NEWS

“Final conference on project EXIT ”

On the last project month a final national conference took place in Sofia. The participants were representatives of the target groups and relevant stakeholders. Invitations were sent to high ranked officials and experts from the Ministry of education, Ministry of labor and social policy, Ministry of justice. Also, the venue was attended by NGO representatives in the filed of the work with children at risk. The conference had around 45 attendees.

At the conference were presented the project’s activities, the achieved results and the steps towards adaptation of the after-care system in Bulgaria were also put to comment. The representative of the correctional school in Rakitovo – deputy principal Karadjov – shared some insights from the study visits to The Netherlands, which took place earlier in the project, in terms of studying the existing model of after-care for youths in conflict with the law. Later some comments and opinions were shared between the participants related to the obstacles for the adaptation process of the after-care model. They also shared some experiences and coordinates for future references.

                             Training on aftercare for youths in conflict with law

A 5-day training was conducted within the framework of Project “EXIT. Pilot system for aftercare for youths in conflict with law” from 22 to 28 April. The basic elements of the training involved a theoretical part – presenting the methods for delivering postinstitutional care for youths in conflict with law in the system of relevant institutions and organizations and the rules and procedures related to it. The practical part involved interactive methods, casework and role games.

The goal of the conducted training was to clarify the indicators that monitor the effectiveness of the established system for aftercare and the procedures under their examination as well as to establish and exchange contacts among the participants in the training. Many issues were presented in the training - the present practices in the system for aftercare for youths in conflict with law, the international standards and state policy in the delivery of new care, the mechanism for implementing the established methods for aftercare, possibilities and practices in the realization of a system for aftercare, the models WorkWise and Safety House, etc.

Project “EXIT. Pilot system for aftercare for youths in conflict with law” has been implemented by Crime Prevention Fund – IGA in partnership with the Dutch Foundation “180”. The Project has been funded by Operative Programme “Human Resources Development” and co-funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund, Scheme for free financial assistance: BG051PO001-7.0.01 “No boundaries – Component 1”, Contract №.BG051PO001-7.0.01-0057-C0001.

The goal of the project is to improve the quality of life of the people in Bulgaria by establishing network between Bulgaria and the Netherlands for improving the social inclusion of youths in conflict with law. The innovative model of the network WorkWise, which has been established and developed in the Netherlands within the framework of the programme EQUAL, will be transferred and adapted in Bulgaria and the focus will be on the postinstitutional care for youths in conflict with law.

Visit to the Netherlands within the “Exit” project

From 23^th to 27^th of October, a 15-member delegation involving experts from Fund IGA and representatives of the target groups organized a visit to Holland within the project - “EXIT – Pilot system for aftercare for youths in conflict with the law”. The delegation members were introduced to practical aspects of the aftercare system for youths in conflict with the law in the Netherlands and also visited several institutions for such youths which provide aftercare, education and training.

On the first day of the visit was to the headquarters of the partner organization Foundation “180” . There was presented the Work-wise model and a discussion took place on the comparative analysis of the relevant legislation in both countries. There were discussed also the good practices of the relevant institutions. On the next day the delegation visited "Almata“ – a closed institution for youths in conflict with the law. It was firstly presented to the delegation by local experts and then a showed to the delegation members. Thus the delegation was introduced to the work on-site an the provided aftercare. After lunch the delegation travelled to Hertogenbosch, where it visited “Sterk in Werk” - a trainings center for minors with cognitive disabilities, with behavioral problems and delay in development. This particular center was included in the visit as juvenile ex-offenders often use the services of such centers.

On the last day of the work visit the delegation went to Breda. Here, the Bulgarian experts had the opportunity to learn about a very interesting and useful practice called Safety house. It has begun its existence in Breda. The visit and the meetings with representatives of Dutch organizations and relevant institutions was accompanied by meaningful discussions, conversations, sharing ideas and working practices.

After the round tables and the work visit in Holland experts from “Fund IGA” and Foundation “180” will proceed to prepare a methodology for aftercare distribution.

