This year on October 31st, the project “Informēts un zinošs darbinieks – labs palīgs savam līdzcilvēkam” of the NVO Foundation programme financed by the Latvian State budget concluded at the Liepaja society for the blind.

Capacity of employees and volunteers of the Liepāja's society for the blind was strengthened. Promoting social responsibility, cooperation and solidarity in society to raise the quality of life and advocacy for people with disabilities.

During the project, the following events and activities were organised to build staff and volunteer capacity:

Pāvels Beļisovs, Director of NVA Employment agency's event Department, Ivars Balodis, member of the "Apeirons" community, Brigita Dreiže, public administration specialist of Liepāja's local Government Administration, Andris Jankovskis, Deputy Chairman of the South Kurzeme municipality Council, Baiba Sveile and Ilze Jonaite, coordinating experts of the ESF project “Sub-contracted jobs for unemployed persons” participated in the discussion. Sanita Vasiļjeva, director of the Ministry of Welfare's Social Policy planning and Development Department, and Imants Lipskis, Department of Labour market's Policy director. As well as Māris Ceirulis, Chairman of Liepāja's society for the blind, 10 employees from the society for the blind and 5 volunteer stakeholders.
We discussed problems and opportunities in employment of people with disabilities
We successfully promoted the social rehabilitation and cognition centre “Dvēseles veldzes dārzs”, in Ziemupe, through posters and new social accounts, attracting new clients and collaborators.
We organised social rehabilitation and cognition centre “Dvēseles veldzes dārzs” tours, welcoming 69 people with disabilities and their support from Liepāja and South Kurzeme counties. We also welcomed more than 400 participants in individual excursions.
We strengthened our knowledge during the two-day seminar “Covid-19 pandēmijas rezultātā izraisīto mentālo un fizisko seku mazināšana cilvēkiem ar invaliditāti un emocionālā inteliģence kā instruments cilvēku ar invaliditāti sociālai iekļaušanai sabiedrībā” in which our expertise was enriched by Maija Agatina, head of the day centre for people with mental developmental disabilities, and Evija Siliņa, psychiatrist at the seaside Hospital. As well as Chairman of the Liepāja's society for the blind and expert on universal design Social inclusion Māris Ceirulis.
We upgraded the website of the Liepaja society for the blind. The website has been upgraded in accordance with principles of Universal Design and Access to information ensuring the availability of information for people with disabilities.
We got to know Liepāja's society for the blind volunteers in the event "NO ES LĪDZ MĒS..." involving 28 employees from the Liepaja society for the blind and 13 volunteers. We were helped by an ICTA-certified coach, mentor Edmunds Imbovics.
The project culminated in a celebration of "International White walking stick day", with a presentation of project results to members of the society, volunteers and collaborators, for a total of more than 300 people. During the event, members could feast on a delicious treat and learn about everything they had done together.
As a result, we have built the capacity and motivation for the society's employees and volunteers, acquired knowledge of how to work with the society's target group, got to know ourselves and colleagues to form a united, strong and Community-oriented team.

More about activities in an attachment file: PRESENTATION

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The measure is supported financially by the Society Integration Foundation from the State budget resources of Latvia's Ministry of Culture. The project “Informēts un zinošs darbinieks – labs palīgs savam līdzcilvēkam.” has been prepared with financial support from the Society Integration Foundation from the State budget resources of Latvia. The Liepaja society for the blind is responsible for the content of the project “Informēts un zinošs darbinieks – labs palīgs savam līdzcilvēkam.”
#nvofonds2022.

Programmes financed by the State budget of Latvia
NVO Foundation and Liepāja's society for the blind Project
"Informēts un zinošs darbinieks – labs palīgs savam līdzcilvēkam."
Nr.2022.LV/NVOF/MAC/009/42