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Laps and Raps (Local Action Plans/ Regional Action Plans)
Project Partners
City of Venice
Short presentation of the organisation:
The City of Venice, within its own functions exercises administrative actions and manages the services, the activities and the procedures concerning: culture, social welfare, sport, tourism, environment, civil protection, commerce, local rates, public and private building, education.
It promotes, according to the principles of democracy, participation, transparency, solidarity and programming; it promotes sustainable development and the quality of life of its citizens, acting as a guarantor of person, family, pluralism, pacific cohabitation and differences of sex, race, language and religion values.
Through the twinning relationships with other national and international municipalities, it also gives great relevance to the promotion of peace policies and co-operation for the economic, social and democratic development.
The Economic Development and European Policies Directorate promotes local economic development, programs re-qualification intervention in specific areas of the city and manages all European projects and international relations of the City of Venice with foreign partners, Cities and Bodies.
The Directorate is divided in three main areas of action:
- Economic Development: promotes, coordinates and manages projects funded by national instruments for economic local development
- Competitiveness and Employment: promotes, coordinates and manages projects funded by European instruments for local development
- Territorial Cooperation: promotes, coordinates and manages transnational projects funded by European Union, participate in international and European network activities, disseminate information about EU activities, organise events related to projects and / or strategic themes of the City policy.
The two last areas offer technical support to the departments of the City in planning and managing European projects and in creating local and international partnerships, manage the relations with the European Commission and promote information related to EU opportunities for funding. The Directorate has a wide experience in managing EU funded projects and has a young, well-trained and highly skilled multilingual and multidisciplinary staff.
Other Areas of interest:
The City of Venice acts at European level (in agreement with Regional and central governments when required) by promoting initiatives and projects in priority areas for the growth of our Administration and of our local community:
- urban regeneration
- social policies
- culture and intercultural dialogue
- human rights
- environment and local sustainable development
The dialogue with the European Commission and the European Parliament enables our Administration and our City to build up and foster daily relations of cooperation with other cities both in and outside Europe, learning from the experience of others and firmly strengthening the process of building a united, plural and democratic Europe. From this point of view particular importance is attached to contacts with cities in South-Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia, to which Venice is naturally and historically close.
The City of Venice also acts as an active partner in decentralised cooperation programmes, taking part in European Union and United Nations schemes in support of human development (founded on the growth of the civil, political, social and economic rights of women and men) and the sustainable development of the world's local communities in developing countries.
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Qec-ERAN
Name of Organisation: |
QeC-European Regeneration Areas Network
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Representative: |
Haroon Saad, Director |
Contact details:
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Rue Vieux Marché aux Grains 48, B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)2 524 45 45,
Fax: +32 (0)2 524 44 31,
E-mail: info@qec.skynet.be
Website: www.qec-eran.org
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Description of on-going projects relevant to the Laps/Raps project partnership:
QeC-ERAN is involved in a number of initiatives that relate to the issue of social inclusion:
- Gender Equality: Within the EU Gender Equality Framework the network has developed a project that focuses on the identification and development of good practise of the social and economic needs of women in area's of high need.
- Social Exclusion: Within the Urbact programme Qec- ERAN has developed and now provides the technical and professional input in relation to the Urban Diversity and Inclusion Exchange (UDIEX)
- Regeneration: Within the Interreg IIIC programme Qec-ERAN has developed with other partners a project called IMAGE . This focuses on an exchange of experience in relation to local strategies which aim to "turn around" areas that are clusters of "negativity" in terms of human, social and environmental capital
- Youth Development: Within the Ecos-Ouverture programme the network has developed and co-ordinated a project focussing on the issue of youth unemployment and in particular the transition from school to work for young people with low or no qualifications.
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Association for the Development of West Athens
Background
The nine municipalities of West Athens, reckoning the fact that the rapid changes occurring nowadays lead to the formation of new conditions, relations and concepts, decided to create ASDA the Association for the Development of West Athens, in 1989.During the past 16 years, ASDA has been in constant co-operation with numerous partners, both European and national, in our dynamic involvement process of West Athens.
ASDA is governed by the 47-member Administrative Council, all of them elected by the Municipal Councils of the 9 Municipalities of West Athens. The Administrative council is chaired by a 5-member Executive Committee.
ASDA has been brought into existence by the initiative of ten municipalities of the West region of Athens. Ever since ASDA has been focusing on issues of social integration, urban planning reformation elaborating studies and projects towards this direction.
Description of on-going projects relevant to the Laps/Raps project partnership:
The ASDA European projects office has taken full advantage of every given opportunity for fighting social exclusion and the marginalization of a significant part of the area population whose origin, gender, social conditions and special needs make their smooth integration into society difficult. Such opportunities are: The European Social Fund programmes, the European Initiatives HORIZON/IRIDE, INTEGRA/PREPATRE and the Social Exclusion operational programs such as ESTIA. (URBACT ECO FIN NET, URBACT UDIEX ALEP, URBACT CITIZ@MOVE EUROPE DIRECT)
Hundreds of West Athens citizens threatened with social exclusion (Repatriated Greeks, unemployed women, gypsies, juvenile delinquents, single parents etc) have either been trained, have obtained professional expertise or have been integrated into the labour market. At the same time, support structures were created, continuing to provide socio - psychological support and counselling, registering and monitoring the local market needs, counselling on how to find job and legal support in matters that involve social inclusion.
ASDA has implemented 22 training programs for unemployed or threatened by unemployment young people, co-financed by the European Union. The aim of the majority of those programmes was to familiarize young people with new technologies. 834 young men and women have been trained in total. The total expenditure was almost 1.5 million Euros.
