Projects of the Center The Center has conducted the largest number of its projects from its core in Belgrade and via its local branch-offices in other towns of Serbia. In addition to this, the Center’s branch-offices have also conducted their project activities independently at the local level.
- SHARE-SEE
is the acronym standing for Self- Help & Advocacy for Rights & Equal opportunities in South East Europe.
- Disability Awareness in Action (DAA)
in the period between 1997 and 1999, the Center worked on gathering and translating the material that would be of help to the work of organizations of people with disabilities in Serbia, considering the fact that Ministry’s finacing had begun to take a new course. The transition had been made slowly to financing the concrete and devised activities through projects and the use of the publication on the influence on decision-makers, campains and organization building was supposed to contribute to this fact.
- Challenges of women with disabilities
the Center is stili working on promoting possibilities and capacities of people with disabilities and efforts have been made for the special place to be left for women with disabilities. Endeavoring to face the society and themselves with multy-discrimination with which they live, the Center published the translation of the book “We can do it – the stories of women with disabilities from the countries in development”, in 1997. The additional value of this book is the fact that it is enriched with the stories of the women with disabilities from Serbia and Republika Srpska.
- The first experiences
having become a member of the European network of the Centers of independent living (ENIL), the Center’s representatives went on the first study visit to the Center of independent living of people with disabilities of Autria in May, 1998. The purpose of this visit was gaining new ideas and exchange experiences regarding the work on similar issues
- Irish experience
in 1999 in the cooperation with the Center for independent living of PwD of Ireland, the Centar organized the visit for a group of young people, potential activitist of the Center, to spend in Ireland certain time within the study improvement and work as personal assistants for PwD, the members of the Dublin Center.
- Social model and barrier removal
as the organization which was the first that began to promote the social model in the approach to people with disabilities, the Center conducted a small campaign wthin which the translation of the brochure Social Model and Approach was published in 2000 with the support of Oxfam.
- Organization building
in, at the time already recognized, activity, the Center’s members were beginning to realize the idea of establishing the network of local organizations/branch-offices. The Center founded the branch-offices in Smederevo, Jagodina, Krusevac, Nis and Leskovac.
- Experimental PA Service
due to the fact that personal assistance is one of the pre-conditions for independent living of persons with disabilities, the Center conducted the experimental project of Personal Asssistance Service for 16 beneficiaries in Belgrade from December 2000 to May 2001. The research was also conducted on the significant changes perceived even in this short period of time among the life quality of persons with disabilities, service beneficiaries.
- Trainers training
in the period of time from September 2001 to May 2002, in the cooperation with Tim Tri, Civic Initiatives, the Center organized training for its activists for gaining skills of trainers/facilitators in awareness raising on the problems of PwD. Nine persons with disabilities finished this training successfully
- Conferences on accessibility
since 2001 the Center has been organizing Conferences on accessibility. The Conferences have been organized as an activity within December 3rd celebration and already from the following year, the Conference have gained the international character, gathering a great numbkr of participants and lecturers from the countries in the region and EU every year. The name of the first Conference was Accessible to 21st century, and the name of the following Conferences were: Accessible in 21st century – now (2002), Access is a human right (2003), Access to physical environment, information and communication and education (2004) and Freedom of movement – (in)accessible right (2006). It is our tendency for this Conferences to have a permanent character.
- Disability studies
from January to May 2002, the project named Disability studies was conducted in Smederevo and Belgrade for 19 persons with disabilities. The aim of Disability studies was gaining skills in advocacy and lobbying for the rights of persons with disabilities. As a practical part of the project, the brochure White points on accessible public buildings in Belgrade was published and promoted at the Faculty of Architecture, the University of Belgrade, within the campaign, and the meetings with local authorities in Belgrade and Smederevo were organized the aim of which was changing the existing regulations.
- PC course
in September 2002, the Center provided computer equipment and organized the computer training course for its members.
