The aim of the project is to improve accessibility and efficiency of home care and day care social services in Pakruojis (Lithuania) and Bauska (Latvia) municipalities for lonely elders, people with disabilities, families at social risk and children being raised in those families.
The main idea of the project is to empower people of different generations to help each other on voluntary basis. People in need – elder and disabled who can’t look after themselves and are alone need care and communication, children from families of social risk need to appreciate, cared for, spend time meaningfully and see a good example. People caregivers – elders who are still active and capable need feeling of being needed, possibility to realize their potential, also schoolchildren and students of social faculties from regional universities, who need to collect hours of social work, however are not always informed about the possibility to volunteer in social care centres or, in most cases, lack skills and knowledge to offer their assistance. The idea of the project meets the need of all participating, connecting the different generations for social inclusion: during the project implementation 32 volunteers from Lithuania and Latvia (16 elders, 16 youth) will participate in joint trainings and study visits to social services providers and NGO’s having volunteers. Gained knowledge will be used organizing social inclusion measures together with social services providers for target group persons: lonely elders, people with disabilities, families at social risk and children being raised in those families – three social inclusion measures are foreseen:
- summer schools (camps) (lectures with psychologists, activities for learning stress management, emotional health, healthy life style etc.);
- socio-cultural events (celebrations of Family, Grandparents Day, joint cultural event of dances, songs and games);
- activities for physical activity, mind training, emotional and mental health improvement (in Pakruojis: Nordic walking, open air workouts, outdoor table games, dance lessons; in Iecava: intellectual and fitness afternoons “YOUTH against WISDOM”, using purchased intellectual outdoor games and interactive floor).
In order to ensure efficiency of social services 16 Latvian and Lithuanian specialists will improve their qualification by participating in 4 joint seminars. During the seminars specialists will learn how to evaluate and create psychological security, attract volunteers to the social work, also will learn about positive communication, intergenerational conflicts and ways to cope with it. Efficiency of social services will also be improved by improving conditions of hard work for social workers working in three social services providers established by the partners: homecare and day care services in Iecava (Iecava County Social service) and Pakruojis district (Pakruojis non-stationary services center and Klovainiai center of young people with mental disabilities). During the project implementation will be purchased two specialised vehicles for transportation for elders, disabled and for visiting persons who needs social care services. To focus on social work and be able to visit more clients will be purchased 19 electric bikes and 39 tablet computers for social workers for customers’ survey at their place of residence instead of filling paper documents. Quality and variety of social services for elders, disabled, families at social risk and children being raised in those families will be improved due to installing of sensory room and interactive floor in Klovainiai center of young people with mental disabilities, purchasing four big size outdoor intellectual games, security buttons service will be installed in Iecava County Social service, outdoor leisure infrastructure (concrete chess, card, tennis, table football tables) will be installed in public spaces at Pakruojis non-stationary services center available for all residents of Pakruojis and surroundings.
It is planned that 580 socially vulnerable people will participate in the project activities and benefit from more accessible, efficient social inclusion measures and improved social services.
Cross border approach taken will foster synergy between partners on both sides of the border, which creates perfect conditions for experience sharing and learning, development of new services – Pakruojis District Municipality has better developed social services, thus transfer their best practice to project partner Bauska Municipality, while in the meantime project partner has better developed volunteering practice and both of them will work on creating social services based on volunteering.
