PCD News

Round table on the children in risk and NGO approaches in Burgas, Bulgaria

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:40:08 +0100

A round table was organized by the regional branch of the Bulgarian Red Cross in Burgas on 21.11.2008.

It gathered representatives of NGOs working with children and a number of governmental agencies and local authorities, dealing with the issue.

The round table was aiming to present the findings of the PRA report on the children in risk in Burgas, to collect experiences of other organizations and to set a start of a potential future alliance of organizations and insititutions dealing with children in risk.

One of the weaknesses of the children care in Bulgaria is the fact that the many actors working well in their fields fail to cooperate to the fuill extent possible, thus filling the gaps and assuring smoth transition of the child in risk from one specific type of care to another. The process of elaboration of the new municipal plan on the childcare gave a good opportunity to initiate discussion on potential alliance of all actors in support to both elaborating the local care systems and provision of services.

Photos: here.

Interviews and exercises with children in risk in Burgas, Bulgaria

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:19:42 +0100

After the initial gathering of information and the analysis, the project team decided to run more exercises with the children in risk in Burgas, who visit the daily center.

Based on special format of a child "passport", elaborated by Ruska Boyadjieva, which allows analysis of relations with others whithin family and outside, friends, institutions, etc. the data was finally collected and a draft PRA report was elaborated by the team.

The children filled in the "passports" while at the same time a semi-structured interview was going on. The passport includes writing, drawing, filling in with color as most appropriate for children. Due to the very specific target group, the PRA instruments had to be very well redesigned to match the specifics of children and to be appropriate for their age.

Photos of these additional interviews - here.

PCD in Tajikistan - in photos

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:49:05 +0200

The new PCD round in Tajikistan involves five new communities in addition to the communities in Dushanbe (2006-2007) and in Vahdat (2007-2008). They are in Rudaki, Dzhirgatal, Nurabad-Kalanak, Gissar and Yavan.

Click on the titles and see the photos from events in communities.

Rudaki Meeting 1	PCD in Dzhirgatal	PRA training and Community meeting in Nurabad

PRA Training in Yavan	PRA Training & community meeting 2 in Gissar	Community Meeting 3 in Geolog dormitory - Vahdat

Update on the PCD activities in the region - 2008

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:06:03 +0200

In 2008, the National Societies of Croatia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia have utilized the participatory community development (PCD) approach in their work with the most vulnerable groups of society.
A total of 12 vulnerable communities were targeted implementing 12 micro-projects supported by the Norwegian and the British Red Cross through the Federation Regional Representation in Budapest. Another 16 small community based projects were supported by other stakeholders involved in the PCD process and facilited by the Red Cross. Most of the targeted communities were vulnerable Roma but also other marginalized groups such as children in isolated communities, migrants and those at risk of human trafficking. For most of the communities where a rapid appraisal was carried out, low living standards, bad infrastructure, environmental issues, social problems and discrimination were issues needing to be addressed.

The involvement of vulnerable people in all stages of the PCD process led to a better understanding of these communities’ needs by the National Societies and enabled the implementation of the micro-projects based on the priorities identified during large group workshops. Due to the needs uncovered most of the micro-projects contained an educational component, the decrease of social exclusion and improving social and health conditions of the most vulnerable. A number of stakeholders were part of the process contributing to establishing partnerships with the communities and the Red Cross as well as ensuring sustainability of the projects. This was a particularly important aspect concerning the participation of local authorities throughout the PCD process.

In Croatia four micro-projects were tailored to decrease the exclusion of Roma children from school through additional educational and social activities. The projects resulted in many of the Roma children going back to school from which they had previously left.
Three micro-projects in Macedonia were designed to contribute to better health conditions among Roma communities by constructing a new drainage system and organizing health education and family planning workshops. In addition an education club for youth was opened which will serve as a community centre and its activities will be supported by local authorities.
In Serbia two micro-projects were implemented aiming to facilitate the social integration of Roma children and adults through preparatory workshops for school enrolment and various workshops for parents. Another community project implemented in Serbia focused on increasing awareness on different health issues and promoting healthy lifestyles through health education trainings.
Micro-project activities in Montenegro contributed to better living conditions among Roma community by improving housing facilities and undertaking clean-up campaigns in order to decrease the possibility of any disease in the community.
The PCD activities in Romania targeted young people at risk of human trafficking while in Bulgaria the activities aimed at decreasing isolation and discrimination among migrants.

PCD progress in Macedonia, micro-projects

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:44:06 +0200

In the PCD cycle 2007/2008, Macedonian Red Cross in cooperation with the Red Cross Branches Kisela Voda-Skopje, Debar and Delcevo, implemented the PCD programme in three vulnerable Roma communities.

As a result of the made assessment of the needs and the determined priorities of the communities, with the engagement of the PCD teams and the active involvement of the community members, the following activities were implemented.

In the community "Pustevski Endek" in Delcevo - paved access road - 265 m2 long; held workshops in the area of protection of the environment and infective diseases; established ecological patrol; two access gates for ill and paralyzed persons to their homes as well as reconstructed tap for drinking water.

In the community "Vakov" in Debar - opened educational and PC club, for organizing computer and crafts training courses where 40 persons attended computer training courses and 40 persons were trained for crafts (20 welders and 20 housepainters), as well as workshops in the area of health prevention and family planning.

Gratitude to the Red Cross - another story from Debar, Macedonia

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:42:02 +0200

I grew up in a poor family. My wish was always to be able to help young generations. This are the words of Mr. Zija Iljazi, explaining his initiative to form a youth club in the community “Vakuv” in Debar.