- How to acquire social inclusion
preparing the celebration of 2003, the European year of persons with disabilities, in December 2002, the Center translated and published Madrid Declaration as the document which promoted this year and by the end of May 2003, organized numerous round-tables focused on the well-known sentence “Nothing about us without us” and further promotion of human rights of persons with disabilities
- Key for equality
along with publishing Madrid Decleration, from December 2002 to December 2003, the Center also worked on promoting other messages of 2003 – the Year of persons with disabilities – persons with disabilities want equal rights, not charity; let’s create society for all; persons with disabilities are equal citizens; persons with disabilities have a right to independent living etc. Within this project, the brochure on UN Standard Rules was published and distributed to all organizations of persons with disabilities, non-governmental organizations, professional institutions, different ministries and individuals.
- Are they doing it too?
making an effort to pay equal significance to all the aspects of lives of persons with disabilities, in the cooperation with Muscular Dystrophy Association of Cacak, the Center realized the project Disability and Sexuality from January to May 2003. A series of workshops was conducted with the subject of disability and sexuality and a flier was published.
- Serbia without poverty
from August to November 2002, the Center participated in the work of the network made of 20 NGOs in Serbia working on activities regarding creating a document for the poverty reduction in Serbia. The study called Poverty from the point of view of NGOs was worked on as well on participating in the consultative process through various informative activities and introduction of other NGOs with the definition of poverty and the process of adopting the Poverty Reduction Strategy in Serbia.
- Poverty II
during 2003, the Center continued to work in the second project of the NGO network dedicated to modulations of the objections to the Strategy draft and participating in various actions aimed at introducing citizens to the poverty problems of different citizen categories. The Center was especially engaged in developing the part of the document dedicated to the poverty reduction among persons with disabilities.
- Gender, sex, disability
within this project, the Center worked on the further awareness raising on the phenomenon of gender and sex in the disability domain. The project was conducted from December 2003 to August 2004. In addition to publishing publications and propaganda material, a few educational workshops were held in five towns of Serbia, as part of this project.
- Specificity of the poverty of persons with disabilities
the project was conducted in Smederevo, Jagodina and Leskovac, from January 2004 to January 2005. As part of this project, the Povertry Reduction Strategy was promoted and the research on specificity of the poverty of persons with disabilities and additional disability expenses were organized.
- Empowering activitists’ capacities and advocacy
together with a partner organization IC Lotos from Tuzla, the Center conducted the project Advocacy and Leadership from September 2003 to April 2005. This was the regional project, which through the process of education and practical work included 32 PwD from 15 organizations of PwD from Serbia and both entithies of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our partner on this project was also the Catholic Relief Cervice (CRS), with their offices in Sarajevo and Belgrade. Within this project, the Conference called “A step towards Europe” was organized in Sarajevo, in March 2005. 150 representatives who participated in this Conference, for the first time had a discussion on creating specific conditions in disability area, as constutional part of general conditions for joining the European Union of the countries of South-East Europe.
- From disability benefits to profitable employment
in the period between May and October 2005, the international labor organization (ILO) conducted the analysis of the status of PwD in the countries of South-East Europe. The Center was a partner for Serbia and for the purpose of this analysis and study, the Center’s team gathered different data on the disability pensions beneficiaries, disability allowances, the existence and the number of programs for the employment of PwD financed by the Ministry of Labor.
- EDF-CARDS
In June 2005, at the suggestion of the organizations of PwD at the national level, the Center took over the coordination of the project for building the capacities and national umbrella organization for Serbia, conducted by the European Disability Forum (EDF) in the region.
- Step forward
Realisation of the documentary on organising the Service of personal assistants, its functioning and changes in quality of life of persons with disabilities who have got the possibility to live in relation with philosophy of independent living – right to a choice, decision making, control over their lives – with direct involvement of users.
The aim of the project was to show the basic caracteristics of Personal Assistant’s Service as new type of support and through personal stories present individual changes in quality of lives and wide spectar the possibilities for personal affirmation of persons with disabilities with the support of personal assistants.
This documentary has its premiere on 15th of December 2005 in Media Center Belgrade and participated at Internatilna documentary film festival in Belgrade, April 2006.
It is titled on English language and distributed both to organisations of PWDs in Serbia and Europe.
