| Social
Services Practices
Health and safety
Cost-Effective and Appropriate Sanitation Systems: Sulabh
International Social Service Organization, India
India has a population of 952 million where the urban centres account
for 27% of the population and covers an area of 3.3 million sq.
km. 85% of the population i.e., over 750 million people practised
an open-air defecation and use of bucket latrines resulting in health
and environmental hazards Sulabh International (NGO) initiated a
cost-effective sanitation system in 1970. It converts dry/bucket
privies to sanitary toilets, supplies toilets to houses where no
latrines existed before, provides well designed and maintained community
facilities, trains and rehabilitates scavengers to find other jobs
and generates bio-gas from public toilets for energy generation.
Sulabh International has also forged close co-ordination and partnership
with the government, local authorities and the communities involved.
Results to date include 1 million toilets and 4000 "pay &
use" community toilets serving more than 11 million people
daily, liberating 40,000 "scavengers". 240 towns have
been made scavenger free. Due to this success, state and local governments
have started to implement the sanitation program all over the country.
Finding that affordable and sustainable technology is available
and that institutional capacity has been built to train "scavengers",
the Government of India has passed legislation to ban "scavenging"
in the country. The program is being replicated in South Africa,
Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Tanzania and Kenya. The project?s impact
on health, sanitation as well as on a socially excluded group; high
level of replicability of the technologies and the partnership between
various sectors has been recognized by various environmental agencies.
Contact person: Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak
Telephone: 91- 11-5032631,5032654,5032617
Fax: 91- 11-5036122,5034041
E-mail: sulabh@nde.net.in
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Integral Health Team, Betim, Brazil
Betim has a population of 270,000 inhabitants and is situated in
the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte in the Southeast Brazil.
Its economy is predominantly industrial, although some traces of
its agricultural and livestock history still remain. The annual
budget is estimated to be US$ 86,000,000. The city administration
spends 20% of the budget on the Health Sector.
The network of Public Health Services is managed almost completely
by the city administrator and consists of the following units:
- Basic Health Units;
- Special Care Units;
- Emergency Care Units;
- Maternity Ward;
- City Hospital.
This network has been undergoing change since 1993 aimed at revolutionalising
public health services to meet consumer needs. It has been implementing
the principles of the Unified Health System i.e. universality, comprehensiveness,
equity and simplifying procedures.
The changes establishment of reference and surveillance teams. The
former aim at linking a certain number of users to one of the Basic
Health Units, establishing a bond between the professional and the
user which is essential to a good clinical practice. The surveillance
teams aim at increasing the follow-up, control and implementation
of actions capable of preventing health risks.
The reference teams are formed by Medical Doctors (General Practitioner,
Pediatrician, Gynecologist-Obstetrician), Nurses and Assistant Nurses
with the support of Social Workers. The population chooses, among
the Basic Health Units close to their homes, the team they want
to be linked with. Each team has between 1,200 and 2,000 users under
its responsibility and organize the work according to the following
targets:
- To get to know the epidemiological profile of its users;
- To organize its agenda according to its users' needs;
- To promote regular meetings to discuss cases;
- To activate other resources (intra and inter-institutionally)
according to the users' needs;
- To implement home care whenever the users' autonomy is impaired;
- To search for absent patients whose health may have worsened or
under any risk condition;
- To promote general actions of collective and preventive nature
involving the whole Unit.
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Makati Health Programme (Yellow Card), Philippines
The Makati Health Program (MHP) was designed to provide residents
of the city of Makati earning monthly incomes less than US$156 access
to quality health care. The cost of health care in Philippine urban
centres is so prohibitive that it is beyond the reach of citizens
belonging to this income bracket. Also included as programme beneficiaries
are the elderly and city government employees including public school
teachers, policemen and firemen. However, most of the patients that
received medical attention through the scheme did not fall within
the minimum income bracket. Following the 1986 revolution, the municipal
authorities carried out a review of the programme to ensure that
it benefits the intended target group. The local government of Makati
partnered with the private sector partner, Makati Medical Center
and two non-governmental organizations (NGO): the Ospital ng Makati
Foundation and Bagong Ina ng Bayan.
The programme has afforded beneficiaries access to services such
as major surgeries in one of the best private hospitals in the Philippines.
In 2000, over 50,000 cardholders were treated at the Makati Medical
Center, with bills totaling US$ 3.3 million. Under the terms of
the expenses sharing scheme, the city government of Makati shouldered
US$1.9 million while Makati Medical Center contributed US$1.4 million.
Together with the local government's initiatives in preventive
health care, the Makati Health Program has contributed to declines
in the mortality rate and improvements in morbidity rates across
all ages. Makati is one of the few cities in the Philippines that
provide subsidized quality health care to its constituents.
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Polyclinic of Hope (POH), Kigali, Rwanda
Rwanda has a population of 8.4 million
and a per capita income of US$200. At the end of the 1994 genocide,
the country was left with a large numbers of widows and orphans;
who had suffered the worst kind inhumanity, rape, torture and mutilation.
The violence in 1994 had damaging effects on the women and children
including psychosocial trauma, HIV/AIDS infection and dispossession.
Polyclinic of Hope (POH) is a center for women victims of rape and
other violent crimes perpetrated during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda,
in the refugee camps, and during insurgencies. The center was established
in mid 1995 by Church World Service and Witness (CWS)-USA, the parent
organization of Rwanda Women Network.
The Polyclinic of Hope works in two locations in
Kigali Urban, Gitega Sector and Village of Hope, Kagugu Sector.
Beneficiaries include survivors of the genocide, victims of rape/
other violent crimes, widows, child-headed households and people
living with HIV/AIDS. Polyclinic deals with trauma in a post-conflict
situation while providing realistic and concrete solutions for these
women to regain self-confidence. The center has a holistic approach
that endeavors to provide integrated services in response to the
multiple problems and needs of these women. It offers free medical
services including referral and links to hospitals and medical clinics,
psychosocial support and trauma-counseling, referral services to
other relevant public and community sector services, credit facilities
for income generation and self-sustainability, and rehabilitation
and construction of housing. There is a strong component on advocacy
and awareness raising on the human rights of women, including the
right to own housing and land.
POH has so far provided medical support and counseling
services to 500 women and members of their families totaling about
2,500 people, constructed houses for 130 families and women survivors
in Kigali, replicated the same services to reach more people at
the at POH branch in Kagugu, where 20 families and 600 women live.
The women who have registered at the Center have benefited from
different training programmes. There are also 187 youths involved
in different activities at the Centers.
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Prevention's strategies of fight against malaria, Senegal.
Senegal has a population that is estimated to be 10.1 million (UN,
2003), with a GNI per capita of $470. According to the WHO, Malaria
death rate per 100.000 children ages 0-4 is 377. For the rest of
the population it falls to 72.
The Network of Community Support (Réseau d’Appui Community
(R.A.C.) was created in 1996, its main objective being to reduce
the high rate of mortality attributed to malaria in the municipality
of Bignona in Senegal. The network’s goal was to undertake the fight
and prevention of malaria and other common diseases through awareness
campaigns and by educating residents.