West Athens Territorial Employment Pact
This is the result of a long-term strategy and relies on the co-operation between all the actors involved (ASDA, West Athens municipalities, Chamber of Commerce, Athens Labour Center) to promote employment. Such a strategy includes:
- Funding for the creation of new business by simplifying the processes for the provision of licenses and funding access. 1.498 new businesses were established in 1999-2000
- Funding of the enterprises that employed unemployed people (20 euros / per day / per employee). 2.585 enterprises were funded in 1999-2000
- Creation of new jobs in the social field for actions such as Supplementary support for children, elderly and disabled people, access to health and care services. 374 were trained in total. 151 of them were employed
Fighting against women's unemployment
Under the framework of the European Initiative "NOW", ASDA in close collaboration with the West Athens municipalities, has established the " New Opportunities Support Center for Women in West Athens (KNEYGDA)".
It's aim was to create a permanent infrastructure in local level, for the promotion of employment and vocational training of West Athens women.
The European Initiative AVANZA 1998 - 2000 has been successor of NOW. It constitutes an integrated intervention for women's employment in West Athens, reinforcing women's entrepreneurship through the exploitation of the legal, social economic environment for designing and innovative women's enterprises.
Other Areas of interest: |
ASDA European projects office has taken full advantage of every given opportunity for fighting social exclusion and the marginalization of a significant part of the area population whose origin, gender, social conditions and special needs hinder their smooth integration to the society.
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Fondazione G. Brodolini
Name of Organisation: |
FONDAZIONE GIACOMO BRODOLINI
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Representative: |
ENZO BARTOCCI (LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE)
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Contact details:
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Viale di Villa Massimo 21
00161 Roma
TEL: + 39 (0)6 44249625; 44254639
FAX: + 39(0)6 44249565
E MAIL: PROGETTI@FONDAZIONEBRODOLINI.IT
WEBSITE: www.fondazionebrodolini.it
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Background
The Giacomo Brodolini Foundation was established in April 1971 in memory of the ex-minister of Labour, Giacomo Brodolini, responsible for approving the Statute of Workers, still a reference point for the protection of workers rights in Italy.
The Foundation works mainly in the field of labour related research and cultural promotion given that jobs are essential for achieving social inclusion, encouraging integration, the participation of individuals in current events and contributing to the growth and enhancement of the dignity of men and women.
In line with these objectives the Foundation's expertise lies in the areas of employment, job protection and social insurance, in which it works with the most qualified experts in the field, as well as trade unionists and industry representatives, following a rigorous methodological and interdisciplinary approach.
The Foundation is based in Rome and Milan. This enables the Foundation to share in the cultural life of two of Italy's most interesting cultural places and readily to take in the formation of new cultural and scientific trends.
The Foundation's Board of Directors is composed by leading professionals from Italian Universities, trade unions and companies. Among its members there are union representatives from Italy's three national trade unions ( CGIL, CISL and UIL), representatives from the ACLIs (Italian Workers' Catholic Associations), and from the main Italian Universities. |
Description of on-going projects relevant to the current project partnership:
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Dynamo - Dynamics of national employment models (2004 - 2006 )
Funded by European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
The project, financed by the 6th Framework Programme, has two main objectives:
- Study of European socio-economic development models;
- Analysis of possibilities to reconcile the increase in economic competitiveness and innovation with the objectives of social cohesion.
The great influence of employment trends in Europe on competition and social cohesion objectives is highlighted by the growing importance of human resources and the value attributed to greater employment opportunities.
Working group G on open learning environment, active citizenship, social inclusion and equal opportunities (2003 - 2004)
Funded by European Commission, DG Education and Culture Lifelong Learning Policy Development Unit.
Consultancy and technical assistance for European Commission social policies on learning environment, active citizenship, social inclusion and equal opportunities.
Galca - Gender analyses and long term care assistance (2002 - 2004)
Funded by European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
An important aspect in reconciling professional and personal life is care for the elderly. Women play a key role in both unpaid family care as well as paid care work. The project aimed at identifying the long-term care services available on the basis of the interdependence between financing and care work offer. The project thus assessed the basic structure of the long-term care models that need to be adopted. At the same time the project provided an inventory of good practices, evaluating the employment potentiality of each option.
ALE - Acting Locally for Employment (2000)
Funded by European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
The project aimed at analysing how companies (and company associations) encouraged employment by means of partnerships with local authorities.
Prospects for a lifelong learning system: current offer, changes required and efficient evaluation method for policies aimed at the adult and elderly population (2005-2006), in partnership with SPI
The aim of the project is to provide a quantitative and qualitative description of the training offer directed at adult and elderly persons, evaluating its objectives, resources and outcomes. The research will investigate how the training system contributes to supporting not only employability but also inclusion, social cohesion and active citizenship, through the involvement of persons in the labour market at risk from social marginalisation. To this end, the level of involvement of the weakest classes in the training system will be investigated: the long term unemployed, women, the disabled, immigrants, low level qualified persons or persons in low level qualified jobs. The research will be carried out on a national basis and will be compared with similar studies carried out at European level.
Local Welfare Models (2003), in partnership with SPI
The aim of this research was the definition of potential local welfare models that could guarantee the self sufficiency of elderly persons, in order to respond to the growing interest over the last few years of Italian Regions and other local authorities for measures to promote a wider benefit system for the non self sufficient elderly. In the identification of local welfare models the research has also looked at the difficulties in reforming this area, which requires greater resources in a period in which the Italian system is in crisis in terms of international competitiveness.
