Developing a social enterprise - public laundry, ensuring socio-economic rehabilitation and integration for people from vulnerable groups in Dolna Banya

Dolna Banya ranks among the municipalities with the highest unemployment rate in Sofia region. Statistics shows that people with disabilities and their caregivers are the ones who are most severely affected by the problem. The current project addresses the issue through creating a social enterprise in the town of Dolna Banya - a public laundry to the benefit of inactive and unemployed persons, incl. and people with disabilities and their direct surroundings, aimed at their full-fledged and autonomous existence by providing employment opportunities. This will make them more active and equal participants in society, thus improving their living standards and creating conditions for the development of their capacity as individuals despite the adverse effects of their conditions. On the other hand, the implementation of a scheme for supported employment will contribute to alleviating on their families and the community as a whole. Alongside the set-up of the laundry (remodelling and equipment of the premises); creating organisational and administrative framework; motivational training for 40 long-term unemployed people from vulnerable groups; conducting activities and programmes for active socio-economic integration and on-the-job training of the 16 persons with disabilities to be employed in the laundry; building clientele, the 16-month project envisages the introduction of a programme for occupational rehabilitation, whose role is to build a supportive environment, giving a chance for people with disabilities to acquire and develop skills for seeking and keeping a job (through training and internship in the social enterprise). Thereby the initiative shall support the implementation of the adopted Amended Municipal Strategy for the Development of Social Services in Dolna Banya 2016 - 2020. The Action envisages a number of activities targeting the community in order to reduce stigma and discrimination and create conditions for active social inclusion.

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