The network is composed of all local stakeholders: city council
members, grass root organizations, women, sport and cultural associations,
health and hygienic committees and representative of neighborhoods.
The technical service of the municipality is used as support structure.
The main focus of the network has been to ensure that the people
had ownership of the program, this is meant to encourage more people
to participate in the campaigns. An initial evaluation carried out
on the project found that all RAC neighborhood focal points were
functional, visits to clinics for consultations had increased from
30 to 60%; mortality rates attributed to malaria had drop by 70%.
Statistics show that the sale of chloroquine has increased significantly
and the number of hospitalisations for Malaria dropped from 304
in 1998 to 251 in 1999. Mosquito net usage increased from 450 nets
sold in 1997 to 4150 and 4500 in 1998 and 1999. Between 1997 and
2000, the network member visited more than 90% of the resident families.
These results were possible because due to the multicultural approach
undertaken by project participates and the involvement of all stakeholders
in the village including: religious leaders, traditional healers,
traditional communicators, schoolteachers, students, civil servants
etc, in the dissemination of information and education. Four out
of five families are now aware of the disease and how to prevent
it; know how access to medicine and are encouraged to use mosquito
nets.
The sustainability of this initiative has been made possible with
the introduction of malaria and health issues in the school curriculum
and in vocational training institutions. Decentralising RAC’s activities
has given grassroots communities the opportunity to consult each
other on the programme strategy and to be fully involved in implementation.
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Integrated Model of Care for HIV/AIDS people
at County level, Romania
Romania’s Population is estimated at 22.3
million (UN, 2003), with a GNI per capita of US $1,870 (World Bank,
2002). In early 1990s, Romania was confronted with an unprecedented
situation: a large number of HIV positive children, and overcrowded,
poorly equipped and severely under-staffed residential hospitals.
Nearly 5,000 children born between 1987 and 1990 were infected with
the HIV virus, primarily through transfusions or infection while
under medical treatment.
Many children died in hospitals and others were
simply abandoned by their families. Full hospitalisation was the
only option as there were no day clinics. Children would thus be
unnecessarily exposed to opportunistic infections and the stress
of being away from home. This situation prompted the Romania Angel
Appeal (RAA) in 1991 to bring about some changes through revolutionizing
the assistance system for the seropositive child and the creation
of a multidisciplinary approach that combines medical services with
the social, psychological and educational ones: the "Sunflower Smile"
day clinic.
One of the main successes of this project is the
gradual integration of the psychological and social services within
the hospitals where they function. Unfortunately, most of the Romanian
hospitals offer only medical services, and the take over of the
social and psychological services of the day clinics represent a
real progress in improving the patient services.
The day clinic model has adopted two major priorities
in the caring of HIV infected children, medical (diagnosis, investigation,
treatment, recommendations and useful information on the standards
of care for HIV/AIDS children) and psychosocial and educational
assistance (pre and post-testing counseling, home visits, legal
counseling, educational programmes etc.), responding to their identified
needs.
The "Sunflower Smile" integrated model of care
was introduced in Romania in 1991 by RAA with the opening of the
first day clinic in Constanta. Currently, there are eight day-clinics
over the country, which are organized in a network of information
and, experience sharing and mutual help. The clinics provide medical,
social, psychological and educational services for children and
families affected by HIV/AIDS. Hand-over to the hospitals and local
authorities is progressing well.
Results include, 1,656 children registered for
social services (year 2003), 134 specialists providing multidisciplinary
services, 5,176 social assistance interventions, 2,967 psychological
assistance interventions and 9,000 information bulletins distributed
to families affected by the disease.
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Enlarged Community Rehabilitation Project.
Turkey
Turkey has a population of 71.3 million
(UN, 2003) people with a GNI of US $2,490 (World Bank, 2002). In
Istanbul, the city with the largest population in Turkey with a
population of 9.6million(2003 estimates), a large proportion of
the population is deprived of basic services, health nutrition and
the power to demand health services. This situation is exacerbated
with the growth of the population by 4.4% every year, mainly from
immigrants of poor rural communities.
The Enlarged Community Rehabilitation programme
(ECR) is a Health Affairs Department initiative that provides Home
based health care to patients who are not covered by any health
insurance system or who are in great need of help. It enters them
in a register and provides them with the needed health care, if
necessary, at their homes. The process starts with a visit in the
townships to assess the health situation of the people in need:
sick, disabled, pregnant, elderly or deprived people. This step
is followed by the visit of a physician and a nurse to the houses
to examine the patients and make treatment plans. According to the
patient’s state of health, further investigations and examinations
by specialist physicians are carried out. Surgical operations are
also performed if required. For severely socially deprived families,
fuel (for heating) and food aid is provided.
So far the project has covered 29 townships in
Istanbul and 1,303,801 houses have been visited: 361,849 households
had pregnant or disabled patients. 116,415 households were accepted
for home care; 81,524 households received a visit of a doctor; 104,308
households received home based care; 13.455 patients were prescribed
and were maintained by the project; 1,456 patients were taken to
specialists; 985 patients received surgical operations through the
project arrangement. The project also collected first hand statistic
data on demographic, social and economic situation of Istanbul:
The patients with chronic illnesses learned how
to look after themselves. The families of the patients learned what
to do and where to go to seek solutions. A lot of patients learned
to use their drugs in the correct manner and to control their health
problems. 25 patients who had medicine resistant tuberculosis were
inspected in a special treatment programme (DOTS) and underwent
controlled treatment.
ECR Project has achieved many social and economic
benefits for the city. The project has helped many people, not only
patients requiring home based care, but people with chronic illnesses,
pregnant, handicapped people, elderly people living alone, were
provided with treatment and received assistance in dealing with
social problems. With the help of the Aid Fund of the greater Istanbul
Municipality, a system was developed through which patients with
chronic illnesses without any social security can be assisted.
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Safety
Safer Cities: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Dar-es-Salaam, the largest city and major port of Tanzania, East
Africa has a population of approximately 780,000 people. Before
1997, the city accounted for over 25% of all crime incidents reported
to the police throughout the country raising fear of victimisation
among the residents. Safer Cities Dar-es-Salaam was initiated in
March 1997, by UNHABITAT (Habitat) with technical support from the
International Centre for Prevention of Crime (ICPC) in Canada and
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The initiative was
officially launched on 19 August 1998 aims at co-ordinating and
strengthening local institutional crime prevention capacity, changing
attitudes and promoting a culture of adherence to the laws and reducing
youth unemployment through skills training and cultural activities.
The project works on a bottom-up approach to mobilise the community
and local resources in establishing crime prevention initiatives.
Community policing and justice is based on the traditional practice
of "Sungu Sungu". This has decentralised the task of dealing
with petty crime to the neighbourhood level instead of relying on
the conventional justice system, anchoring social justice with community
rather than penal values. The project has been successful in sensitising
community leaders and citizens on the need for crime prevention
initiatives. Many activities have been initiated in the city, establishing
awareness as well as successfully promoting and utilising the skills
and resources of different partners in crime prevention initiatives.
