This project aims to promote the access to services of vulnerable and marginalized people in the Municipality of Shijak which will be reached through developing an integrated model of care services (early child intervention, family-based care, inclusive education, and social inclusion opportunities through increased access to quality community-based services) for children and youth with a disability, as well as coordinating the resources for children and youth with disability in the local level. It will contribute towards social inclusion and improved quality of life for children and youth with disabilities and their families. It brings an added value that is the creation of an innovative and more inclusive model of service for the Municipality of Shijak.
The action envisages redesigning the existing structure of services offered by the community-based center of Shijak municipality, by extending the range of services and will provide extended technical assistance for the high-quality delivery of activities with children and youth with disability and their parents, additional support materials needed to carry out activities, strengthen local networks to facilitate coordination between different sectors and actors, etc. Further, the action will improve the management capacities of target groups through the transfer of know-how and skills from the two partner NGOs to the staff of the Shijak local administration, by providing a full package on capacity-building activities targeting the staff, and also make continuous on-the-job training for the Municipality team.
To implement this action, the municipality of Shijak has created a partnership with “Help the Life” Association (HLA) and Down Syndrome Albania Foundation (DSA), both organizations with long experience and expertise in service provision for children and youth
with disabilities in a different program (from early childhood intervention to independent living), experience in inclusive education programs like the capacity building of educators, teachers and other stakeholders, experience in drafting manuals and guidebooks for professionals, etc.
