NEWS

A final conference under the project “ENTER - 2”

A closing conference under the project of Fund IGA “ENTER–2 – Development of the model for a social inclusion of former prisoners” took place at August 30th at 9 o’clock in the conference hall of the hotel “Seven Hills” in Plovdiv. ENTER-2 is a specially developed model which gives opportunities to individuals, who have served a term of imprisonment, for an adequate social inclusion. During the conference the products which were developed and launched within the framework of the project were presented: Programme for a training of individuals who have served a term of imprisonment, in an Active socially-working mentoring, the social service Centre for a social rehabilitation and integration for the aimed group, Methods and an Educational programme for deliverers of social services – part of the model “ENTER-2”.
The project “ENTER-2 – Development of the model for a social inclusion of former prisoners” was realized in the period of March 2010 – August 2011 with the financial support of Operative programme “Development of human resources” 2007-2013, “Social enterprising – Popularization and support of social enterprises. Pilot stage”. The leading organization is Crime Prevention Fund –IGA, and the partners are – Regional Development Fund “ROMA” – Plovdiv, Association “Centre for training and services” and “Taurus – consulting” Ltd. The main aim of the project was to render support for a successful social inclusion of individuals who have served a term of imprisonment.

 Project “ENTER - 2” trained 30 deliverers of social services

Last Friday (July 22nd) was the end of the training of specialists who work for a social inclusion of former prisoners within the Project “ENTER 2” Development of a model for social inclusion of former prisoners. 30 representatives from the General Directorate of the Ministry of Justice “Performance of punishments”, the municipalities and the NGO working with the target group were trained. When the training came to its end they set a respective exam and received a qualification for applying the model “ENTER 2”.
The training was held by Fund for Crime Prevention – IGA and by the partner organizations “Centre for training and services” and Taurus Consulting.
The project is financed through the Operative Program “Development of Human Resources” and co-financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund.

 Social service providers are trained in working with model ENTER-2

Earlier this week in hotel "Elbrus - Velingrad started training for the implementation of model ENTER-2. They are realized within 4 - module training and will continue until July. The trainings are under the Fund – IGA’s project “ENTER-2. Development of models for social inclusion of former prisoners,” which is funded under the Operational Programme "Human Resources ", funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund. In the seminars are trained specialists from the General Directorate "Execution of Punishments” of the Ministry of Justice, municipalities and NGOs working with the target group. After completing the training, participants will take an exam. On successful completion they will gain a qualification as part of the profession of an economist, majoring in economics and management, and in the profession social work and counseling, part of profession - social work associate; under the requirements of National Agency with a focus - work with model ENTER-2.

 The presentation of model ENTER-2 has completed

On April 5, at the Hall of Municipal Administration - Blagoevgrad was held the last information day presenting model ENTER-2. The model designed under Fund – IGA’s project “ENTER-2. Development of the model for social inclusion of former prisoners.” Beside the model, within the information day were presented and a national survey on the activities and the status of the social enterprises in Bulgaria, successful models of social enterprises in EU countries, methods and programs for social inclusion of former prisoners and others.
The information days in the country - in Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Vratsa, Pazardjik, Pleven and Plovdiv - were visited by representatives of institutions and NGOs that are relevant to the work of persons exempt from the places of detention.
In the project upcoming calendar is envisaged training of selected during the information days professionals for working with model ENTER-2. If they successfully pass the exam at the end of the training, participants will receive a certificate for part of a profession under the National Agency. Project “ENTER - 2. Development of the model for social inclusion of former prisoners” is funded under the Operational Programme "Human Resources Development" 2007-2013, "Social entrepreneurship - promoting and supporting social enterprises. Pilot phase.

 The presentation of model ENTER-2 continues

The third information day presenting the model ENTER-2 was held in the conference room of the District Administration - Burgas. The model is created by Fund – IGA’s project “ENTER - 2. Development of models for social inclusion of former prisoners.”
Presentation was attended by representatives of the Appellate Prosecutor's Office - Burgas District Police Directorate, Regional Service of Execution of Sentences, Prison, Burgas Municipality, NGOs and others.
Furthermore, the model "ENTER" was presented and the national survey on the status and the activities of social enterprises in Bulgaria, successful models of social enterprises in EU countries, methods and programs for social inclusion of former prisoners and others.
Information days to be held are in Pleven, Vratsa and Blagoevgrad. Project “ENTER - 2. Development of models for social inclusion of former prisoners” is funded under the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development” 2007-2013, “Social entrepreneurship - promoting and supporting social enterprises. Pilot phase.”