Other cities in Tanzania (Arusha, Mbeya and Morogoro) have approached
Safer Cities Dar-es-Salaam for assistance to create and support
the development of a Safer Cities Initiative in their towns and
cities.
Contact Person: Mrs. Anna Mtani
Telephone: 255 - 51 - 130 959
Fax: 255 - 51 - 130 961
E-mail: saferdsm@raha.com
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Take Back the Park, New York, USA
"Take Back The Park" represents a creative departure from
previous youth programming in that it is the first project of its
kind in New York City that gives young people--all high-risk youth--a
lead role in motivating peers and adults in reclaiming community
recreational space from drug dealers. Every summer, "Take Back
The Park" mobilises one or more New York City neighbourhoods
to reclaim a local park that has been taken away from the community
by drug dealing, vandalism, and/or substance abuse. The program
mobilises and trains community coalitions, including representatives
from youth, police, parks department personnel, community-based
agencies, tenants associations and community boards in collaborative
community planning. Skilled and experienced youth work with neighbourhood
young people to design and co-ordinate "Take Back The Park"
activities, conduct neighbourhood needs assessment surveys, and
develop a network between community youth and community police officers.
Participating youth are provided with 25 hours of youth leadership
and community organising skills training, including topics such
as program planning, outreach, community problem-solving and strategies
for addressing drug trafficking and substance abuse. All 15 of each
"Take Back the Park" efforts remain in action today.
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Democratization in Tukums Region, Latvia
When Latvia broke away from the Soviet Union the population and
even politicians were used to an autocratic, state-run system. This
breakaway state lacked problem resolution mechanisms at local and
national level. Due to the lack of money and resources, the municipalities
had no social workers, and there was no training or mutual co-ordination
in social programs. The initiative was conceived to create a democratic
system of social assistance, with trained workers, incorporating
the inhabitants' needs and mobilizes them to actively participate
in suppoting themselves. The achievements of this initiative include
a higher level of social assistance- in 1992 there were only 9 social
workers in Tukums region, but in 2000 there were 52 social workers,
which means there is 1 social worker for every 1,143 persons vis
à vis Latvia, whose ratio is 1 social worker for every 6,000
people. There is also a greater number of regional NGOs. In 1992,
there were 7 and in 2000 the number rose to 42.
The most obvious achievement is increased participation and co-operation
among community-based organisations resulting in definite projects
which improved their social status (e.g. Dzivesprieks group home,
sport activities for the mentally and physically disabled, self-care
education program and rehabilitation for diabetics). The municipality
officials are now more knowledgeable on laws and policies regarding
social assistance, to positively influence them in their implementation
of social services and their support of the community's activities.
Contact person: Sarma Upesleja
E-mail: spkc@tukums.parks.lv
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Project for Integration of Refugee Families, Germany
The International Garden is a Project committed to supporting the
Integration of refugee families. It creates opportunities for Refugee
Families to actively participate in the day to day life of the host
society. The Concept of the " International Garden" Project
was drawn up and put into practice over the last five Years by the
refugee families in co-operation with German families who are interested
in establishing a practical basis for developing trust and mutual
respect between new comers and the host society. The main Actors
in the Project are Refugee families. They are involved in the whole
work process; i.e. drawing up the policy, developing the learning
styles that are adapted to the participant families, practical work
in the Garden, organizing multicultural festivals, etc. Women play
a key role in decision making. The Project combines learning with
practical gardening. It is earth based and creates the opportunity
for the low educated socially excluded refugee women to take part
in activities within and around the project.
Majority of the members (who initially never understood a word in
German) speak the German, women have learnt to read and write and
many families are stabilized in the process of participation with
most having regular paying jobs.
Contact person: Tassew Shimeles
Fax: 0551/47655
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Street Children in Bitola, Macedonia
The "street children" phenomenon is in contradiction with
the convention of children's rights of the United Nations Organisation,
especially with its leading principal that the children and their
interest must be put first in good and bad times, in poverty and
prosperity, in war and peace (Bellamy, 1998). In the period of democratisation
and transition of Republic of Macedonia, the Republic was faced
with the "Street children" phenomena that had a tendency
to pass into an acute and priority problem. The constrained resources
and administrative problems pushed the children onto the streets
even more.
The organisation/initiative "Day center", became a place
for taking care of twenty children of Rome nationality. Through
the general education, medical education, consultations, workshops,
detailed social network and psychological analysis, the children
were given the opportunity to keep their contacts with the family
and community and to develop like any other children. Foundations
were established for increasing the public awareness, for involving
the governmental institutions, the local government and other Non-governmental
organisations (NGO's), in order to meet the various needs of the
children and to bring co-ordinated solutions which will cover a
greater number of children. The programme received resources from
World Bank; Bitola's Local Authority and other local partners.
Contact person: Dijana Gjorgievska
Fax: 389 97 226522
Email: didi@osi.net.mk
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Social service for Sector 6, Bucharest, Romania
Older persons represents 6% of the total population of Sector 6
in Bucharest (more than 350,000 inhabitants), bringing in the same
time the social category the most affected by the economical situation.
With the high rate of inflation, the small amount of pensions, very
expensive food and drugs, the near absence of social assistance
services, low-quality medical services (lack of equipment and basic
drugs) and lack of qualified staff in the social and medical field
there was need to take care of the elderly persons.
In 1996, the Association Equilibre in partnership with the Municipality
of Sector 6 with financial support of EU through PHARE - SESAM programme
initiated the creation of this type of social service for the Municipality
of Sector 6 in Bucharest. Through social inquiries for 800 elderly
persons, 300 elderly persons were initially selected to receive
social assistance. The aim of the project is to ensure that the
elderly persons stay with their families or in their homes to avoid
their institutionalization and their solitude separation through
adequate social and medical assistance.
Obtained results:
- Social Assistance provided for 500 persons
- Medical assistance provided at home
- Lunch provided for 60 persons
- Preparing food to be sent home for 40 persons
- Creation of an legal information office
- Club activities
- Training staff
- Social reintegration for unemployed persons
- Organization of seminars in order to make sensitive the local
authorities, to let them know the issues that the elderly persons
are faced with, exchange of experience.
- More than 100 meals are provided daily.
In a four year span this initiative has been transferred to other
municipalities and has set a precedence of social care and assistance
for elderly community members.
Contact person: Rodica Caciula
Fax: 40.1.781.77.37
E-mail: eql@dnt.ro
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Night Asylum - Social Center, Romania
After the collapse of the communist regime, the local authorities
had to admit and assume the serious social problems that the population
was facing. One of these problems was that of homeless people. The
new political economical and social context created after the collapse
of the communist regime, and the conditions of total transformations
imposed by the transition to market economy have changed a lot in
Romania's people's life; a new social structure with a living standard
diametrically opposite has appeared. The Night Asylum - Social Center
project was started to offer a temporary shelter, over night, to
people who had no homes to go to. Experience has shown that this
initiative has improved the lives of homeless people. The funds
for this project were provided from the local budget and the local
authority provided the human resources. The Social Center offers
health care services in addition providing a social setting for
a comfortable night sleep. Currently there are two (each with an
area of about 250 square m) such establishments operating in the
Targoviste Municipality.
