The meeting summarising the “Socially Active in Bolesławiec County 2008–2013” project took place on 17 December in the conference room of the Bolesławiec County Office. Participants included, among others, Deputy Starost Stanisław Chwojnicki, member of the County Board Dariusz Kwaśniewski, Director of the Poviat Labour Office Ewa Hryciów, Head of the Poviat Family Support Centre Danuta Marecka, Head of the Social Affairs and Health Department of the County Office Barbara Kostyra, County Councillor Józef Kata from the Health and Social Welfare Committee, and Maria Szydłak, the County treasurer.
The project participants were unemployed people of working age who received social assistance. In 2013, 43 people received support, including 35 people with disabilities and 8 young people leaving foster care.
The support covers the financing of:
- courses and training enabling participants to acquire or improve professional skills and competences
- training in spatial orientation and independent mobility for a blind person using a white cane together with navigation
- costs related to completing post-secondary education, including reimbursement of travel costs to school classes and boarding-school fees
- vocational guidance sessions
- individual psychological counselling
- social competence and skills training
- the organisation and running of a self-help group
- rehabilitation stays in the part not covered by funding from PFRON
- rehabilitation sessions and physical exercises improving psychomotor abilities.
The total value of the project in 2013 was PLN 420,000. EU funding amounted to PLN 357,000, while the own contribution of Bolesławiec County was PLN 63,000.
“The main objective of this project was for its participants to improve their social functioning,” said Danuta Marecka. “It is not easy for people with disabilities to find their place in the labour market. Thanks to their participation in this project, they now have a foundation and can function independently,” added Stanisław Chwojnicki.
“It was a life-changing opportunity for me; thanks to this project, I got back on my feet,” said Helena Lupa. Anna Ferlewicz took an English course that will help her use project software. “This initiative gave me confidence,” says Bogdan Bysiec, who obtained qualifications as a backhoe loader operator. “I am most pleased that I was able to benefit from rehabilitation. I have an injured shoulder and, under the National Health Fund, I would have had to wait for rehabilitation until 2015.”
(information: Bolesławiec County/ii)