 Information Day presents a model for social inclusion

Today, the conference hall of the "Imperial" - Pazardzhik was held Information Day to promote model ENTER-2, established under the project of Fund - IGA “ENTER - 2. Development of models for social inclusion of former prisoners.”
Specially developed model, gives a chance for adequate social inclusion to persons who have served the custodial sentence. The model includes social service Centre for Social Rehabilitation and Integration (CSRI) and active social work mentoring (ASWM). For additional funding of CSRI, the model suggests creation of a social enterprise providing professional and educational training programs and consulting for social service providers and other customers.
By the end of this month, similar information days will be held in Plovdiv, Bourgas, Vratsa, Pleven and Blagoevgrad.
Project “ENTER - 2. Development of models for social inclusion of former prisoners” is funded under the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development” 2007-2013, "Social entrepreneurship - promoting and supporting social enterprises. Pilot phase.”

The Mentors received their certificates

(6.12) Today at the office of Fund - IGA were officially handed over the certificates of the 12 Active Social-Employment Mentors (ASEM), who underwent a training course within Project “ENTER - 2. Development of models for social inclusion of former prisoners,” carried out by IGA.
The futures ASEMs are from Pazardzhik and Plovdiv, and have endured imprisonment. They successfully completed their training and obtained qualification as part of profession of Social worker in NAVET, direction - social activities. After additional selection, that will assess their motivation and achieved skills, 6 of them will be employed in the two partner organizations Fund - IGA and the Foundation for Regional Development ROMA - Plovdiv for a period of 9 months, up to completion of the project. They will work with individuals released from prison, and consult them prior and after release from prison with preparation of social assessment and individual plan, assistance with the Bureau of Labour, the Social Assistance Directorate, Probation Service, USCRPS and others. The mentors will be in support and demand for housing and employment.
Project “Enter – 2” is funded under the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development” 2007-2013, “Social Entrepreneurship - Promoting and supporting social enterprises. Pilot phase.” One of its aims is to enhance the employability rate of the labour market of persons who have served their custodial sentence.

Former prisoners are trained in Active Social-Employment Mentoring

The training of Active Social-Employment Mentors (ASEM) has begun. Fund IGA’s project "ENTER - 2. Development of models for social inclusion of former prisoners” is funded under the Operational Programme "Human Resources Development" 2007-2013, "Social entrepreneurship - promoting and supporting social enterprises. Pilot phase.”
Its expected the training to continue for one month and give 12 students from Pazardzhik and Plovdiv, endured imprisonment, to acquire certificates for part of the profession of Social worker in NAVET, direction - social activities. After completion of training each ASEM would be able to work with individuals released from prison, covering: in prison consultations - before release, preparation of social assessment, individual plan after release from prison, assist and mediate in front of: Bureau of Labour, Social Assistance Directorates, Probation Service, Municipal Administration, Unified System for Civil Registration and Public Services (USCRPS), Health Services, as well as assistance with finding housing, employment search and support of work to achieve sustainable employment.
Project “ENTER – 2” will enable some of the most marginalized social groups - those who have served a custodial sentence, to acquire new knowledge and skills through practice for lifelong learning. This will improve their chances for professional realization of the real market.

IGA started the year with two new projects

Fund - IGA works on two new projects by late last and early this year. The first, “ENTER-2 - Development of models for social inclusion of former prisoners”, is financed by the Operational Program "Human Resources Development" 2007-2013, Component 1. Support the development of existing social enterprises to increase the range and diversity of the provided services. The project will allow one of the most marginalized social groups - those who have served their punishment "imprisonment", to acquire new knowledge and skills through practice for lifelong learning, which will improve their chances for professional realization on the actual labour market. Partners of IGA in this project are the association “Centre for Training and Services”, “Taurus – Consulting” Ltd and the Foundation for Regional Development “Roma” - Plovdiv.
The second project, “CHANCE. Integrated approach to early prevention of child antisocial behaviour and school drop-out”, take place in Sofia, in partnership with the “Centre for Inclusive Education” and Sofia Municipality. The project aims to provide technical and resource support for a “Centre for Social Rehabilitation and Integration of Child Offenders and Children at Risk” and a “Centre for Information, Advice, Training and Support to Children and Families.” Beside the creation of the centres, the project aims to implement a set of social services that would be provided to 120 children with learning difficulties and/or deviant behaviour on the territory of Sofia municipality. The project finances are provided by the Fund for support of NGO - Bulgaria 2008-2010. Its deadline is the end of 2010.
Besides these two projects, IGA continues its work on other 6 national and 3 international projects. International projects are being implemented in collaboration with the British Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Justice of France, Hungary, Denmark; porters from Greece, Britain, Italy, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, Spain and Catalonia and the partners from the European Organization for Probation. Broadly international projects concerning the strengthening of the international approach in reduction of recidivism, development and management of cases in Europe, as well as focus on the three primary levels of prevention of crime: by taking measures of general prevention directed to all citizens, and particular measures to prevent violence in schools, measures to reduce the physical circumstances to carry out criminal acts and activities, and reduce subjective fear of crime through the development and the adoption of effective strategies for crime prevention.