The project is funded by the Operational Programme “Human Resourses Development” co-financed by the EU trough the European Social Fund (ESF).

The relevant institutions in Sofia were introduced to EXIT project

After the round tables in Pazardzhik and Plovdiv with highlight on “EXIT. Pilot scheme for aftercare for youths in conflict with the law” , a third one was held in Sofia. The event was hosted by 67^th primary school “Vasil Drumev” in Serdika district, which had in past several years some successful partnerships with Fund IGA.

The purpose of the event was not only to introduce the project to number of institutions and organizations, but to reveal the results of the conducted comparative study of good practices in aftercare for youths, leaving the institutions for children in conflict with the law.The study was conducted by Bulgarian and dutch experts and was presented by Mr. Andrey Momchilov from the leading organization.

The invitation was accepted by representatives from Social Asistance Agency (SAA), Pedagogical Room for Children (PDC), State Agency for Child Protection (SACP), Local commission for combating antisocial behavior of minors and adolescents(LCCABMA)- Serdika district, UNICEF, National Network for Children (NNC), 3^rd District Police Station in Sofia and some other schools. They were involved in the meeting by sharing their own experience, asked questions and commented not only on the successful practices in Bulgaria but also on the downfalls they’ve encountered, and also to have the opportunity to draw positive experiences from the project.

This project is funded by the Operative programme “Development of human resources”, co-funded by the EU through the European Social Fund, Plan for giving free financial support: BG051PO001-7.0.01 “No limits – Component 1”, Contract № BG051PO001-7.0.01-0057-C0001;

Second round table within the “EXIT” project took place in Plovdiv     

On September 18th at the Center for social rehabilitation and integration for children from risk groups (CSRICRG) – Plovdiv a press-conference was held within the project “EXIT . Pilot scheme for subsequent care for youths in conflict with the law”. The project is implemented by Fund “IGA” in partnership with the Dutch Foundation “180” . Dimitar Rusinov - the project manager and Andrey Momchilov – expert, presented to the media the studies prepared so far on the good practices on post-institutional care for youths in conflict with the law.

At 10:30 a.m. the round table begun which was attended by representatives from institutions and organizations from Plovdiv region – I, II, IV and VI District police stations ( Regional Department – Ministry of Interior), Plovdiv municipality, the Probation Office, institutions working with children, NGOs and others. They were presented with the good practices, a comparative study of legislation in both countries, discussed the possibilities for piloting here of a innovative subsequent care system. The participant shared their experience and their point of view regarding the current condition of the aftercare system, its flaws and recommendations and mainly the sharing of information and directing the youths to community-based post-institutional care.

Round table on aftercare for youths in conflict with the law

 (September 11) A round table within the project “EXIT –Pilot system for aftercare for youths in conflict with the law” took place at the press-club of Bulgarian Telegraph Agency(BTA) in Pazardzhik. At the event were discussed the good practices on the post institutional aftercare for youths in conflict with the law; the legislation and the work of institutions both in Bulgaria and the Netherlands and were given recommendations on primary steps for piloting the innovative aftercare system here in Bulgaria. The participants discussed their expectations of the aftercare system, the data flow and directing the youths to community based post-institutional aftercare.

The event was attended by representatives of the relevant institutions and organizations from the region of Pazardzhik.

This project is funded by Operative programme “Human resources development”, co-funded by the EU trough the European social fund (ESF), BG051PO001-7.0.01 “No limits-Component 1-Phase 1”, Contract № BG051PO001-7.0.01-C0001;

The goal of the project is to improve the living standarts of people in Bulgaria by establishing a system which will improve the social inclusion of youths in conflict with the law. The project aims at transferring, adaptation and application in Bulgaria of the innovative model of the WorkWise network, established and developed within the EQUAL programme that focuses on post-institutional care for youths in conflict with the law.

The main partner of this project is “Foundation 180” - the Netherlands. It has great experience in managing and supporting of behavioral interventions, focused on the resocialization of youths at risk.

Till the end of the month two more round tables in Plovdiv and in Sofia will be held.