(Full story from Read more link)

Case study from the community "Vakov" in Debar, Macedonia

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:31:12 +0200

Armond Elmazi lives in Debar in the community "Vakov". He completed his elementary education in the primary school "Bratstvo Edinstvo" in Debar and as a result of the very bad financial situation of his family and the lack of interest to continue his studies he stopped his education.

Although very young, he spent his time aimlessly on Debar streets together with his peers, waiting for some legwork just to earn some modest pocket money.
His father left to Italy in order to find employment and in time to get his son there as well in the construction business.

The photo shows Armond Elmazi on his new "working post"

(Read what Armond says in from Read more link)

Case study from PCD in Delcevo, Macedonia

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:59:44 +0200

Here is a case study of the Macedonian Red Cross in Delcevo, Macedonia. Actually it is a personal story, told by one of the PCD team members in the community, a reflection on the project.

Enjoy! Download here.

New PCD Program in Tajikistan started with tailor-designed PCD Implementers’ Training

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:20:26 +0200

With the support of Finnish Red Cross, the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan organized in June 2008, a five-day training for a group of RCST headquarters staff and five new branches, which were selected for implementing the new PCD program during 2008-2009.

The draft training program was designed by two members of the European PCD Practitioners' network - Ruska Boyadjieva and Peter Yovkov, based on recommendations of the evaluation of the piloting PCD cycle.

The workshop was facilitated by Ruska Boyadjieva.

See all photos here.

(Full story from Read more link)

PRA in Burgas, Bulgaria is ongoing

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:15:15 +0200

The PRA process continues in Burgas with the children visiting the Daily Center for juvenile delinquents. Interviews were carried on with children, parents, workers in the Center and teachers.

Various exercises included a stakeholder analysis, exercise on the future and others. It is planned in July to finalize the PRA and to organize a round table with representatives of all institutions and authorities, stakeholders to the children and to set the basis for planning of future steps.

View more photos here.

Meeting of PCD coordinators in Zagreb, Croatia, 7-9 July

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:37:19 +0200

The participants are the PCD coordinators from the National Societies of Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and the IFRC Regional PCD Coordinator.

The main purpose of the meeting is to further promote the regional participation and partnership between the National Societies, implementing the PCD programme.

The coordinators will also discuss the current progress of PCD in the CE countries and their plans for 2008-2009. Events and topics such as the recent EUCLID network meeting and the Community based First Aid (CBFA) framework for National Society programming will be also part of the agenda.

Introductory seminar on PCD and PRA, organized in Burgas, Bulgaria on 29-30.04

Fri, 02 May 2008 09:52:40 +0200

An introductory seminar on PCD and PRA tools was carried on 29-30.04.2008 with a group of stakeholders, who will participate in the PCD project with children at risk, visiting the Daily Center in Burgas.
The participants were two children visiting the Daily Center, University students, Red Cross youth volunteers, workers in the Daily Center, representative of the Child Protection department and others.
The Plan of Action elaborated at the last day of the seminar includes activities, which will start the Participatory Rapid Appraisal on 13 of May.
During the seminar the team agreed to work with one more target group. Those are children, living in an institution for children, deprived from parental care, who are also visiting the Daily Center.

More photos - here.

New round of PCD in Tajikistan under planning

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:18:56 +0100

The new round of PCD in Tajikistan is under planning. After the mission of the Evaluation Team in the end of 2007, where two PCD experts participated and based on its recommendations, a consultancy mission was carried on in February-March to Tajikistan to start planning of the future work.

The draft plan should be ready until the end of March and has increased attention to capacity building within the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan, an area, where more attention is needed. The future activities will be three dimentional and will incorporate actions targeting community development, branch development and organizational development. The active participation of the Red Crescent of Tajikistan in implementing all project activities and integration of participatory elements in other programmes of the National Society will be the key for successful continuation of the initiative.

Meeting on PCD with children in Burgas, Bulgaria carried on 13.03.2008

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:10:35 +0100

A working meeting for presenting the PCD project with children in risk in Burgas, Bulgaria, implemented by the Bulgarian Red Cross and the Center for Street Children in Burgas was organized with a number of stakeholders. Partners are the Burgas Municipality, Burgas Free University, institutions and organizations, working in the field of child care. The meeting was attended by the vice mayor of Burgas, the Director of the Regional Red Cross branch in Burgas, the Director of the Complex for Social Services, the Secretary of the Commission for anti-social behavior, inspector from the Juvenile Delinquency Commission and members of the Red Cross, psychologists and social workers.
8 volunteers social profile students from the Burgas Free University will take part in the project, working with the street children to create skills for adapting to the life outside of institutions.

The project will run for one year and is a part of the PCD initiative which has already been implemented in Bulgaria since 2002 in 12 areas: Sofia, Silistra, Varna, Karnobat, Yambol, Haskovo, Vratza, Sliven, Burgas, Plovdiv.

PCD progress in Croatian Red Cross

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:28:24 +0100

PCD programme is implemented in one new Red Cross branch (Otocac) and continued in local Red Cross branches of Darda, Slatina, Beli Manastir and Ogulin; for the benefit of people exposed to poverty and discrimination such as Roma, vulnerable minorities and other marginalized groups within local communities.

After initial meeting with community members and stakeholders that was held in October 2007, the date for PRA workshop was set. The main purpose of PRA workshop was to introduce the methodology of the PCD and the practical issues related to the selection of vulnerable communities, forming the PRA team, large group workshop and development of the vulnerable communities in general.

See also CRC web page.
Follow the link: http://www.hck.hr/?path=hr/novosti/opsirnije/97