Illegal Work Of Carers for elderly people in Italy and Europe: Practice and Policy (2002) , in partnership with SPI - CGIL
The research is devoted to the work of paid carers offering assistance at home to non-self sufficient elderly people. This phenomenon raises several questions and poses complicated problems for those who are involved.
Assistance to elderly people in Italy and in Europe: towards building-up a social market for services (2001 ), in partnership with SPI - CGIL
The research is based on the need for: a) in-depth knowledge of financial and organizational criteria used in current European innovative measures; b) a knowledge of their impact both on welfare expenditure and on the needs of the elderly people who benefited from them; c) policy and programming indications for Italy based on the analysis of the current situation and of existing experimentation.
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Other Areas of interest: |
Over the last thirty years the Foundation dealt mainly with work-related matters in the following areas: work economics and sociology; labour law; industrial relations; history of trade unions and labour movement; history of the welfare state as social protection of workers and the weakest elements of our society.
The Foundation dealt with all the issues of the debate grown within the socio-economic research (especially on labour market). Such issues are a consequence of the planning policy and of the studies on flexibility and on atypical job. Due to the changing of Italian and European society, the Foundation dealt particularly with "social exclusion", inclusion, and social policy. The Foundation thinks that the struggle against social exclusion and poverty is one of the most important elements for economic and employment development. Such issues are related to the more general issue of rights, and to that of labour rights in particular.
With regard to Italian labour law, the Foundation carries out studies and research for a comment upon the workers' statute. All this is the most important political legacy Giacomo Brodolini handed on to us. In order to safeguard its meaning, it must be adjusted to the changing reality of the difficult passage to a post-industrial society requiring more mobility and flexibility along with a new, different system for subordinate job.
With regard to the system of industrial relations, the Foundation's research joined the trends in economic and productive changes to the trends in labour relations in order to understand how the change works and to point out the trends in this crucial field.
From a historical as well as geographical point of view, scientific production mainly focused on the development of the labour movement and on the trade union organization as expression of the working class economic and professional concerns. Studies aimed at focusing on the trade union's relations with politics and on the relationship between the trade union's activities and the activities of the working class's political parties within industrial society.
The Brodolini Foundation promotes a large number of projects on the above mentioned themes funded by the European Commission (DG Employment and Social Affairs, DG Research, DG Education), which are carried out in partnership with universities, research centres, NGOs, public entities and local bodies from most EU countries.
The Brodolini Foundation cooperates with the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) and is part of the international research networks RLDWL, Regional and Local Development of Work and Labour and
IWPLMS, International Working Party on Labour Market Segmentation.
From 2000 the Brodolini Foundation provides technical assistance to the European Commission DG Employment and Social Affairs regarding the evaluation of the Italian Employment NAP, as Italian member of the Sysdem network of the European Employment Observatory (EEO).
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Comune di Crotone
Short presentation of the organisation:
Competencies : Social Policy
Policy priorities: this department promotes initiatives to help the following target group: minors, over65s, financial disadvantaged, disabled and to create better conditions in slums.
Policy team: 2 Sociologists-1 Psycologist-2 Social workers-2 Administrative staff.
Activities: social secretariat-planning and managing initiatives. This office works as a supporter to the local government body.
Provisional report ( year 2005:Social Service-Nursery- Sport- Tourism and Entertainment.
Social Service
The local authority is very interested in improving life conditions of the citizens through different and specific initiatives, aimed to the preventions of uneasy situations by means of ministerial or regional financing or by authority's own.
Minors
The project "Social Aggregation Centre" is on-going. It was organized within the Three years Plan by the Social Service based on L. 285/97( Turco law)-financial period 2000- aimed towards childhood and adolescence.
The activities are:
toy library, photos, theatre, ceramic, music, IT laboratories, school support. The toy library and the school support activities are managed in the Don Milani School by 9 experienced operators through a collaboration contracts between the Authority and the operators. Again, there are some other activities going on:
a) Interventions towards minors with the purpose to bring them back to their origin families;
b) Interventions towards the minors involved in dangerous situations to help them by means of different courses (IT, jewel making, etc.);
c) Institution of an aggregation centre for disabled people.
Moreover, to avoid conditions for marginalisation, some interventions of socialization in particular districts of the town, are on-going.
Disabled
The great number of disabled persons resulted in the launching of a series of activities to create aggregation conditions such as IT, Music, Theatre, Art:
The course is developing in via C. Alvaro. Besides, it is necessary to promote actions towards disabled between 3-21 (funds from 162/98 L.), 6-64 (funds 104/92 L.) It is foreseen, also, a minibus for the transport of the disabled. At the end, the local Authority has foreseen an assistance service at home.
Drugs
We are going to start a project financed by Region ( L. 45/99).
Over 65s
It is foreseen (L. 328/2000):
- Assistance at home;
- improvement of the meeting centres;
- cultural activities involving local associations ;
- accommodation in healthy places for 100 over 65s in financial disadvantage
- assistance for bedridden patients
- Economic assistance and first aid
It is foreseen:
Special contribution for unemployed and financial disadvantaged people because there are a lot in the town.
Soup kitchen (Caritas Diocesana is involved in)
Improvement of placing minors in foster care (consequently it is necessary to appoint another social worker.) The action should be paid by Regional Funds.
Adoption
Creation of a specific office which takes care of national and international adoptions
Non- EU:
To aid the process of integration it's necessary to foresee: social integration and economic assistance.
