Donors/Partners:  

1. Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Georgia

2. Lithuanian Development Cooperation Program Fund

3. Nijole Jenite Social Care House

4. In cooperation with EDEC’s social service spin-off Habitat for Equality, Achievements and Development (HEAD)

Overall budget: 7,000 €

Part of the budget assigned to EDEC: 7,000 €

Objective: By learning from Lithuanian peers to raise the skills of professionals working with PwDs in (rural) Georgia, to increase their job security and/or employability, to promote the work with PwD in general, and to capacitate the involved service providers

Target groups: Specialists employed in daycare centers for children and persons with disabilities, children and persons with disabilities, guardians, local authorities, and other stakeholders

Beneficiaries: Specialists employed in daycare centers for children and persons with disabilities

Conducted activities: 

1. Select the personnel who will be participating in the study visit

2. Visit Vilnius – Nijole Jenite Social Care House during the study visit

3. Participants of the study visit are expected to share their experiences with the employees of the daycare centers

4. Hold a round table meeting in a “Rights-based social services” format

Achieved results: 

1. Six employees of daycare centers were retrained and certified

2. The motivation of daycare center employees has increased

3. The knowledge and best practices gained from the study visit on rights-based social services were shared with 30 interested parties in a round-table format meeting

Donors/Partners:   International Women’s Association Georgia, in cooperation with EDEC’s social service spin-off Habitat for Equality, Achievements and Development (HEAD)

Overall budget: 14,910 GEL  

Part of the budget assigned to EDEC: 13,890 GEL

Objective: arrange a sensory integration room for disabled children aged 6 to 18 years in Baghdati municipality, to promote the improvement of emotional and mental health, which in turn will increase the quality of rehabilitation services of the daycare center for disabled children.

Target groups: Children with disabilities, guardians of beneficiaries, and other stakeholders

Beneficiaries: Children with disabilities

Conducted activities:  A sensory room is equipped with appropriately

Achieved results:  A sensory integration room has been set up for children with disabilities between the ages of 6 and 18. This room is equipped with appropriate equipment and helps to improve the emotional and mental well-being of these children. As a result, the quality of rehabilitation services provided by the day center for children with disabilities is increased.

Donors / Partners: Embassy of Poland; in cooperation with EDC’s social service spin-off Habitat for Equality, Achievements and Development (HEAD)

Overall budget: 20,000 €

Part of the budget assigned to EDEC: 20,000 €

Objective: Equipping the kitchen of the Social Inclusion Center in Baghdati Municipality with modern and safe materials and equipment

Target Group(s): Adults with disabilities, beneficiaries’ guardians and other stakeholders

Beneficiaries: Adults with disabilities

Conducted activities:

1. A tender notice was released for carrying out repair and construction works in compliance with the relevant standards
2. Kitchen furniture and appliances have been installed in the kitchen area, which will serve to 30 individuals with disabilities
3. The beneficiaries will participate in the food preparation process to acquire the necessary professional skills for a cook and engage in therapeutic work

Archieved results:

The kitchen of the new Social Inclusion Center in the village of Dimi, Baghdati Municipality is arranged and equipped according to modern standards to accommodate 30 disabled people

Donors / Partners: Bread for the World (BfdW); in cooperation with EDEC’s social service spin-off Habitat for Equality, Achievements and Development (HEAD)

Overal budget: € 7,500

Part of the budget assigned to EDEC: € 7,500  

Objective: Equipment of EDEC’s four day care centres (DCCs) and three speech therapy units with new toys and material for the better development of beneficiaries’ cognitive, emotional, social, and physical skills

Target groups: Children and adults with disabilities and impediments in Georgia, EDEC’s therapy staff members

Beneficiaries: Children and adults with disabilities  

Conducted activities:

1. A comprehensive list of toys, books, sport and art equipment was development based on consultation with external experts in the field and EDEC’s DCC and therapy staff
2. Sports equipment and furniture, therapeutic equipment, speech therapy equipment, sewing machines and materials were purchased for the art therapy and for the production of own toys
3. Daycare center therapy staff were instructed in using new toys, tools and equipment appropriately

 Achieved results:   Therapeutic material for the development of cognitive, emotional, social, and physical skills of children and adults with disabilities was purchased for Kutaisi, Terjola, Samtredia, Saguramo, and Zugdidi daycare centers

Donors / Partners: Renovabis e.V.