- Cаmpaign for promoting UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
This project is campaign for promoting access to human rights and presentation of the draft of UN Convention on rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.This campaign has been realised through round tables, tribunes and workshops in 10 Serbian cities for representatives of Organisations of persons with disabilities, local and national authorities and on Faculties of law in University of Serbia. As a part of the campaign Center for Independent Living Serbia printed the text of the draft UN Convention and a leaflet which was distributed to Organisations of persons with disabilities and their members, representatives of local and national authorities, professionals and experts, students and media representatives and public was informed on this campaign through electronic and printed media.
- Young activists of Center for Independent Living Serbia
The aim of this project was creation of conditions and motivation of young persons with disabilities for their social engagement and participation within the work of CIL or other organisations of persons with disabilities in Belgrade teritory. This project should enable forming and developing of network of young persons with disabilities through their identification and sensibilisation for work on realisation of human rights of persons with disabilities. During the project young persons were educated on social model of disability, human rights and discrimination, language of disability and philosophy of independent living of persons with disabilities.
- Belgrade white spots
Project was funded by City Secretariat for Child and Social Protection in 2007 and its aim was to promote barrier free construction for easier access to public buildings in Belgrade for persons with disability and other citizens. This aim is realised through screening and printing the Guide called „Belgrade White Spots“. This Guide offers different information about (in)accessible places in Belgrade. Content of the Guide include hospitals, local health centres, Centres for social work, public institutions (post offices, banks, municipality buildings) and cultural institutions. This project contributed to rising awareness on neccessity of creation the barrier free environment and enabled the public to learn about PWDs problems in everyday life. This Guide was distributed to organisations of PWDs, relevant Ministries, City Tourist Organisation...
It is planned to prepare additional content for this Guide.
- “Developing advocacy capacities of dpo’s in serbia”
The overall aim of the project was to explore the existing capacities of DPOs in Serbia and their training needs in order strengthen their capacities to initiate and fully participate in political changes necessary to achieve PWD rights. Benefits of these actions will also accrue to the PWD families and communities in which they live.
CIL tried to obtain data on the existing capacities and knowledge of DPOs in Serbia, on key documents and advocacy tools (including knowledge on monitoring and implementation of PRSP, National Disability Strategy, National Social Reform Strategy and respective Action Plans, within the frame of UN Convention on PWD rights ), to identify the areas where they lack minimum capacities including knowledge, human resources, and advocacy, organizational and managerial skills, to develop informative analysis of training needs for DPOs to build up their self-advocacy capacities, and facilitate their transition towards modern organizations which would be key advocates for PWD rights to raise public awareness on the current position of DPOs, their role as advocates for PWD rights and lobby for adequate state and local communities support to DPOs capacity development.
- Not so ordinary stories
Ministry for Labor and Social Policy financed this project in 2008 and the aim of the project was to prezent pozitive and successful examples of successful persons with disability who introduced public with their abilities, changed stereotypes that exist on this persons, promoted the principle of equal opportunities, empovered and motivated other persons with disability to actively influence the realization of their rights.
CIL published the book of stories, video clip and organized numerous promotive tribunes and workshops.
Workshops and tribunes showed that persons who participated in them were encouraged to bring the new ideas and had self-confidence in their potential, important for new activits. These new activists, with good support of older peers, could be further carriers of activities and realization the examples of pozitive practice.
- Contact organizations of civil society 2007/2009
The aim of the project was to maintain mutual consultations on actual problems that lead to poverty of vulnerable groups and their families and to maintain two-way communication between organizations of civil society and Team of Serbian Government for implementation the Poverty Reduction Strategy.
There was seven organizations who were contacts for for vulnerable groups of: elderly, persons with disability, children, Roma, youngsters, women and refugees. Related to persons with disability, this project contributed to better participation of DPOs and building of partnership relations between governmental and non-governmental sector in process of implementation of Poverty Reduction Strategy and widened reform process through activities that included : а) maintaining the constant mechanism of communication and cooperation with governemtal sector, b ) maintaining Directorium with 150 contact DPOs on national and local level, as contact organization of civil society, c ) organizing Focus groups with DPO representatives and other NGOs which will comment suggestions and initiatives, for activities that will be implemented by Government and d) opening On - line Forum for constant exchange the information and open debate on CIL Web site.