This authority is going on with the project "Hotel Africa" that has got the aim to give hospitality to persons that are regular, but without means to live.
To make better the specified activities it is necessary to improve the staff and support them with a qualified technicians in the different sectors.
This department is organized a Seminar to divulgate the results of the project called "Sport ,diabete e terza età" activate in collaboration with ASL n°5 of Crotone.
Description of on-going projects relevant to the current project partnership: |
1) Aggregation social Centre n°1:
a) School support
b) toy library
2) Training course for disadvantaged minors and micro-criminality
Objectives and finalities: to promote better life conditions from the different points of views: economic- social etc. with particular attention to people aged between the childhood and adolescence.
3) Deinstitutionalisation
This action is for the families that have not the means to keep their children.
4) Assistance at home for over 65s and disabled
Other Areas of interest:
The most important area of interest is the promotion of opportunities to live better and better through:
1) Urban and social qualification
2) National and international
3) Social tourism
4) Immigration
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Instituto da Segurança Social
Name of Organisation |
Instituto da Segurança Social, I.P - ISS, I.P
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Representative |
Edmundo Martinho
Institut of Social Security - President
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Contact details
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Rua Rosa Araujo,
n° 43
1250-194 LISBOA
Portugal
Tel. (+ 351) 213 102 000
Fax. (+ 351) 213 102 090
Email. Edmundo.Martinho@seg-social.pt
Website: www.seg-social.pt
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Background
The Instituto da Segurança Social (ISS) is the public institution of the Ministry of Social Security, Family and Child responsible for the definition and co-ordination of social and social development policies and practices.
The ISS has as its mission to manage all policies of social development, tackling poverty and social exclusion, as well as to support partnerships. The ISS promotes and manages the development of programs directed towards children and young people, family and community and old age people. It implements programmes to fight poverty and social exclusion and the Social Insertion Income (Minimum Income) as well as other projects related to social development.
The ISS. is also responsible for the co-ordination and evaluation of the NAPincl process.
Description of on-going projects relevant to the Laps/Raps project partnership
NAPInc - Participation Project on Local Level
The aim of the project was fostering the participation at local level. The strategic steps towards local level were:
a) presentation and discussion of the NAPInc 2003- 2005 in 9 public sessions across the country with local organizations in partnership with the Portuguese EAPN;
b) development of 7 local workshops, organised to debate the NAPs, with the main objective to learn from each others experience and to produce and implement integrated social inclusion measures. Around 120 people from local social networks participated;
c) Organization of a National Seminar, which was attended by 400 participants from the national and local level.
Social Network Programme
The Social Network Programme is governed by the Council of Ministers (CMR) Resolution no. 197/97 and forms part of Portugal's 'active social policies', based on involvement and acceptance of responsibility by individuals and society as a whole in the fight against social exclusion.
The said CMR defines the social network as "a forum for co-ordination and combination of efforts, based on optional membership by local authorities, public bodies and NGOs which wish to take part". The aim of the programme is to combat poverty and social exclusion through development of partnership structures, in which the local authorities play a central role, and promotion of local social development, through the introduction of joint strategic planning dynamics.
The underlying principles are:
- Integration - implying the convergence of economic and social measures; negotiation between individuals, social groups and society; growth in joint local development projects and combination of resources.
- Co-ordination - refers to complementarity, combined efforts and building partnerships around common objectives.
- Subsidiarity - based on proximity to the population and their respective problems and to local answers, as a collective responsibility, at local. regional and national level.
- Innovation - working towards multi-disciplinary, inter-institutional and non-bureaucratic solutions.
- Participation - refers to active involvement, by both local actors and population, in particular by the disadvantaged, in actions to be undertaken in the context of the programme.
The objectives are: (i) implementation of joint planning processes on the basis of reviewable social diagnoses; (ii) Promotion of co-ordinated intervention in municipalities and parishes; (iii) to look for solutions to problems/needs of families and persons in situations of poverty and social exclusion; (iv) promotion of adequate coverage in terms of services and equipment in the respective municipalities; (v) promotion and dissemination of knowledge on the situation in municipalities.
The methodology developed is as follows: each of the municipalities (local levels) should undertake/set up the following: Starter Unit; mobilisation actions with a view to setting up the Local Social Work Council (CLAS); creation of the Local Social Work Council; Procedural Rules; Plan of Work; Preliminary Social Needs Analysis; Social Development Plan; Action Plan; Information System; preparatory work for the Parish Welfare Boards (CSF) or Inter-Parish Welfare Boards (CSIF) and creation of the CSF or CSIF. The CLAS (at municipal level) and the CSF (at parish level) are partnership structures, and serve as platforms for planning and co-ordinating social intervention, in the context of which a model needs to be found for functional co-ordination with other partnerships and Programmes.
Mainstreaming Social Inclusion
The Mainstreaming Social Inclusion Project (1) explores how social inclusion might be brought into a central role in the formation of political and administrative policies in EU Member States. The main objective of this project is to add to the understanding of how social inclusion can be mainstreamed into policies at a number of different levels and how this can be assessed and evaluated.
There are two products from this project - a book and a website. The book reviews the peer process adopted by the Lisbon European Council, including the co-ordination of national social inclusion policies and the national action plans. In doing this, it explores two key factors that are central to mainstreaming social inclusion: the process of developing policy; the involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the formation of public policy. The book also explores how the mainstreaming of social inclusion might be evaluated and proposes a framework for such evaluation, including possible indicators.
