INFOPENTRUVOI

www.pentruvoi.ro | pentruvoi.ro | 0356 421 215(6)

Newsletter

July | October 2011

Foundation Pentru Voi is celebrating 15 years of activity

Foundation Pentru Voi is celebrating 15 years of activity, in the frame of an event which will take place on Monday 17th of October, at Banatul Philharmonic from Timioara. Its an event dedicated to all those who are standing by our side since 15 years: our service users, their families, local authorities, national and international financers, partners from the country and from abroad, representatives of the local business community, of the press, our volunteers. Its a moment of balance in which our thoughts go with gratitude to all those who helped us to regain dignity for persons with disabilities and to bring them back in the heart of Timisoaras community, declared Laila Onu, Executive Director at Foundation Pentru Voi.
Foundation Pentru Voi at 15 years of activity Through these years we attracted over 13.000.000 lei in the local community from nonrefundable finances and sponsorships in the benefit of the adults with intellectual disabilities. Developed community social services, unique in the country, for adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. At this moment the foundation supports 180 such families. Developed a unique model of cooperation in Romania in the social field a public-private partnership with the Local Concil and the City Hall of Timisoara through which the social services are financed. Promoted at international level the model from Timisoara through the visits of personalities of international renown: Her Majesty The Queen Beatrix of Holland at Timisoara (2001), Members of the European Parliament: Baroness Emma Nicholson (2002) and Ms. Margot Krissler, Hollands Ambassadors in Romania: His Excellency Mr. Pieter Jan Wolthers (2002 and 2005) and His Excellency Mr. Jaap L. Werner (2005 and 2006), The Ambassador of Sweden, His Excellency Mr. Nils G. Revelius (2001), vice-president of the German Parliament Ms. Suzanne Karstner. Brought the Great Award of the Civil Society Gala to Timisoara in 2008, Handinnov award for innovation in disability awarded by the French Presidency of the European Union, in 2008. Was called Model of Excellency in delivering community social services for persons with intellectual disabilities by the Mental Health Institute Budapest, in 2003. Participated actively in creating the legal frame from the intellectual disability area through lobby, advocacy and self-advocacy campaigns (the Law 448/2006 regarding the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, the UN Convention regarding the Rights of Persons with Disabilities). Has published over 50 specialty materials in the area of intellectual disability, trained over 1000 persons at courses, seminars, conferences, informed and raised awareness of over 100.000 persons regarding the issue of persons with intellectual disability.

The starting of the works at the construction site of the third day center*
The new location can be found between Ladislau Tacsi Day Center and the protected home Casa Cristian and it is a construction site of 400m2 useful surface. The works started in August and they are planned to end next spring. Here 30 persons with intellectual disability, service users of Foundation Pentru Voi from the Copy Center, will carry out their activities. In the same building, at the attic, offices will be arranged, to which a great part of the Pentru Voi team will move, making this way more space for the activities with the service users at Impreuna Day Center. The construction is partly financed through the European Social Fund through the Sectorial Operational Program Human Resources Development 2007-2013 - Invest in people!, in the frame of the project Social economy a chance for persons with intellectual disabilities, the land being given to free use by the City Hall and Local Council of Timisoara.

National conference with international participation*

The national conference with international participation Social services for persons with severe intellectual disabilities organized by Pentru Voi between 18 and 19th of October, at Timisoara, brings together over 100 specialists, both national and international, from the intellectual disability and social economy area. The reform in the social work area, the future of persons with disabilities between public statements which demand abdication of the social state in Romania and the European Strategy 2020, social cohesion as a pillar in the development of the European Union, cost reduction in the disadvantage of the severely disabled persons, responsible social policies, practical ways of supporting severely disabled persons all these themes will be discussed together with renowned specialists from Sweden, Holland and Finland, having a wide experience in the domain of social services and social policies for adults with severe intellectual disabilities and autism. The conclusions of the conference will be posted on www.pentruvoi.ro and www.facebook.com/FundatiaPentruVoi.

