On 9 December 2014, the European Commission approved the Operational Programme Human Resources which represents EU fund support for 2014-2020.
The European funding is designed to support education, employment, young peopleand persons on the edge of poverty, creating jobs, and educating marginalised communities.
The operational programme funding will support the quality and level of education, including interconnection with labour market needs, increasing the competitiveness of our graduates. The programme also focuses on increasing the professional competence of teachers and specialist employees of schools at all levels and the better preparedness of future teachers.
The key activities include the increase in the employment of young people up to the age of 29, for example, by providing support and help in starting their businesses via start-up programmes. Performance of the activities supported by the operational programme should result in a reduction in the unemployment rate, in particular of the long-term unemployed, under-qualified persons and the old and handicapped. We should also not forget about persons living on the edge of poverty. As a result, there will be more activities for such at-risk persons, in order to afford them better job opportunities or better access to housing.
One of the areas is also an increase in the educational level of marginalised communities, in particular of the Roma. This should lead to better information and cooperation of parents with educational facilities, to more children attending pre-school facilities, reduction in early drop-outs from schools, development of financial literacy, as well as better awareness in the field of healthcare.
Financed projects
The City of Bratislava filed an application for a non-repayable financial contribution as part of the call of “Counselling and Raising of Public Awareness and Elimination of Discrimination II” announced by the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic in 2018. The application was approved and on 01. 09. 2019, the project of Fortunáčik II Low-Threshold Social Service for Children and Families entered its execution phase. The project continues the activities of the national project of Support of Selected Social Services of Crisis Intervention at Community Level (NP KIKU) – Support of Social Services of the Fortunáčik Low-Threshold Social Service for Children and Families.
The project’s goal is the prevention and elimination of all forms of discrimination by improving the quality of social services of the City of Bratislava focusing on the active integration of socially disadvantaged citizens of the territory.
Duration of project:
9/2019 - 2/2022
Place of execution:
Fortuna dormitory in the city district of Bratislava-Dúbravka.
The target group comprises, in particular, persons accommodated in the Fortuna dormitory, which is operated by the city in the city district of Bratislava-Dúbravka, and current and former clients of the accommodation and social facilities of the city:
adults after leaving children’s homes;
socially vulnerable families;
victims of domestic violence;
persons with problems finding a job;
children vulnerable to social and pathological elements.
This means that the programme focuses on individuals and groups in danger of discrimination, poverty or social exclusion. The services will be provided to at least 300 persons in the target group.
Project activity:
Support of institutional development of specialised counselling services used to counter all forms of discrimination, including legal counselling in the area of labour market discrimination
Sub-activities:
Counselling in the area of labour market discrimination
Establishing a legal awareness of basic human rights
Development of the potential of children and adults
Reduction of barriers and inclusion of adults and children in the majority society, cooperation with external subjects.
What do we expect from the project?
Target group members will be able to find appropriate jobs, draw up a letter of motivation, and CV, and will be ready for a job interview. Thanks to their enhanced social and communication skills, they will be able to avoid conflicts and cope with difficult situations in the workplace. They will be well-informed in the area of basic human rights and employment demands (such as the right to a work agreement, entitlement to holidays, remuneration etc.).
They will be aware of their basic human rights and responsibilities, as well as the basic human rights and resposibilities of their relatives (such as children, partners, siblings, as well as parents). This will help in preventing domestic violence. They will obtain information on any child maintenance duties, as well as options for adjusting child maintenance.
They will know their rights and duties in healthcare, housing, and social security.
This increases the personality potential of children and adults. This establishes conditions for the development of interest activities and talent of children. It also enhances the conditions for education, for acquiring higher education and finding a better job. It reduces the risk of generational poverty. The activities will help reduce criminality, drug addiction and other social and pathological elements.
It improves financial literacy and thereby reduces the indebtedness of families.
It improves cooperation with the local authorities and schools, it improves the relationship of the community with its surroundings, reduces animosity on the part of teachers and children of the majority community towards the people staying at the Fortuna dormitory.
It will establish support mechanisms to deal with the crisis situation of the clients. The clients or families will have the opportunity to become active players, assess their situation better and, if necessary, find an appropriate expert to help them in dealing with their difficult situations.
After conclusion of the project, the clients will be able to handle their problematic situations more independently. They will assume control over their own lives.
This project is implemented thanks to support from the European Social Fund, as part of the Operational Programme Human Resources.