(1) The Mainstreaming Social Inclusion Project is part funded by the European Commission through the EU Transnational Exchange Programme (TEP).
The Evaluation of Mainstreaming Social Inclusion In European Union Member States
This research project (1) will develop an extensive survey of national, regional and local administrations, social partners and civil society organisations, using the evaluation questionnaire, which was developed during the Transnational Exchange Programme project on the Mainstreaming of Social Inclusion. It is proposed that this study will be undertaken by fifteen partner organisations in nine countries, including the present 'MSI five' - Czech Republic; France; Ireland; Norway; and Portugal. Other countries participating are Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Slovak Republic and the UK. Northern Ireland will participate as a region and the European Anti Poverty Network as an NGO partner organisation.
The results of this study will provide a benchmark for the future measurements of mainstreaming social inclusion into the public policies of the Member States.
(1) The Mainstreaming Social Inclusion Project is part funded by the European Commission through the EU Transnational Exchange Programme (TEP).
Promotion of more active policies for the social inclusion of the Roma and Traveller minorities
The "Promotion of more active policies for the social inclusion of the Roma and Traveller minorities" Project (1) responds to the objective included in the European strategy to combat exclusion of acting on behalf of the most vulnerable groups.
This project promotes the creation of a trans-national partnership comprised of partners responsible for the drafting of the Action Plans of four Member States and partners from four NGOs with experience in the development of actions in the field of exclusion affecting the Roma and Traveller minorities in the same countries. It is envisaged that public and private partners from other Member States and Candidate Countries will join the project.
The main objective of this project is to give impetus to inclusion policies focusing on the Roma and Traveller minorities in the coming NAPincl rounds of negotiation (2003-2005). The foreseen activities for this first stage of the project are:
- Identification of the main fields of social exclusion affecting the Roma and Traveller communities in the four partner countries and the elaboration of a report on their situation.
- Analysis of the measures being carried out within the framework of the NAPincl (2001-2003) and the impact and results obtained for the Roma and Traveller minorities.
- Identification of proposals and guidelines for use in approaching the measures focusing on Roma and Travellers in the next NAPincl (2003-2005) addressed to all E.U. Member States
(1) The Mainstreaming Social Inclusion Project is part funded by the European Commission through the EU Transnational Exchange Programme (TEP).
Main areas of interest of the project partner
The main areas of interest of the Institute are:
- Social protection system;
- Social Services and Infrastructures Network;
- Social Inclusion;
- Social Network;
- Social development policies and practices in the scope of poverty and social exclusion; children and young people; people with disabilities; elderly; homeless; immigrants and ethnic minorities; family and community;
- Other areas related to social development.
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Javni Zavod Socio
Background
Javni Zavod (Public Institution) Socio was founded by Celje municipality in October 2002, as an Institute to provide additional services to Celje's social service users. The institute's work is directed at facilitating the social integration of marginalised groups such as drug addicts, the homeless, single mothers etc.
Activities of Javni Zavod Socio are: providing shelter for homeless people, providing a maternal house, setting up the project office "Celje healthy city", offering a safety point for abused children and providing space for the investigation of abused children.
Its main goal is to make an analysis of the current situation and of victim's needs. It provides professional programmes advising victims while they are staying in help centers. It also organises practise exchange with other partner organizations in order to review the forms of supporting programme for non-violent settling of conflicts and to establish self-confidence.
The organisation exists of the following bodies: Council of Institute, Director of Institute and Professional Council. It has ten employees and 3 public workers.
Description of on-going projects relevant to the current project partnership: |
SHELTER FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE:
Javni Zavod offers them residence, a warm meal and professional help. The users of shelter and workers are fighting poverty on a daily basis. The organisation is also active in the fight against alcohol abuse, drugs abuse, mental health discrimination, unemployment, etc.
Other Areas of interest:
Our Institute is also working on the European level. We are taking part in several international conferences where we are exchanging work experiences and where we are developing new partnerships.
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Comune di Roma - Department XIV - local development, training and employment policies
Name of Organisation: |
Comune di Roma
Department XIV - local development, training and employment policies
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Representative: |
Federico Bardanzellu
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Contact details:
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Giuseppe Panebianco
Lungotevere de' Cenci 5 - 00186 - Roma Tel: 0039 (0) 6 67106294,
0039 (0) 3396520488
Fax: 0039 (0) 6 68136407
E-mail: panebianco.urban@tiscali.it
Website: www.comune.roma.it
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Short presentation of the organisation: |
The Political Department in charge for Local Development, Training and Employment Policies, was established by the Municipal Administration deliberation n. 444, on August 9th 2001. On September 15th 2001, the Department received its current name.
The Department manages any kind of activity successfully promoted by the Rome City Council in matter of employment and job counselling, especially concerning integrated projects at a local level.
The employment policies promoted by the XIV Department aim at overcoming the old concept of working "position", with a new concept of "self-employment". In that respect the Municipal Administration implemented integrated actions for the promotion of an active employment strategy. This idea is based on theories assessing that job inclusion and effective quality of employment are among the most important factors, in order to have a local integrated community.
A wider delegated power for Rome as a City is desirable in order to optimize these new actions, in terms of integrated governance of the "metropolitan area". With the new Regional Administration, this objective might be reached, since a new law for Rome is currently being written.
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Description of on-going projects relevant to the current project partnership: |
THE URBAN PROGRAMME
Ufficio Speciale Urban: the office has managed the entire programme, closed up, within December 31th 2001, with 94 % of the expenditures:
PIC Urban 1994/1999, Sottoprogramma Roma: "The City moves the Towers" in Tor Bella Monaca neighbourhood
In 1998 the Department XIV - Local Development, Training and Employment has consolidated experience in European programmes and it is currently involved in several European projects.
