PROJECT FORUM
SESSION DESCRIPTION
- 28/06/2024 09:00 - 09:45
Series of 4 short ‘elevator-pitch’ presentations on projects related to the conference theme. Delegates are invited to follow up on the presentations with the presenters during the networking breaks. This session is open to all delegates to attend.
Interpretation Languages: EN, DE, FR, ES, IT
PROJECT FORUM
Community-based Activities to Promote Social Inclusion
The ‘Presence in Ferencváros’ project by the Charity Service of the Order of Malta in Budapest is a comprehensive social inclusion initiative launched in 2017. It tackles unemployment, housing issues, healthcare, poverty, and ethnic exclusion through intensive social work and community engagement. The project employs the ‘presence methodology,’ emphasising diagnosed-based, tailored solutions and ‘reverse integration’ by involving skilled experts, artists, and students. Programmes like ‘Symphony’ for children’s social integration through music and a community-based bike repair shop promote youth engagement. Key objectives include child protection, preventing domestic violence, and fostering long-term independence, supported by collaborations with local authorities and NGOs. The project embodies a commitment to addressing diverse community needs and promoting inclusion effectively. The presence method has been selected as the base of a nation-wide EU funded program (“Emerging Settlements”) coordinated by the Charity Service since 2019.
Presentation Language: English
Presenter: Emese Dr. Viszoczky, Head of Regulatory and Monitoring Affairs, Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, Hungary
Presentation Language: English
Dialogic Approach to Care
This project in Navarra, Spain, focuses on training professionals, from various sectors including health, education, justice, and social third sector organisations primarily those in the Child and Family Protection System of Navarra, to implement the Dialogic Approach—a person-centred tool with international recognition. It aims to enhance dialogue within personal and professional networks to better combine resources for effective individual and family support. The training process spans 286 hours, covering theory, practice, and supervision, with different courses targeting facilitators, orientation, and future trainers. The goal is to modernise and improve person-centred care models in Navarra’s social services, fostering a paradigm shift in professional roles towards supporting the person through their journey, guiding, and motivating them along the way.
Organisation: Regional Government of Navarra – Department for Social Rights, Spain
Presentation Language: Spanish
Encouraging Social Inclusion through Labour Market Activation
The City of Zagreb’s support programme for vulnerable people receiving guaranteed minimum income is a comprehensive initiative that employs a multidisciplinary team and targets various disadvantaged populations (including long-term unemployed, young people transitioning from alternative care, homeless people, victims of domestic violence, and people with disabilities). Through psychosocial support, mentoring, skills training, and education, the programme aims to empower participants and facilitate their employment and social inclusion. Evaluation results indicate high satisfaction and positive outcomes, including improved mental well-being and increased employability. Success stories highlight the programme’s impact on personal and professional development. Overall, Zagreb’s programme serves as a model for promoting labour market integration and eventually empowerment and social inclusion, showcasing the effectiveness of collaborative, multidisciplinary efforts in addressing complex social challenges.
Presentation Language: English
Presenter: Zorana Uzelac Bošnjak, Head of the Department for social inclusion, planning, preparation and implementation of development projects in social protection, City of Zagreb, Croatia
Coffee and Community: Tackling Rural Isolation
The Rural Coffee Caravan project addresses isolation and loneliness in rural areas that often lead to feelings of disconnection in communities. The project organises mobile information cafés that serve complimentary coffee and tea to locals. More than just a coffee stop, the Rural Coffee Caravan provides a platform for people to receive support tailored to their needs, whether it is engaging in meaningful conversations, sharing stories, or accessing information about local resources and support services to help people live happy healthy independent lives. Over the past twenty years, this grassroots approach has supported a significant number of people in rural communities, promoting social inclusion, strengthening community bonds, and positively impacting mental well-being among those it serves.
Presentation Language: English
Presenter: Georgia Chimbani, Director of Adult and Community Services for Suffolk County Council, Rural Coffee Caravan, United Kingdom