Contact person: Delia Stanescu
Fax: 0040-45-210450
E-mail: primariatgv@romwest.ro
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National Social Rehabilitation Centre, Bulgaria
Bulgaria has a total population of 8,612,757 and covers an area
of 30,528 square kilometres. Disabled people in society were isolated
in "social care homes", situated far away from the towns.
The National Social Rehabilitation Centre (NSRC) was one of the
first organisations in Bulgaria working for the welfare of disabled
people, offering social services and aiming at assuring better working
and living conditions and ensuring social integration. NSRC's aspiration
is to create conditions for equal participation of people with disabilities
in public life. In 1996 with a Decision of the Council of Ministers
the organisation was acknowledged as a representative organisation
on national level. The programme started with the financial support
of EU PHARE LIEN Programme. Progressively a network of bureaus for
social services was established to offer helpful technical advice,
social consultation, professional training and at home services.
A regional bureau for social services was established in the city
of Bourgas, with the support and co-operation of the Bourgas Municipality.
After a year of work there, the municipal authorities in other cities
were convinced that it was a good and successful model for serving
disabled people. It resulted in the establishment of bureaus in
the towns of Varna and Pomorie, and Stara Zagora. In these bureaus
more than 7,000 people with disabilities yearly receive wheelchairs
and other technical appliances, and connected to this training,
information and service. More than 2,000 people yearly receive consultation
and advice for solving their problems. NSRC started a specialised
transport service for wheelchair users and day care centre for children
with disabilities. The day centre "Saint Mina" in Sofia
receives 26 children daily for rehabilitation or consultation. Reconstruction
of public buildings in Bourgas and Sofia has started in order to
make them easily accessible by the disabled. The success of the
initiative is due to the multiplication of the good practice, co-operation
with the State and local authorities and ensuring sustainability
by training university students on how to care for the disabled.
The practice has demonstrated the possibility of providing services
that are flexible and fitting to the needs of all groups of people.
Contact Christina Christova
Telephone: +359.2.9803215
Fax: +359.2.9803492
E-mail: nsrc@einet.bg
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Caring for Orphans, United Arab Emirates
Prior to 1986 there was no NGO program for caring for orphans in
the U.A.E and in response to this problem the Emirates Red Crescent
Launched a national and international program for supporting orphans
who lost parents in either to natural causes/disasters or man-made
causes. The support involves educational programs, medical and social
care, and monthly financial allowance for orphans in U.A.E. For
orphans in other countries, such as Albania, Kazakhestan, Somalia,
Bosnia, Palestine, Iraq and others, the Emirates Red Crescent provides
monthly allowance for the orphans as well as establishments of orphan
care centres for housing, clinic and schooling. In 1998, the beneficiaries
of this program were over 4000 orphans in U.A.E and twelve other
countries.
Contact person: Mr. Tarek Ali Ghaleb
Fax: (+971 2) 2212727
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Doctors of Happiness / Doctores da Alegria, BRAZIL
"Doctors of Happiness" is Brazil?s pre-eminent performing
arts organization devoted to bringing joy to hospitalized children
two days a week, 48 weeks per year. Based on clown theatre, professional
artists perform parodies of medical rounds using the healing power
of humor. The artists undergo six months of training in hospital
protocol and artistic adaptation, followed by reviews to maintain
high quality of work. The training enables them to visit special
units such as intensive care, burn units, bone marrow transplant
and AIDS patients. Working one-on-one with chronically ill children,
their parents and health care professionals, these "doctors"
help ease the stress of hospitalization by introducing laughter
as part of the patient?s life. The secret to their success is that
while doctors and nurses focus treating the illness, clown doctors
focus on stimulating recovery.
Established in 1991, Doctors of Happiness has received recognition
from major medical institutions, doctors, the media, sponsors and
the general public. It received the prestigious "Children Award"
by the Abrinq Foundation, Brazil?s leading foundation for children?s
rights. Doctors of Happiness works in the six major hospitals in
São Paulo and five in Rio de Janeiro and since 1998 expanded
to South America?s only pediatric cancer hospital, bringing the
total number of visits made to children, their doctors and parents
to 165,000.
Since 1998, Doctores da Alegria established a Research and Study
Center and runs specialized workshops such as "Doctors and
Clowns: a Partnership for the Future" to share results with
medical professionals and the general public. The workshops have
become part of the official curriculum for all resident doctors
of the Children?s Institute, South America?s largest pediatric university
hospital. These workshops provide resident doctors with the opportunity
to reflect on and discuss innovative ideas regarding the treatment
of severely injured and chronically ill children. They also expose
young doctors to how the clown approaches the hospital universe;
with no fear of contact, interaction, listening or communicating
with patients.
Wellington Nogueira Santos
Tel: (0055) (11) 3061-5523
Fax: (0055) (11) 3061-5523
Email: wellington@doutoresdaalegria.org.br
/ rodrigo@doutoresdaalegria.org.br
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The Humanitarian Association, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Besides material and food support provided by aid agencies during
the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina there was an overarching need
for healing and recovery of traumatised women and children, their
integration to community, education of women and consequently availing
working opportunities for them. "Amica", the partner of
Prijateljice, launched its programs for traumatised women and their
children (refugees) during the wartime. A reference group consisting
of 25 NGOs in the Tuzla canton (with a population of 121,717 persons)
was established in November 1996 with the objective of improving
the legal framework in which different NGOs involved in humanitarian
activities and developing a network of NGOs as well as the private
sector. Through this alliance, the women, the majority of whom lost
their husbands and sons during the war, were given financial assistance
to fend for their families after being given training on managing
micro-enterprises. The project has provided intensive psycho-social
therapy to 400 women who were either physically or mentally abused,
many children and involved another 300 women in development activities.
Up to 2,600 children received free education whose curriculum took
into account the effect of the war. One of the programs is advocating
for peaceful solving of conflicts and difficulties, strengthening
health and hygienic culture and improvement of communication within
a family. Another important thing the programme works at achieving
is the women's integration into a completely new way of life and
environment, their democratisation and broadening their horizons.
With renewed self-confidence, the women now speak openly against
domestic violence and hold campaigns to build awareness. The decision-making
process is always based on the ideas of the women, on ideas of the
project team together with the management team and the board. The
organisation has a great impact on strengthening of women, in overcoming
traumas caused by the war and additional post-war difficulties,
and strengthening their consciousness on role they have in environment
that they live and society in general.