The occasion to test an integrated approach based on participation and valorisation of citizens' active role becomes a model which includes the development of the local economy, the ability to attract new operators and investments, the growth of individual competence and know how, the quality of social relationships, the responsibility of different institutional levels.
The URBAN programme was a strong innovation factor, in a context where the policies had focused for years only on urban renewal, providing one of the first occasions to test an integrated approach based on participation. The valorisation of citizens' active role is a key element of the new European strategy. Therefore, the City administration became a catalyst for local development and created new spaces for socialization, increasing the citizens' faith in institutions.
The aim of the project was mainly the creation of new job opportunities for young people, by the support to new firms' creation and self-employment, and the improvement of several facilities by recovering abandoned buildings, ensuring their maintenance and respecting ecological issues.
The support to new firms' creation was our first action for self-employment. Moreover, the existent economic fabric of the area was supported by offering real services to firms, after a previous research on needs.
The issue of employment was addressed by the creation of a Job Centre for the matching between supply and demand, and the organization of 14 training courses, especially preparing young people to use computer, and providing professional counselling.
To improve the situation of the weakest parts of the population, within the Measure 3 "social Services and Security", many new services have been started:
- a day-centre for disabled persons
- a playgroup
- a centre for information, counselling and training on citizens' rights
- a service addressing the problem of academic failure
- a centre for inter-cultural education and animation
- a service for street education
- different programmes for socio-cultural education
Each one of these services was located in recovered buildings. Indeed, 16 renewal projects were carried out, transforming a laundries' building, a railway station, etc.
These renewal projects contributed as well to the creation of cultural centres, sports centres, a large theatre, a centre for elderly persons, a library, and new facilities in the schools, which may be of use for all the inhabitants.
Within the Measure 4 "Infrastructures and Environment", systematic actions for environmental upgrading were implemented to:
- tackle the traffic problems,
- create pedestrian protected routes,
- upgrade a main street of the neighbourhood and lighten it,
- equip the green area of Parco del Celio,
- create new parks and gardens with fountains,
- upgrade a large central square that might become an important social and cultural meeting point,
- purify the water of the Tor Bella Monaca ditch, a natural resource that changed the area into a garden.
In conclusion, 100 000 square meters of green areas were created or upgraded, three squares were planned on about 37 000 square meters, and 2 700 meters of street were upgraded with pedestrian routes, 13 new public spaces were supplied.
The URBAN programme, in Italy, was the first experimental laboratory for integrated policies considering ecological issues, social inclusion, and new citizens' ethics, and this is what made it successful.
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Other Areas of interest: |
The Municipal Observatory of Employment and Work Conditions in Rome
This Observatory should be an instrument for better knowledge of the Job Market, in order to defend the workers' rights and a "better employment", tackling the phenomena of moonlighting and promote a culture of legality.
It focuses on research activities about the roman job market, information on the workers' rights, fighting moonlighting, enquiries and control on illegal cases.
High unemployment rates, proliferation of unstable jobs, moonlighting are the problems we wished to address for a better quality of life. This is the reason why we are building a network with public authorities, associations, NGO, unions and cultural solidarity centres with this new Observatory, that foresees:
- researches on the Immigrants' work market, the Features of women's work, and gathering of the existent information
- the creation of 4 Centres for the Workers' Rights, promoting the participation and grouping of precarious workers
- the creation of offices for legalization of workers offering counselling services to SMEs.
- Inspections in firms with the police services, to check possible breaches in law.
- A permanent board with the unions to agree on joint actions.
ROME CITY COUNCIL JOB COUNSELLING CENTRES
The 23 Centres for Job Counselling, distributed over all the urban territory, are intended to be a motor for the local employment development, especially in the suburbs.
Such centres include :
- a person specialized in information management and reception of the users who specifies their demand,
- a Senior counsellor who helps the user defining his training or professional projects
- two Local Development Operators for employment area and business area.
They have a positive impact on their territory and create effective relationships on the employment issue with the Constituencies, Professional Training institutes, employment services, social services, schools, cooperatives and all connected services targeting specifically disadvantaged populations, the third sector and the integrated public programmes themselves. As for business promotion, counselling services are provided to local firms to encourage them hiring on stage and training contracts, and to the users who wish to create their own activity - firm or cooperative - especially with special funding.
The citizen can get in such centre a complete and weekly updated information on job and training opportunities, he is supported in his applications for the CV writing and all the other necessary procedures, and may receive a professional and training advice aimed at supporting individual choices, a counselling for firm creation .
ROME CITY COUNCIL VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES
Rome Town city has been providing for a long time, 20 years, ten professional Training Centre with an agreement signed with Lazio Region.
A long experience in this sector ha allowed, during the years, to improve services demand for users trying to answer to different requirements, thanks to a dedicated activity within the town and the capability to face situations, and in the meantime specialized professional pursuit where started.
The results gained on the training demand and with the capability to create new professional work, have supported the administration to invest resource to amplify opportunity of orientation, training and work introduction.
The management, originally working as private Department Town Council- Province wads signed, and this allows a public management finalized to the social economical development within territory.
Jobs in jail for Rome
This is an aspect on which we are focussing our attention, with a Service for the promotion of work in and out of jail for prisoners, prisoners who benefit from the day-freedom measure, and former prisoners.
