The European Union and the Swiss Government will support 24 new partner projects of the civil society organisations and local self-governments with 320.100 euros through the development programme the European PROGRES. The projects are primarily aimed at contributing to the economic empowerment and increase of employability among the vulnerable groups within the population at the South East and South West of the country, as well as to the improvement of their social inclusivity.
As a part of the second round of calls by the Fond For Citizens’ Participation, launched in March this year, 48 applications have been submitted and the best projects approved for financing would be realised in 20 municipalities involved in the programme. Partner organisations have secured joint financing worth 44.300 euros.
“The projects by the Fond For Citizens’ Participation show the most the European character of the European PROGRES programme because they incite a partnership between local self-governments and non-governmental organisations, which make the basics of good governance. The citizens themselves, with their knowledge and energy, can help their municipality recognise the needs and together solve the problems that exist within a community,” said Ana Nedeljković, manager for the Good Governance and Social Inclusion in the European PROGRES. Ana Nedeljković added that, through such projects, Europe was getting closer to the citizens of Serbia, as they concretely contribute to the changes in people’s everyday life.
“Through these new projects, we continue our joint work on economic empowerment of vulnerable and marginalised groups, launch employment measures through establishing a new social enterprise, and we will work towards advancement of equal approach to health care services and welfare protection for our most vulnerable citizens by introducing innovative methods like, for example, neuro-feedback therapy. We will also promote inter-cultural cooperation between young people and work on improving procedures for financing of the civil society sector from local budgets,” said Biljana Kerić, Social Inclusion Programme associate.
She stressed good results made through 19 projects financed with 400,000 euros within the first call by the Fond For Citizens’ Participation, saying that two social enterprises have been founded in Lebane and Bosilegrad, while more than 30 women from hard-to-employ categories got a full-time jobs, and 23 temporary jobs for persons with disabilities have been enabled, with a possibility of their further engagement. The projects have contributed to the economic empowerment of 30 of the most vulnerable families from rural areas who launched a honey and vegetables production.
“With the support of the European Union and the Government of Switzerland, we have opened the first social enterprise in Jablanicki district, thus enabling full-time employment for five women from vulnerable categories who are especially endangered at the labour market,” said Slobodanka Pavlović, chairwoman of the Managing Board of the Women Association “Ruža”, which in partnership with Lebane municipality, has successfully realised a project supported in the first call. “Women from Lebane prepare food stored for winter, make income for themselves and their families, they have gained self-confidence and by working together, we have contributed to solving problems related to gender equality, unemployment and discrimination,” Slobodanka Pavlović concluded.
A list of approved projects is availabe at European Progres website: http://www.europeanprogres.org/konten/sr/491/
The European Union and the Government of Switzerland support the activities of the European PROGRES, a programme which contributes to a sustainable development in Southern and South Western Serbia, with a total of 24.46 million euros. The programme is aimed at strengthening local governance, creating more favourable environment for infrastructure and economic development, as well as improving implementation of policies of social inclusion domain. The activities on the ground are implementedby the The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
Participating municipalities are – Novi Pazar, Ivanjica, Nova Varoš, Priboj, Prijepolje, Raška, Sjenica and Tutin in South West Serbia, as well as Prokuplje, Blace, Žitorađa, Kuršumlija, Leskovac, Bojnik, Vlasotince, Lebane, Medveđa, Crna Trava, Vranje, Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Vladičin Han, Preševo, Surdulica, Trgovište, Brus, Aleksinac, Gadžin Han, Doljevac, Merošina, Svrljig, Babušnica, Bela Palanka and Knjaževac in the South East of the country.