Contact: Mrs. Monica Kleck
Fax: ++ 387 (0) 75/250 - 495
Phone: ++ 387 (0) 75/250-609
E-mail: amicaev@bih.net.ba
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New Pathways, Naestved, Denmark
The New Pathways initiative operates through "Open Data Centres"
offering admission for distance learning courses designed to benefit
socially excluded citizens. New pathways is a public-private partnership
endeavour called the Open Data Centres in Denmark involving, inter
alia, the Municipality of Naestved and IBM Denmark in assisting
early retired people, youth and women to re-enter the job market
through intensive training in information and communication technology.
23 ODC Guides manage the Open Data Centres. 19 of whom are early
retired pensioners employed in easy-jobs, and 3 trainees. Students
get special attention to gain ICT skills. 1,100 socially excluded
citizens have to date completed training with half of getting employed.
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Emaus Bidadosa: Employment of the socially excluded, Spain
The Emaus Bidadosa project is located in the Bidasoa Area of the
Basque Country of Spain with a population of 53,312. Prior to the
inception of the project in October 1997, ADEBISA (Bidasoa Area
Development Agency) had contacted, with no success, 150 enterprises
of the area with the intention of getting employment for the people
of the Horizon programmes in a subsidised manner, despite the fact
that people had been trained to acquire relevant skills. Through
collaborative and partnership structures involving social, economical
and public actors, living conditions have improved through the employment
of the most needy people who had no other means of livelihood (homeless,
women with dependant relatives, unemployed older persons over forty
five years of age, former drug addict). The programme has supported
enterprises that are geared towards poverty alleviation. Through
a participatory action plan domestic waste has been managed and
in the process employed people to separate and recycle the waste.
The initiative demonstrates the importance of long-term planning
in order to effectively address the issues raised by all parties
involved. The practice has been replicated within Bidasoa as "Corte
Verde Patchwork Bidasoa" which recycles textiles to make patchwork
clothing.
Contact Person: Javier Pradini Olazabal
Tel: 34943660041
Email: fundacion@emaus.com
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Tomaszow Enterprise 'Incubator' Foundation, Poland
Unemployment is an economic and social problem that transcends political
and national boundaries although its extent manifests itself to
varying degrees and proportions in different localities. The objective
of the initiative was to improve local vocational training capacity
and reduce unemployment, which was well above the national average.
This was done through the creation of the Employment Forum that
undertook co-ordination and reorganisation of local vocational training
programs based on a needs assessment, and built a data base on local
training needs, training capacity and training graduates. The Forum
affiliated representatives of training organisations, public officials
from 10 counties, employers and unemployed persons that worked together
to improve local information flow, develop better training courses
and bring together newly trained individuals with potential employers.
The program is currently being expanded to include another four
cities in the Piotrkow Province, and the cities of Opole and Zyrardow.
Achievements to date include: the creation of a coalition of vocational
training organisations in Tomaszow providing co-ordinated vocational
training programs and developing new training schemes for the unemployed;
completion of a survey of 6,000 local employers assessing training
needs and hiring plans; developing and setting up databases on employers,
training institutions and unemployed graduates. 65 % of trainees
found employment or are currently undertaking education training.
Agata Kaczmarkowska
Tel: (48)-(44)-7237608
Fax:( 48)-(44)-7236878
Email: futip@infocentrum.com,
futip@polbox.com,
akaczmarkowska@yahoo.com
URL: www.futip.infocentrum.com
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Iperbole/Internet Metropolitan Civic Network, Italy
Bologna has a population of 900,000 and is the Italy's administrative
capital and the most important node of communication in Italy. "Realising
digital democracy, telematic participation and citizenship"
and building an on line interactive community is the key idea of
Iperbole, an Internet-based citizens free-of-charge metropolitan
civic network that was set up in 1995 by the city of Bologna. The
Municipality of Bologna has traditionally devoted strong efforts
to improve relationships and communications in order to increase
the quality of citizens' participation in Local Authority's activities.
The Municipality offers e-mail service, news, direct access to the
municipal web-site (http://www.comune.bologna.it/ connected to other
local, national and European servers), free full-Internet connections
and to its free resources to all citizens requesting it free of
charge. The Internet is a useful tool for job seekers who receive
advice from professionals through an interactive session. The project,
due to the large number of persons connected (about 10 % of the
whole population with a growing rate of 20 new users every day)
is becoming a very efficient way for the families, enterprises,
public and private bodies, to retrieve information and services,
at home or the workplace.
The Iperbole/Internet service is based on the principles of the
employment of telematics and new technologies for administrative
innovation and partnership with the "organised civil society";
the right to information; and involving the virtual community as
a partner of the urban administration in enabling decision-making
processes between urban actors. Citizens can take part in the public
life of the city via the web-site of the city administration and
by participating in on-line discussions with 35 local newsgroups.
The new technology helps to establish reciprocal communications
between the administration and the society. In April 1998 Iperbole
counted 13500 citizens using the free Internet access, 600 organisations,
70 schools and hundreds of administrative offices were on line.
Contact Person: Leda Guidi
Tel: 39-51-203210
Fax: 39-51-223142
Email: com@comune.bologna.it
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Training Program in Public Security, Human Rights and Citizenship,
Brazil
In Brazil there is much police arbitrariness, causing aggravation
of exclusion and violence. In Amapá, a former Federal Territory,
police behaviour was based on the Armed Forces motto of "defending
the frontiers against invaders". This war-like ideology degenerated
into treating the citizen as the enemy. Furthermore, the police
force was badly coordinated and often worked at odds with security
departments.
The programme was initiated in 1996. It?s objective is to humanize
police action by training the police force to become aware of and
uphold human rights and the exercise of citizenship. The training
includes social psychology, group interaction and self-analyses
focusing on changes in behavior and attitudes based on the respect
of ethical principles of citizenship, defense and security for the
people. It also aims to provide better integration of different
departments involved in the public security system.
The programme led to the adoption and implementation of the following
policies and initiatives: (i) interactive policing involving civil
society in determining priorities for public security; (ii) establishment
of an Environmental Battalion responsible for monitoring and preventing
environmental degradation and promoting environmental education;
(iii) an unified Public Security system integrating all security
departments at all levels to coordinate their actions and interventions
including coordination between the Chief Justice and the Secretary
of the State for Security; (iv) de-commissioning of the Shock Battalion
which was used in the past to suppress labor unions and popular
manifestations.
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Improving the quality of life for socially excluded children,
Kolkata, India
Kolkata (City of Joy a.k.a Calcutta), with a population of 13.2
million, is one is one of the largest cities in the world. It's
the capital city of the Indian State of West Bengal. More than a
100,000 children living in streets, red light areas, slums were
left unattended and stayed away from schools. These vulnerable children
were involved in menial labour, exposed to sexual exploitation and
never had access to formal education. The purpose of the Educational
Initiative is to enrol all out-of-school children (in the age group
(5-14 years) into local formal schools (Government Sponsored/Municipal
Corporation Schools/ Private run Boarding Schools). Priorities include
protecting children in vulnerable situations through support by
providing them with shelter, protection, care and counselling with
the involvement of Railway authorities, Police and the local public.