In close cooperation with the Prison's Authorities and the Ministry for Justice, we aim at coordinating the different existent measures for work and training of prisoners, map the support existent services and:
- we defined a favourable score for the Bersani firm-creation projects that plan to hire prisoners, prisoners who benefit from the day-freedom measure, and former prisoners,
- we supplied 10 grants for their professional inclusion in cooperatives and associations, and received 40 demands,
- the Centre for Job Counselling that existed only in the Rebibbia jail is now regularly moving to the 4 other jails of Rome,
- we published a complete guide to employment for prisoners that is distributed to the 3 500 roman prisoners,
- we created a joint commission with the Ministry for Justice to sign an agreement for the promotion of work for prisoners,
- we are bringing training courses in jail, and the first one will start on January 2003,
- we are making the Municipal firms aware of this issue, with positive results.
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Municipality of Thessaloniki
The City of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is the second biggest city in Greece. It is the economical capital of Macedonia and North Greece and it stands in the middle of three continents and two seas and it is the Metropolis of Balkans and the Centre of South-Eastern Europe. Today its number of inhabitants is more than 1.000.000.
Thessaloniki is the second industrial centre in Greece, after Athens. It is the commercial and export centre of Greece, holding an important commercial, industrial and economical role, and having a vital importance as a centre of the negotiation and communication with the rest European Counties.
Thessaloniki's port is the main egression of the Greek exports, and the first port in Balkans' commercial activities too. As one of the main ports of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Thessaloniki is becoming an important navigational centre for South-Eastern Europe.
Greek National Railway provides an almost perfect railway network, which connect the City of Thessaloniki and its port with all big cities in Greece and Europe, as well as with cities in Asia.
Thessaloniki's International Airport, "MACEDONIA airport", is continuously developing and is providing full services, which can satisfy all the passengers from all over the Europe and other continents.
Thessaloniki as an International Centre
The International Exhibition of Thessaloniki and HELEXPO are both an attempt of Greece to establish strong policies in the political ground, and to empower international co-operations regarding commerce, science and culture. Their functions are related to the commercial and social life of the city and other capitals cities too.
Thessaloniki as a Cultural Centre
The last decades a great number of cultural activities have taken place in the city of Thessaloniki. The most important of them has been the election of Thessaloniki as a Cultural Capital of Europe, in the year 1997. During this year a lot of cultural activities had taken place. The city of Thessaloniki had also been benefited from the bushel of some old places and from the creation of new ones.
A great activity was the 3 rd Biennale of Young Artists in the year 1986. During that year a lot of young artists from all over the Mediterranean countries came in Thessaloniki in order to present their artistic proposals (e.g. industrial design, comics, fashion design, etc).
Another important activity was the "Mediterranean Crossroad", which had taken place in Thessaloniki in the year 1991, where an eligible number of cultural activities had been presented.
INTERNATIONAL AND OTHER IMPORTANT ORGANISATIONS IN THESSALONIKI
UNESCO Centre for Women and Peace
This centre is a NGO which concentrates on issues regarding women in South-Eastern European Countries. It is trying to activate policies in order to promote peace, and the development of women issues.
Commercial and Developmental Bank of Black Sea
Commercial and Developmental Bank of Black Sea has been established on 1 June, 1999. Its main aim is to increase the development and to promote the cooperation between the members. It also tries to promote the local commerce, economy, and developmental programmes. The member states are the following: Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldavia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
CEDEFOP
This is the European Centre for the Development of vocational training. It provides information about systems, policies, research, and good practices in the field of vocational training and education.
CEDEFOP has been established in the year 1975, and its main activities are the following:
- Research
- Reports
- Exchange
- Information and Communication
European Service for Reconstruction
The activities of this service have been developing within the framework which European Committee has developed.
MUNICIPALITY OF THESSALONIKI
The City of Thessaloniki has more than 1.000.000 inhabitants. The workforce of the municipality is constituted by 4.276 employees, working in different departments within it.
During the last year the Municipality has been trying to establish structures in order to confront poverty and social exclusion. It has also activated programmes in order to eliminate unemployment, and to promote better policies in the field of employment. Within this framework a number of services for social excluded people have been established and a lot of conferences have taken place, most of them funding by the Municipality itself, and by the Government and European Committee too.
Municipality of Thessaloniki has also been concentrate on the urban development too, activated a number of programmes. Furthermore, it has been trying to promote cultural activities.
In order to promote better policies in the above fields, the Municipality of Thessaloniki has been establishing a number of fraternizations with other cities like the followings:
- Hertford
- Filippoupoli
- Lemesos
- Bolognia
- Colon
- San Francisco
- Tel Aviv
- Toronto
- Brooklin
- Boston, etc.
Thessaloniki is the second biggest city in Greece. The municipality of Thessaloniki has 1.000.000 citizens. It is a local organisation which activities cover all the local needs. It has seven departments, which are responsible for certain sectors. These departments are about: social services, education & training, cultural, environment, economics, international & public relations, and sports.
Previous experience in interregional cooperation and Structural Funds financed operations
INTERREG IIC - UTN
"Urban Technology Network" is a trans-European city co-operation project. It is embraced by the European Union's INTERREG IIC CADSES programme, which is co-financed by the Directorate General Regional Policy, The programme's main objective is to initiate co-operation in the field of partial development to enhance social and economic cohesion and sustainable development in the Central, Adriatic, Danubian and South-Eastern European Space (CADSES). The UTN project is a based on the philosophy of regional and local authorities forming a network in which they join forces for pursuing some shared objectives - aiming at enhancing the environment for developing urban technologies in the networking cities. UTN is a joint initiative of local authorities in Austria, Greece and Italy, which targets to respond to the tremendous backlog demand for urban technologies in the CADSES space. By joining forces and by co-operating on issues related to urban technology, the network partners will be in a stronger position to identify feasible solutions and actions for solving their local problems.
