FOR A BETTER LIFE OF SOCIALLY VULNERABLE
POPULATON OF PALILULA
21.1.2011.
City Municipality of Palilula – Nis, in partnership with Center of Social Work “Sveti Sava” in Nis and cooperation with Municipality of Kustendil (Bulgaria) successfully realizing one – year project “Strengthening of Municipal capacity to improve the quality of life for socially vulnerable groups” from program EXCHANGE 3. In the opinion of press conference participants, organized in Nis` Media Center, the last two months activity for the realization of the project, drew great public attention. Implementation of the project started by signing contract 24th of September 2010. in Belgrade in organization of Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities and after forming of mobile teams and preparatory activities on the ground, it started with realization of program.

According to Prof. Dr Igor Novakovic, president of Municipality, statistical data show that the average citizen of Nis` Palilula two years ago lived whole month only with 1.680 RSD or with less then 20 euros. In the last two years  there was an economic crisis which is the value of this sum of money even more reduced. Director of Center of Social Work Zoran Jovic, says that from 4530 registered users of financial security  in whole city, 1843 is from territory of this Municipality. Statistic shows that the total number of one of the forms of social protection in Nis, 40,6 percent is from Palilula Municipality. “For two months as the project is implementing, direct benefit had 600 people. Specifically, that much people used services of housekeepers for the elderly, doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, lawyers, house masters, hairdressers. Data shows that most of them were in rural areas, which is logical because in this places practically no official institution that maintained a quality of life, explains manager of this project Milos Stojadinovic and added that elderly people often sought and received health care services and home help, while the young and unemployed were most interested in legal aid.

In Municipality say that they are now satisfied with what has been done, and how much is Palilula` people satisfied we will find out relatively quickly because it is planed to conduct survey where citizens can openly to assess whether the project is good, how they get it with this project, is and how much is improved their quality of life by the whole range of different services in the field of social welfare could receive practical on a home threshold.  Do not be self – evaluated, it will help their colleagues and partners from Kustendil from Bulgaria. It is a city with about 80.000 inhabitants, where various forms of social support from their country of Bulgaria, receives around 20.000 inhabitants. Their governments are due to EU membership received significant financial support to solve social problems, because their only one Roma settlement, in very bad condition lives even 16.000 people.

Detelina Omerova, coordinator of the project by Bulgarian side, claims that their local government has a very active social policy and that much has been done in past years thanks to EU membership, that is able to use funds for the area of social protection and care. “We have built the home for people with disabilities with 90 users. From PHARE program is partly funding home for abandoned children for what is committed 164.000 euros. Project “Children with the risk” with 300.000 euros is also funded by the EU, and a second home is for the youngest on the surface of  1,5 hectares, we managed to make with money of one of U. S. funds. By the end of this year also by help of EU we also opened Center of Independent Living, then Social Rehabilitation Center of children and adults, and already we are preparing a project for children who lives in big families and in those where parents have no or very low education – says Omerova.

“Experience of Kustendil for “conquest” of the European funds are large and they are thanks to them their social problem pretty well solved. So why then not to use experience they have, when they wants to share with us. Implementation of the project will continue throughout the year, insists that is precisely in the rural areas, but already thinking about which areas could the next time you apply for EU money. This kind of experience will put us one step in front of other cities and municipalities in Serbia in the moment when our country become a member of European family, and I sincerely hope that our patience will not be issued in a front of their doors – says president of Palilula Municipality Prof. dr. Igor Novakovic. Value of this project is 113.100 euros. City Municipality of Palilula – Nis is one of 29 municipalities – cities in Serbia where is European Union, within first invitation, approved project from program EXCHANGE 3.

At the press conference spoke President of CM Palilula Igor Novakovic, manager of the project Milos Stojadinovic, director of the Center of Social Work Zoran Jovic and consultant on the project Detelina Omerska from Bulgaria. Milos Stojadinovic said that project started with realization 1st December 2010 when on the ground were mobile teams and that until now help used 600 users, who live in rural areas. People who were interested for medical, social and legal help are mostly from rural areas that don’t have health centers and it was easier that ask medical teams for necessary help. Older people are the most used medical help, while the young and unemployed asked for legal help.