Stakeholder participation comprised community representation in
planning, Implementation and sustainability by forming apex committees
with representation from Youth Club members, community volunteers,
ward councillors and parent-teacher committees. The initiative has
not only reached out to 15,000 deprived urban children but has been
able to enrol 8,000 children into formal schools while reuniting
them with their respective families.
The initiative also aims to sustain the effort of the social reintegration
of children through local resource mobilization and community participation
to create a sustainable environment for the children to be retained
in schools. Community based preparatory centres, coaching centres
and residential camps for children living in slums and squatter
settlements, help ensure that children remain in schools, away from
forced labour.
Over the years, Children In Need Institute (CINI ASHA), has created
a model in the field of education by evolving its own Bridge Course
method (accelerated method of teaching/learning) for out-of-school/
drop-outs/never been to school-children. The children are reintegrated
according to age and appropriate levels in one year's time. CINI
ASHA has designed a package of the Bridge Course curriculum and
training module in collaboration with UNESCO for training approximately
400 community volunteers to date. CINI ASHA, has also been a pioneer
in designing modules and conducting training for NGO representatives
in counselling street children in collaboration with National Institute
of Social Defence. The innovative strategies have been replicated
by NGOs and the Government at the national level.
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Central Council of Disabled Persons, Sri Lanka
Recent figures show that 7.4% of the people in Sri Lanka are disabled
and the growth rate is higher than the normal by 0.04%. The idea
of setting up a Disabled Persons Organisation was a brainchild of
15 disabled people who met regularly in hospitals while undergoing
treatment and rehabilitation. The aim was to create a forum that
addresses the special needs of the disabled and is primarily run
by the disabled. It would also address the vocational training and
unemployment situation of the disabled as many face discrimination
at the work place even when fully qualified.
The initiative was conceived when initial members mobilised their
collective savings to start an income generation enterprise. Some
of them had prior training in handicrafts and volunteered to train
their colleagues. An offer was received to display and sell wares
to tourists at an up-market hotel on recognition of the quality
of work and the dedication of the group. This brought a measure
of success and gave a degree of independence and thus the Foundation
for the Independence of Disabled (FID) which was later renamed Central
Council for Disabled Persons (CCODP).
To counter resistance from the local community caused by the traditional
beliefs and myths that disability is a curse, the CCODP embarked
on an aggressive awareness campaign on the causes, treatment and
reality of disability. They sought and received support from local
leaders who provided assistance in organising workshops at the village
level. Many families in the villages approached the group with questions
on how to assist disabled family members. School heads and religious
leaders provided overwhelming support and sensitisation campaigns
were undertaken in schools, using school leavers and religious services
resulting in a change of attitude in the population. As the initiative
received wider ownership and recognition, officers from the Ministry
of Social Services offered the use of Government machinery and network
to involve other local CBOs. This partnership culminated in a study
carried out together with the National School of Social Work on
the disability prevalence in the district. The results of this study
were an important milestone as for the first time, tangible data
on the magnitude of disability was available in the district.
CCODP attaches great importance to the disabled persons' ability
to operate independently and to compete on a level playing field
with the able-bodied. In this light, CCODP has initiated several
programmes aimed at addressing various concerns which include Social
Development Programme, Women's Programme, Research and Development
Unit, Computer and Language Training, Enterprise Development Programme,
Environmental Programme, Housing for Rural Disabled and Micro finance
for Women. Through these programmes, CCODP has over the years, offered
direct and indirect support to over 20,000 disabled and disadvantaged
people from all over the island. CCODP prefers to compete for government
tenders with other manufacturers as an equal rather than invoke
the special treatment and quota reserved for the minority groups
and currently generates more than 80% of its income from the enterprise
development programmes. 40 acres of land have been set aside to
implement a tree planting programme to replenish what is used up
in the production of the various products whose raw materials is
mainly timber.
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Coruna Solidarity Co-operation Network, Spain
The population of Coruna doubled between 1940 and 1980, resulting
in unplanned and overcrowded buildings. Since 1985, Coruna has undergone
comprehensive renewal with the opening of the City to the sea, construction
of a promenade, removal of military installations, improvement of
road networks and introduction of cultural, educational and tourism
infrastructure. However a strategic development plan in Coruna addressing
the issue of social welfare was lacking. The Municipality of Coruna
created the Coruna Solidarity Cooperation Network as a model for
citizen participation in the implementation of social welfare policies
through the strengthening of the city's non-profit sector and co-ordination
with other Municipalities. The fundamental point was to create a
system for citizen participation for the development of the city's
non-profit sector with the ultimate aim of improving citizen welfare
in a sustainable way.
To date, the Network is made up of 140 institutions representing
foundations, charities, philanthropist associations, trade unions,
professional organizations, neighbourhood associations, federations
of associations, municipal representatives and socially excluded
people. The groups operate in the city in specialized fields such
as health, care for the disabled, immigration, senior citizens,
children and youth, drug addiction, women, social exclusion, the
environment, co-operation in international development and aid.
The network is currently operated by 1800 volunteers and has 28000
members who provide financial support, and generate employment for
950 people.
Various specialised service networks have been established including
the Municipal Women's Service that has benefited over 800 women,
the Municipal Children and Family Service that has served more than
6,500 families and the Municipal Drug Addiction Service that has
more than 3,700 users. The Municipal Social Inclusion Service develops
programmes for improving housing standards, intervention and social
inclusion that have benefited more than 2,200 people. A Municipal
Plan for Gender Equality has been introduced to encourage the active
participation of women in the programme and provide specialised
services that meet the needs of women. These include the creation
of a Women's Centre where gender policies are developed, women's
shelters and a mobile phone response service for women facing harassment.
The Coruna Solidarity Cooperation Network is incorporated in the
Municipal Welfare Plan.
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Humanitarian News Agency (a Red Solidaria project), Argentina
The Humanitarian News Agency, created in 1995, provides mass media
with information about disturbing situations of marginalisation,
and about solidarity initiatives taken by ordinary citizens to revert
such situations. The goal of the initiative is to communicate and
generate interest, initiatives and opportunities for solidarity.
The credibility of the Agency with the media is based on the work,
transparency and trustworthiness of Red Solidaria, a network organisation
of volunteers who guide and create bridges between those in need
and those willing to help, using the telephone. It is funded by
contributions from companies and foundations.
The Agency systematically maintains daily contact with journalists,
producers and media executives, social leaders and other individuals.
Initial success was registered 1997 and again in 1998 when the largest
national newspapers started "solidarity ads" (ads about
particular needs and the services offered) and regular weekly "solidarity
supplements". A popular national TV program included a 10-minute
slot on social entrepreneurship and others followed suit, with campaigns
to generate participation. The guiding principles are:
To approach the media with cases that are newsworthy;
Ascertain that media exposure will not add to people's suffering;
To rely on a solid organizational background;
To develop a clear identity as a news agency, nationally and internationally
credible and independent;
To avoid the "solidarity ghetto", focusing on mass media,
rather than specialist media.
