of their abilities and feel unsafe. The main goal of the project was to extend social services infrastructure while increasing the welfare of children who are at social risk and developing social services infrastructure in Kaunas district. In order to implement the main goal of project, Children Day Care Centre in locality of Vilkija (Kaunas district) for 7-18 years old children who are at social risk was established. While operating The Centre provides these services: information, consultation (including psychological) for children, serving meal free of charge for children, material assistance (depending on possibilities), training of social skills, help with homework and searching for solutions for learning problem, organization of socially important activities and summer recreation (depending on possibilities), providing safe environment for playing, growth and development. Moreover, services for families, family empowerment services are provided. After establishment of the Centre around 30 children participate in the activities of the Centre. While participating in the activities of the centre, children are becoming active members of community. In the centre teenagers’ communication, organizational skills, their self-sufficiency, creativity are raised, children are encouraged to participate actively in the activities organized on their own. Good examples, creative and employable environment will foster children to be motivated, to create, to take up sports.
Summary of bilateral results