Lets talk about our life as it is and as we would like it to be!*

50 persons from all around the country persons with intellectual disabilities and their companions, participated at the sixth edition of the national conference for self advocates My Life as it is and as I would like it to be, which took place in Mamaia, between 30th of August 1st of September. In the frame of the conference discussions were focused on the most important aspects of the life of a person with intellectual disability: the path which they follow through their life, the work place, their incomes and ways of spending money, the way of accessing medical services, the rights they have all these taken through two filters: how they are and how they would want them to be. While self advocates talked about their life, their companions discussed aspects of legal guardianship as a way of protection or an obstacle in the way of social inclusion for persons with intellectual disability.

The conference for persons with disabilities, from Portugal *

4 self advocates from Pentru Voi accompanied by a psychologist, participated between 30th of September 3rd of October to an international conference for self advocates organized by The European Platform of Self-Advocates in Peniche, Portugal.

Self-Advocates from all around Europe got together to talk about their lives and their experiences, about their rights which they have in the context of the UN Convention regarding the rights of persons with disabilities. All workshops had selfadvocates as speakers, which discussed about the problems they confront and the way they can bring them to the attention of the politicians and other stakeholders from each participants country. The event was a special one also through the fact that it meant flying by plane to another country, for many of the participants being the first time to experiment these new things.

ONGfest 2011
The OngFest Caravan hosted us for the third consecutive year, this time in Unirii Square from Timisoara, between 8 9th of October. We presented our activities and projects which we develop, we organized general knowledge contests with prizes, having as theme intellectual disability and a workshop on the theme of volunteering, we met people who want to become our volunteers, we presented the activity and products of Pentru Voi Protected Unit. In addition, Pentru Voi Vocal-Instrumental Group had a musical performance each day of the fair, presenting a new face of intellectual disability creative and talented.

Pentru Voi Protected Unit

In the last few months Pentru Voi Protected Unit worked hardly both to develop new partnerships and to extend older services for client companies, with the purpose of the employment of persons with intellectual disabilities. Therefore, our employees had the challenge to fulfill a new order of cutting auto adhesive rolls of paper for our partner FM Logistics. In the frame of the same partnership there were started discussions about the possibility to form a new mobile team of 15 persons with intellectual disabilities, who would need to make promotional packages at the clients headquarter for a period of 1 month.We also had discussions with our partner Delphi about new possibilities of collaboration mobile teams, externalizing different activities, printouts, etc., as well as with the company Profi, in partnership with which we will restart the activity of the bakery from our protected unit, from Sacalaz. In the same time, we continued our usual activities making the lids for air fresheners, selecting plastic bags, making printouts, decorative objects, small repayments following that in October the most hardworking employees of the unit to go visit Baumax company, as guest at their yearly event The Day for Persons with Disability at Baumax. We thank all our collaborators and we dearly welcome new orders in our social enterprise! comenzi@pentruvoi.ro

Social Entrepreneurship course in South West region*

33 specialists in social economy and intellectual disability from the SouthWest region of the country participated at the course on the theme Social enterprises and social entrepreneurship in the benefit of persons with intellectual disabilities, held in 12 of July in Ramnicu Valcea and in 13th of July at DrobetaTurnu Severin. The following course will take place in November this year, in the frame of DGASPC Olt, and the agenda of the course will contain information regarding opportunities and ways of employment of persons with intellectual disabilities, and the mechanisms of the social economy in the service of social integration of this target group. Through these courses we aim to share part of the experience which we accumulated in the area of social economy with other colleagues from other counties, to offer them another chance to independent living for the persons with intellectual disability they work with.

Seminar for families*

In July Pentru Voi organized a seminar for members of the families which have a person with intellectual disability. The seminar focused on The Stipulations of the new Civil Code regarding the capacity of decision and the procedure of establishing legal guardianship and aimed to answer questions such as: legal guardianship - a way of protection or an obstacle in the way of employment? The access to medical services? The seminar was organized at the parents initiative, which needed more information and clarifications about the legislative aspects regarding the guardianship.

