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The Industrial-Practice Workshops for Young People with Limited Opportunities in Severodvinsk, Russia
Project Liaison: Kjeld Ingebrigtsen, Nord-Norges Diakonistiftelse, NorwayThe"Industrial-Practice Workshops for Young people with Limited Opportunities" project was initiated to deal with the lack of employment opportunities for young people with disabilities. The project will be carried out by the a non-governmental organization (NGO), the Centre of Education ("INVITE"), in partnership with the international alliance IMPACT, the Administration of the City of Severodvinsk, and other organizations and establishments of the City of Severodvinsk that are interested in working with people with disabilities and their families.
The purpose of the project is to create conditions for the inclusion of young people with limited employment opportunities through the creation of education/industrial workshops.
Goals:
Creation of conditions for interaction of various establishments and organizations interested in the project to form long-term partnerships.
Creation of industrial practice workshops to train and develop young people with disabilities.
Organization of vocational training for young people with disabilities.
Creation of conditions for business activity for people with disabilities.
Preparation of teachers to master skills to work with persons with disabilities.
Creation of a non-commercial enterprise with partial self-support for people with limited employment opportunities.
Attract the attention of the national, regional and state governments, local authorities of the Russian federation, and various social institutions to the problems of people with limited vocational opportunities through wide-spread mass media about the positive results of the project.
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Severodvinsk - 2
A motion was made, seconded and passed to approve a new project in Severodvinsk, funding it for a three-year period.
With these few and formal words, on 15 March, 2007, the IMPACT Council made it possible to fulfill the planning of a local initiative in the city of Severodvinsk, Russia, aimed at creating a place for 30 - 35 young citizens with disabilities to work.
The Council made their decision on the basis of a well-prepared project description, a Project Agreement signed by multiple local organizations, and a project budget that includes a major portion funded by the City of Severodvinsk.
A big step had been taken, but a lot of work still needed to done before the workshops could open. More than a year later, after repairs were made to the workshop and workers were trained, a great opening ceremony was celebrated on 26 May 2008. The red ribbon was cut by the City Deputat Makurova and IMPACT liaison, Kjeld Ingebrigtsen.
Many City officials joined the ceremony. Representatives from IMPACT also attended, including Michael Seidel and Christoph Siedersleben from v.Bodelschwinghsche Anstalten Bethel in Germany, and John Twardos from Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services in the United States.
To highlight and promote the themes "Right to work" for people with disabilities, the opening celebration arranged a Round Table gathering where a lot of speeches were delivered.
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Olga's Story
Olga is 18 years old and finished school in Severodvinsk in 2007. As almost all other youngsters with disabilities in the City, she didn't know what to do after school. Most likely, she would have to stay at home, strolling the streets or sit at a café.
One day, her school director told her about the project IPW and the possibilities to apply for work at Lesnaya Ulitsa 25. She wanted explore this "new thing" and applied for a place. With good references from the school, she was chosen to be one of the six girls in the first group of participants.
When representatives from IMPACT met with Olga, she was very busy working on her third order. A bit shy, but proud, she told us that she alone had done 30% of their first order and 40% of the second. Her goal was to do 50% of the order they were working on now. With this goal in mind, she told us she couldn't talk with us for very long.
Olga is living in a flat in Severodvinsk with with her older sister. Together they are taking care of the household. They are also sharing the living costs. Olga said that she only uses her small pension for household expenses. She wants to save the salary from IPW, but she didn't wish to tell us what she wants to save for ... "It is a secret," she said.