Since the establishment of Red Solidaria
275,000 phone calls and e-mails have been received, half reporting
needs, and half seeking to collaborate;
An active relationship is maintained with 350 NGO's around the country;
17,000 cancer and HIV-Aids patients have received medicines and
treatment;
180 food centres, 70 foster children and single mothers, 250 rural
schools have received support;
505 missing children have been found;
A four-month Post-Graduate Program on Solidarity Culture was created
in 1998 (320 professionals have completed it);
80 Community Orientation Volunteers have been trained;
Establishment of 23 national and three international Red Solidaria
coordination centres (Paris, Sao Paulo, New York).
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Cooperation in Literacy Programme, Brazil
Illiteracy is a major social problem in Brazil with 1997 statistics
showing an illiteracy rate of 55% in the 15-year and older age group
in 38 municipalities. The Cooperation in Literacy Programme was
created in 1997 by the Solidarity Community Council, a national
forum for the development of social programmes based on partnerships
between central government, private organisations and civil society.
The programme is managed by a non-governmental organisation, the
Association for Support of Cooperation in Literacy Programme. The
programme's objective is to provide education to the illiterate
at national level targeting regions with the highest illiteracy
rates and adopting a model to meet the specific characteristics
of each region.
The Programme's model is based on modules of semester literacy
training that take place through a simple alliance between the government,
civil society and the academic community. Each semester runs for
6 months whereby one month is dedicated to building the capacity
of literacy trainers who are selected from within the targeted community.
The trainers then embark on education programs during the remaining
five months. The programme targets the youths and adults, giving
priority to the youth to ensure continuity where majority of the
students are from rural districts. Financial resources leveraged
from the National Fund for the Development of Education and the
Brazilian Ministry of Education. Members of the public, the private
sector and individuals also contribute towards the programme.
By the end of 2001, 70% of the municipalities involved had increased
the number of student enrolment by 114%. The programme qualified
over 100,000 literacy trainers. The programme aroused interest in
the academic cycles resulting in the emergence of holistic solutions
that address illiteracy in the country. Specific curricular subjects
and specialisation courses have since been developed and include
theoretical and practical guidelines. Before inception of the programme
less than 10 higher learning institutions focused on education for
youth and adults but the number has since risen to 204. The programme
began in 38 municipalities is currently being implemented in 2,010
municipalities, which corresponds to 45% of the municipalities of
the country. The programme is also being replicated in East Timor,
Sao Tome and Principe, and Mozambique.
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Downtown Urban Renewal Intervention - Third Millennium
Project, Bogota, Colombia
Third Millennium project is located in downtown Bogota and has
a population of 230,000 of whom 2,500 were homeless. This sector
presented the highest indicators of crimes and murders, the lowest
life expectancy, and was identified as a haven for drug pushers
and addicts. Initiated in 1998 by City Mayor Enrique Peñalosa
Londoño the project, promoted by the public sector, is aimed
at complete urban and social recovery of the most deteriorated area
of the city located at Santa Ines neighborhood. The objectives of
the project are to rehabilitate downtown Bogota and promote social
inclusion of citizens, offering a better quality of life to its
inhabitants. The strategies employed included rehabilitation of
drug addicts, housing projects, health, education and social welfare
programmes that were made accessible to all. The project was divided
into phases that outlined different priorities depending on the
needs of the specific community.
This project is the first ever-integrated urban renewal intervention
in Bogota, undertaken by the Government. After consultations with
the community in Santa Ines neighbourhood, the Urban Development
Institute working closely with the Municipal Authorities acquired
land from homeowners and businesses operating in the area who were
temporarily relocated to other neighbourhoods. The structures standing
on the earmarked land were demolished, a section of which was dedicated
to the creation of a Metropolitan Park. The San Victorino sector
was earmarked for redevelopment of a commercial and economic sector,
the "shopping mall with open sky". The Urban Renewal Program
is working with the community (residents, formal and informal merchants,
private organizations), drafting agreements and establishing laws
to guarantee the sustainability of the public space that is being
recovered with joint investments and encouraging new real-estate
developments. The San Bernardo neighbourhood has as its main purpose
the rehabilitation of residential areas. The Urban Renewal Program
promotes housing programs with private investors.
As a result of the initiative, 585 properties have been acquired,
65% demolished and 1.5 Ha opened as a Park to the public. 4.4 Ha
is currently under construction and was opened in April 2002. The
relocated businesses have appropriate infrastructure in an improved
environment. The monetary compensations that were given to residents
has become a policy for the Urban Development Institute when relocating
low income residents during the process of construction. Security
improved markedly with 1,948 drug addicts being treated and rehabilitated.
Education was made available to 1,025 high-risk and socially excluded
individuals such as drug addicts, children, the elderly, and female
headed households among others. 260 people have made a transition
from the informal sector to the formal while 160 families received
title deeds to their rehabilitated houses. Over 5,000 jobs were
created during the various phases of construction and health assistance
provided to over 4,000.
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Functional Community - Resourceful Citizenry, Poznan, Poland
At the beginning of the transformation process in Poland, relations
between the newly established state, its agencies and NGOs were
dogged by lack of trust and co-operation. The country was faced
with a worsening economy, rising unemployment, and reduced social
activity. Following the decentralisation of power in 1999, Poznan
took advantage and started the establishment of a comprehensive
local public policy, which was previously hindered by the lack of
a national public policy programme. The trend had been specific
policy oriented programmes being implemented without taking into
consideration city-wide priorities or ranking tasks. The city of
Poznan embarked on a multi-sectoral co-operation in planning, implementing
and evaluating the city's public policy that identified subsidisation,
solidarity, justice, equal access, partnership, transparency, and
mitigation as opposed to periodic intervention as priority areas.
As the national legal system was gradually adapted to the needs
of the political system, local authorities in Poznan were able to
develop diversified forms of social work and formulate individual
elements of local public policy. These include making social diagnoses,
drawing reports on health and capacities/ability, conducting research
on residents' expectations, and developing methods of co-operation
with NGOs (using the experiences of EU countries and the USA). The
basic concept of a public policy strategy was developed and a 10-point
schedule designed and adopted. Following consultation with various
partners, designated task groups carried out development of related
strategy. The Programme outcomes so far have allowed for drawing
up of an amended budget for the years 2002-2005, which is consistent
with the public policy strategy and goals. This discourages the
misappropriation of resources, facilitates the provision of comprehensive
solutions to community problems and allows for the effective use
of available funds. The areas that have been given priority include
promoting and creating equal opportunities for the youth, compensation
for a lower standard of life resulting from physical or mental incapacity.
Also on the priority list are protection against discrimination,
marginalisation and social exclusion, and provision of relief and
temporary support to the latter group.