The manual of the social services*

In July this year the Manual for the communitarian social services was finalized, publication which is addressed to the specialists involved in social economy and intellectual disability and is structured on two volumes. The first volume approaches the issue of social services from the perspective of disability, presenting the changes of paradigm from this area and of the current legislation, as well as of the main aspects involved in the planning and delivering these services. The second volume focuses on the specificity of the communitarian services for adults with intellectual disability, offering a series of information regarding the instruments and work methodology of Foundation Pentru Voi. The manual is distributed free of charge, within a limited edition. For details please contact us at phone no. 0356 421 216 or email pentruvoi@pentruvoi.ro.

* These actions are part of the project Social Economy a chance for persons with intellectual disabilities, project co financed by European Social Fund through the Sectorial Operational Program Development of Human Resources 2007-2013 Invest in people!.

Holliday volunteering in the benefit of the persons with intellectual disabilities

8 Romanian volunteers and 20 Dutch volunteers worked together to renovate the homes of 5 families of service users of our Foundation. The 5 homes benefited of a series of works which the families could not make without the financial and human support of the Dutch: there were renovated 2 balconies and windows were changed, a kitchen was arranged and equipped, a bathroom was painted and put tiles on and even a garden was cleaned of herbage. Cristina, Tudor, Bogdan, tefan, Corina, Alexandra, Nicu and Adi are all students or freelancers, but during the two weeks of the project they were enthusiastic volunteers, which chose to dedicate their time and experience for a social cause. The project, fund at its 4th edition, ended with a barbeque, to which have been invited all volunteers involved and the families which benefited of the mending. In the name of the families where they worked at, we thank all Romanian and Dutch volunteers for their involvement!

Vive la France! Vive la Roumanie!

The National Day of France was celebrated by the persons with intellectual disabilities from Pentru Voi together with 14 representatives from the Association for persons with intellectual disabilities To accomplish for self accomplish from France, who came in a visit to Timisoara. The representatives of the association, persons with intellectual disabilities and their companions, started a 30 days adventure through Europe. They organized a humanitarian convoy to support as many organizations for persons with intellectual disabilities. Also, they aimed to get to know this way other persons with disabilities from other European countries. Our team prepared a special program to mark the Romanian - French friendship: presentation of the two organizations, a traditional regional meal, singing of the two countries anthems, interpreting Romanian and French songs and dances, games and contests.

A Friend for You A Success Story

One of the success stories of A Friend for You project was revealed in an interview by our colleagues from Tele Universitatea TV. The interview is taking place in the center of Timisoara, where Nicu and Florian are often walking together, talking about sports, movies and daily life. The two form a pair of mentor and mentee in the frame of the program A Friend for You, and their friendship seems like it went beyond the limits of the program. They meet often, they visit each other and they are close friends. Their story can be seen through the interview from the website www.pentruvoi.ro at the movies section. A Friend for You program offers the possibility for those interested to get involved in a volunteering program through which they would spend a couple hours of their free time with a person with intellectual disability going for a walk, having a juice together, watching a movie, going to theatre

New products under the Pentru Voi label

With the occasion of the 15 years anniversary Foundation Pentru Voi brings out for sale a limited edition of promotional materials: T-shirts, mugs, linen ecological bags, pens and postcards. The funds gathered from these selling will be used for the construction of a new day center for 30 adults with intellectual disabilities from the Copy Center, with the aim of preparing them to work. These products can be bought, in the limit of the availability, from: - the online store from our web page www.pentruvoi.ro (buy products section) - the headquarter of Foundation Pentru Voi - 47 Ion slavici Street, Timisoara For orders and other details you can contact us at comenzi@pentruvoi.ro or 0356 421 216.

Newsletter distributed to over 3500 organisations, professionals and friends of Foundation Pentru