Total budget: 20,240 € 

Part of the budget assigned to EDEC: 20,240 € 

Objective:  Re-opening of four daycare centres for people with disabilities in regional areas of Georgia in September 2020 and the safe continuation of all pre-pandemic services beyond the end of the project

Target groups: Children and adults with disabilities, beneficiaries’ parents, local governments and other stakeholders

Beneficiaries:  Children and adults with disabilities

 Conducted activities:

1. All four daycare centers have been equipped with hygiene products (face masks, disinfectants, etc.), improved sanitary facilities and allocated additional staff to ensure compliance with the government’s new COVID-19 hygiene regulations
2. All therapy services have been gradually restored (contact and online if necessary) 74 pre-pandemic beneficiaries were insured in all four daycare centers
3. Conducted trainings with staff, beneficiaries and their parents on the importance of hygiene and safety rules to prevent further spread of the new coronavirus
4. Awareness raising and fundraising events were held with local government, social service agencies, private sector, media, charity and church representatives

Achieved results:  Successful re-opening of EDEC’s four daycare centers for people with disabilities after their mandatory closure during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic

Donors / Partners: Bread for the World (BfdW); in cooperation with EDEC’s social service spin-off Habitat for Equality, Achievements, and Development (HEAD)

Overal budget: 222,000 € 

Part of the budget assigned to EDEC: 222,000 €  

Objective: To promote social integration for disabled people living in rural areas, specifically in Baghdati municipality.

Target groups: Children with disabilities, their guardians, staff, volunteers, local authorities and other stakeholders

Beneficiaries: Children with disabilities

Conducted activities:

1. A day center for 30 disabled children was built and equipped accordingly in Dim village of Baghdati municipality.
2. Six new jobs were created (teachers, assistants, cooks, and drivers)
3. An adapted minivan was purchased for the safe movement of the beneficiaries
4. The day center was officially opened with the disabled community, local government, social service agency, media, and charity organizations representatives
5. Organized 30 meetings with various community groups to inform the local community about cooperation and volunteering opportunities
6. People of different generations, especially the elderly, were involved in different activities
7. 12 meetings were organized with schools, kindergartens, and non-governmental organizations of Baghdati Municipality to promote inclusive education
8. At the end of the project, an open day was held for donors, beneficiaries, other interested parties, and the public as a whole

Achieved results: A daycenter for disabled children was built and fully equipped for 30 disabled children in Baghdati municipality

Donors / Partners: Bread for the World (BfdW)

Project budget: 12,500 € 

Part of the budget assigned to EDEC: 12,500 € 

Objective: Development of HEAD’s dedicated corporate identity incl. brand book, barrier-free website and visual separation from EDEC

Target groups: People with disabilities in Georgia, their guardians, overall population

Conducted activities:

1. HEAD’s new barrier-free Corporate Design was developed
2. HEAD’s new barrier-free website according to international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) was tested and launched

Achieved results:  HEAD’s new barrier-free website is launched

Donors /Partners: 

1. European Union (EU)
2. Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB)
3. Movement Accessible Environment for Everyone (AEE)

Total budget: 23,582 $ 

Part of the budget assigned to EDEC: 23,582 $ 

Objective: The project aims to support the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with various disabilities in West Georgia.

Target group: Persons with disability, Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs), LEPL Social Service Agency, Ministries, local governments

Beneficiaries: Persons with disabilities

Conducted activities:

1. Regional workshops with the participation of public, private, and non-governmental organizations were held
2. Guidebook on disability rights and available services for persons with disability was developed
3.  International study trip to show foreign approaches and initiatives to representatives of the consultancy service providers and the municipalities was organized
4. Capacity-building training to strengthen and inspire the representatives of the consultancy service providers and the municipalities were organized
5. Training on ‘Accessible social services for people with disabilities for women from all ten regions of Georgia.
6. Financial support for eight new social service-focused social enterprises was provided
7. Two advocacy workshops to promote the rights of persons with disability were held
8. Five advocacy campaigns to promote the rights of persons with disability was financed
9. 30 public debates to advocate of rights of persons with disability were organized

Achieved results:  The innovative consultancy service “Disabled to Disabled” in three municipalities of West Georgia (a, b, and c) is established