SAVE, R.A.R.E.- Raising Regarding Energy
This is a European city co-operation project. The programme's main objective is to initiate co-operation in the field of partial development to enhance the information and training of youth, and local community in general regarding the energy use. Moreover, it tries to search for new solution in the field of energy and to promote more vital solutions through seminars and pilot programmes.
INTERREG III B - Cities against discrimination
This is a European city co-operation project. The programme's main objective is to initiate co-operation in the field of social discrimination between the Member States and the Accession Countries due to the enlargement.
INTERREG III C - Villes Cinema
This project tries to establish a co-operation between local authorities in order to organise festivals, training programmes, etc. It concentrates on the promotion of cities' cultural hesitate.
INTERREG III B - CADSES - Cities against discrimination working for the inclusion of migrants
This project tries to establish a co-operation between Mediterranean and Balkan countries regarding the issue of discrimination and the inclusion of migrants. It concentrates on the effects of migration on these countries. The main actions are:
- Training programmes
- Publicity
- Pilot actions, etc
MIGREST - Pilot programme on the impact of enlargement for the region bordering the Candidate countries
This is a pilot programme on the impact of enlargement for the region bordering the Candidate countries.
URBACT - UDIEX
It is about thematic networks on the exchange and Dissemination of knowledge. It concentrates on the diversity and inclusion.
URBACT - UDIEX-ALEP
It is an Action Learning Exchange Programme. It concentrates on the exchange and dissemination of knowledge regarding diversity and social inclusion.
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE NORTH-EASTERN PART OF THE HISTORICAL CENTRE OF THESSALONIKI
Municipality of Thessalonki is the leader of the above programme. The project concentrates on urban regeneration of the northeastern part of the historical centre of Thessaloniki. Moreover, it tries to promote actions for social inclusion of the unemployed and immigrants.
9.905.334,00 €
LOCAL EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE FOR THESSALONIKI
Municipality of Thessalonki is the leader of the above programme. The project tries to promote actions for social inclusion of the unemployed and immigrants. 1.290.980,00 €.
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Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs - Czech Republic
Name of Organisation: |
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic
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Representative: |
Ms. Zuzana Zajarosova
Ms. Jitka Zukalova
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Contact details:
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Na Poricnim pravu 1
128 01 Prague 2
Website: http://www.mpsv.cz
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Short presentation of the organisation: |
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) is a central department of the State administration and is responsible for employment and social policy.
Among others activities MoLSA is responsible for the coordination of the social inclusion strategy in the Czech Republic. It means that it coordinated process of elaboration of the Joint Inclusion Memorandum and the National Action Plan on Social Inclusion and it is also responsible for the implementation and the delivery of the Plan. Since this work requires the participation of all relevant actors at national, regional and local level, the Social Inclusion Committee was established for efficient coordination of this process, which has been coordinating the social inclusion issues.
One of the key elements for efficient social inclusion strategy is high quality cooperation at all levels and involvement of all relevant actors. MoLSA has intention to develop more efficient cooperation between central level represented by MoLSA and regional and local levels in the field of social inclusion. The intention is to encourage the regional and local authorities in developing regional or local Action Plans on Social Inclusion with the use of the instrument of community planning of social services.
MoLSA has also provides funding support for the community planning process. Community planning is directed at the promotion of partnership, development of regional social policies and planning social services at the level of regions and municipalities, NGOs and social services users. It is based on mutual cooperation between responsible institutions (municipalities and regions) users and social services providers. The objective is to develop a continuous planning process and establish full cooperation within all levels.
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Description of on-going projects relevant to the current project partnership: |
Czech Contribution to European Social Inclusion strategy. The Experience of a New Central European Member State is the national awareness raising action on social inclusion (VP-2004-05) - the aim of this action is to improve information and raise awareness among concerned stakeholders and the wider public about the EU social inclusion process. The project is lead by the Information Centre of Non-profit Organizations - www.neziskovky.cz .
Mainstreaming social inclusion project, phase 2. and Mainstreaming social inclusion research project. The aim of this project was to understand the main principles of mainstreaming social inclusion and how this tool could be used at development of social inclusion policies. The main leading partner of the project is Combat Poverty Agency ( Ireland) www.cpa.ie
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Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha
Consejeria de Trabajo y Empleo - Direccion General de Trabajo e Inmigracion
The "Junta De Comunidades" is the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha, an autonomous region of Spain. The decentralization process began in 1983 directed by the regional government. After more than twenty years, this government has a great regional developing experience with the support of the central government of Spain and the European institutions. It has gained relevant experience in the following fields:
- promoting regional sustainable development with an integrated concept of development
- consolidating the function of institutions so that they have an important framework in the process of the economic and socio-economic development
- promoting cooperation between countries and regions of the European Union
- promoting the establishment of lasting relations between private and public organizations, located in the European Union
- promoting the development of the civil society
- promoting cooperation and dialogue between decentralized public and private organizations, on subjects relative to the regional and local development.
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This project is financed by the European Commission through the Community Action Programme to Combat Social Exclusion 2002-2006, Transnational Exchange Programme
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© 2004 - European Regeneration Areas Network - Quartiers en Crise