- PRACTICE GAP RESEARCH FOCUSED ON SOCIAL PROTECTION SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (PWD)
This proposal is funded by UNDP, 2006, and focused on research that is aimed at identifying level of development and access to social protection services at the community level focusing on people with disabilities (PWD) from 18 – 64 years of age. Serbia has actively participated in drafting the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Serbia also has the Law on Prevention of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities. Provision of social services at community level is regulated in the Law on Social Protection and Social Security (services such as daycare, assistance at home etc.)
In order to determine how wide is policy – practice gap related to availability and access to community based services for PWD, a policy research is proposed. Policy research will include quantitative research to be carried out by a research institute with a proven track-record in similar research topics. It will also include qualitative research of difficulties that PWD face in trying to access basic social protection services at the community level. Data obtained through the research will serve to inform policy recommendations focusing on steps that can / should be taken at both central and local levels to narrow policy – practice gap in service provision to adult PWD.
- Comparative Research on quality of employment for persons with disability
Project aim was to research the quality of employment for persons with disability related to their qualification – educational level, years of working experience and level of income, as well as if that income is enough for their everyday functioning and what part of household income belongs to them. About 120 employed PWDs , aged 18 till 65 passed this research . This project paid special attention on gender equality , age structure , urban and rural content and family status of interviewed persons . All the results were compared with control group of 80 persons without disability similar characteristics.
The aim of the project, funded by Ministry for Labor and Social Policy in 2006, was to widen the degree of employment of PWDs and to create specific conditions for their work, economic independence and their active involvement in local community.
- FROM ALTERNATIVE TO STANDARDIZATION 2007/2008
The aim of the project, funded by Social Innovative Fund, was to contribute to poverty reduction and social reduction the social exclusion for persons with severe physical disability through preparations for introduction the Personal Assistant Service, as innovative type of sociall support. This service enables their social inclusion and realization the human rights and dignity. CIL organized the service for 30 users in five Serbian towns, realization of manual for procedure, quality standards, simulation the scenaria for implementation the regulatory mechanisms, which will enable creation of testing model of this service. This was done in cooperation with national and local authorities and contributed the development of system of sustainable social services for PWDs which would enable their potentials and enable independent living in local community. At the same time project was aimed to emply 30 persons as personal assistants and reduce their poverty.
- PA SERVICE IN BELGRADE/BCIF FUNDING
PA Service, which is evolved through different phases, from pilot project, funded by Irish Aid, to project funded by Ministry for Labor and Social Policy, Social Innovative Fund and Catholic Relief Services, continued with the support of BCIF, as a support to independent living and higher civil involvement of persons with disability in Belgrade (only), to create and realize the new social services which enables social inclusion and life in the community in transition process of social welfare system.
This service minimized dependency of persons with disability, improved their independence and higher social and working engagement and provided better living conditions. At the same time reduced employment rate of persons with disability and persons that were engaged as their personal assistants.
This way Center promoted furthermore alternative methodologies and services for persons with disability, that currently does not exist in state system, but are provided by NGOs and in that way enable plurality of services in social care system and at the same time test recently adopted standards for this type of service, adopted by Ministry for Labor and Social Policy.
This project also contributed to CIL capacity building as well as for the other NGOs with the aim to enable them to carry on with issues of social care an involve in new system of service licensing, accreditation and contracting.
- NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES OF SERBIA – EDF/CARDS
National organization of persons with disabilities of Serbia is the Union of organizations of the persons with individual types of disabilities, the organizations of legal advocates of persons with disabilities and the interest organizations gathering persons with different types of disabilities organized for the territory of the Republic of Serbia. It was established on June 22 nd 2007 as the organization of special social interest with the legal status. It represents the united movement of persons with disabilities of Serbia, speaking in the name of most persons with disabilities, implying the most important political strength in advocating their common interests and needs. Its mission is increasing inclusion of persons with disabilities in society, full respect of human rights and non-discrimination based on disability, through partnership of the unique disability movement and the republic in passing and applying the disability Laws and other documents, in compliance with the international standards and documents.
You can find some of our projects in e-library
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