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People Friendly City, Baku, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan has a long history being one of the most significant
countries along the historical "Silk Route." The capital
of this ancient country, Baku City, is divided into 11 municipalities
and is considered one of the most ancient oriental cities. Azerbaijan
was subjected to the long-term Armenian aggression with 20% of its
territories being occupied. Alongside with great destruction and
damage worth 22 billion USD, one million people became refugees
as the result of the ethnic cleansing in the neighbouring Armenia.
The situation is further aggravated by Internally Displaced Persons
that have fled from their native lands, due to insecurity caused
by the occupation of Armenians. The country experienced rapid urbanization
due to the inflow of people, mainly from the occupied rural districts.
The city population increased during the years of Armenian occupation
from 2 million in 1998 to 30 million citizens presently. This has
created great housing and environmental problems. Refugees and Internally
Displaced Persons have been placed in official buildings, schools,
kindergartens, recreation zones, some living in unserviced houses,
in special refugee camps, and wagons on railways etc. This has put
a great strain on the environment, human settlements, infrastructure,
and sewerage system overwhelming the local authorities' capacity.
With change of administration, a survey was carried out to identify
the priorities of the residents in the different districts. The
main priorities that were identified were adequate housing, infrastructure,
and improved urban environment. Active reconstruction and renovation
works were organized in 2001 aimed at rehabilitation or construction
of new houses, roads, recreational parks, orphanages and boarding
houses for the elderly. Urban greening was carried out through tree
planting campaigns. New markets areas have been developed to promote
small-scale entrepreneurs engaged in agricultural and handicrafts
creating income generating opportunities for poor people, refugees
and Internally Displaced People.
Numerous cultural events have been organized, such as: The Flowers
Day, National Festival, International holidays and people of different
nationalities and ethnic groups living in Azerbaijan participate.
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SYSLAB - Systems Laboratory for Innovation and Employment,
Norway
Prior to 1991, hundreds of highly qualified people living in Norway
were unemployed due to lack of job openings in the market place
and redundancy following restructuring processes. They were often
without any public or private means of assistance. SYSLAB (Systems
Laboratory of Innovation and Employment) prototyped at the Bergen
High-Technology Center, Norway was initially developed as a "workplace"
for unemployed academics. The Norwegian Ministry of Labour, the
Labour Authority in Hordaland County and the Municipality of Bergen
were consulted and contributed to the mobilization of resources
for 30 candidates who started a small "model company".
Formal training is provided in team building, communication, presentation
techniques, project development and entrepreneurship enhancing the
candidates' knowledge base and competence. The candidates are selected
from a multi-disciplinary, multi-racial and gender balanced background
- including emigrants and refugees. They are given tasks to be executed
within the shortest time possible earning themselves work experience.
Meetings are arranged with company managers within the region, initiating
contact and forming relationships and in many cases, interviews
being carried out.
Since its inception in 1992, 400 projects have been initiated and
91% of the candidates in Norway obtained permanent employment within
4 months. In 1996, SYSLAB was licensed to CESI in France, in 1998
to SIF, Sweden, and UNDP/MRES in Moscow Oblast. Currently, preparations
are made for establishing SYSLAB in Lithuania. More than 1,500 people
have participated in SYSLABs throughout Europe. Of these more than
80 % have obtained permanent jobs within a 6-month period at SYSLAB.
SYSLAB candidates have to date started 100 new businesses.
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IGLOO (Global Integration through Housing and Jobs), Brussels,
Belgium
A large proportion of the population residing in the European Union
is faced with unemployment, inadequate housing and lack of access
to urban services such as health care. This was the case in Brussels
where social housing providers were faced with difficulties in providing
sustainable housing with a large section the populace lacking financial
resources, skills and employment opportunities. There was a need
to find partners to work with them on issues such as debt mediation,
training, job search and social support. The need for multidimensional
and simultaneous responses to the problems: lack of adequate housing,
employment, skills training, health and social support prompted
the establishment of IGLOO (Global Integration through Housing and
Jobs).
The objective of IGLOO is to encourage concerted action between
the relevant bodies for the adoption of efficient institutional
and legislative solutions at regional, national and European levels,
which are both economically viable and socially productive. The
main strategy was to integrate housing provision, social support
services, training and employment. IGLOO projects dovetail with
local employment initiatives in partnership with local authorities
who want to use house renovation and building contracts as an opportunity
to generate local jobs and curtail on social exclusion, homelessness
and substandard housing conditions. This is done by including a
'social clause' in the contract conditions of companies being awarded
public procurement contracts. The basic principle is that contractors
are required to hire local labour to carry out the contract works.
Social support and training are provided for the long-term unemployed.
The practice has been replicated in many cities around the world
including Catalonia, the U.K., Madrid, and Sainte Marguerite-sur-Duclair
creating jobs for many and providing shelter for those previously
homeless. It is now a widely accepted fact that with a permanent
residence/secure tenancy, most residents find it easier to seek
employment with the assistance of the social support programmes.
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ufaFabrik : International Centre for Culture & Ecology
Berlin, Germany
Germany has a population of 82.5 million (UN, 2003) with
a GNI per capita: US $22,740 (World Bank, 2002). In 1978 a 6-week
environmental festival organized by ufaFabrik founders inspired
the Fabrik group to find a place to demonstrate their ideas. In
1979 the intergenerational community of people and projects moved
into the abandoned studio grounds of the former Ufa-Film Company
in West Berlin, to begin working with partners and the City on the
conversion of this area.
ufaFabrik centre started immediately with sustainable community
development where a broad range of initiatives are carried out,
ranging from capacity building, training of co-operative, jobs creation,
gender inclusion, youth and single young mothers, immigrants, unemployed,
disadvantaged people, environmental concern etc. ufaFabrik has also
became an international centre for arts & culture, entertainments
which involving and inspiring many thousands of people each year.
Eco-project initiatives include: cogeneration &
renewable energy production, substantial solar & wind energy
systems, local re-use of rainwater, the greening and ecological
renewal of buildings, and other environmental practices. Eco-technologies
are explained to the public through an eco-exhibition, information
panels, and regular tours, workshops, seminars and conferences.
Through the ufaFabrik, a greater understanding
for self-help projects has evolved. Many ufaFabrik projects have
served as pioneers and helped to open up new possibilities and creativities
among people and communities, both locally and internationally.
Job creation and training programs have been tested and shared with
partners and the public. Many of the ufaFabrik´s environmental technologies
have been mainstreamed since their experimental implementation at
the ufaFabrik (co-generation, solar energy, rainwater use, roof-greening,
etc).
UfaFabrik people and organisations have evolved
as complements to local institutions, bringing creativity and sensitivity
to social, cultural, and ecological problems and issues, and strengthening
local capacities. The ufaFabrik has helped tens of thousands of
people over the decades to see the possibilities for non-violence
and personal action, for self-help projects, and for participatory
culture and ecology.
The ufaFabrik practices gender and social equality,
offering space and assistance to all social groups and classes.
The ufaFabrik is known as a leading center for ecological projects,
including everything from solar and wind energy to the re-use of
rain and wastewater, to ecological renovation and the greening of
buildings and roofs.
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