Project Title:

Social activation to ensure a safe, secure and accessible cross-border area

Acronym of the project: 2SoKroG

More about the project: 2sokrog.bistra.si

Project type: Interreg V-A cooperation program Slovenia - Croatia (cross-border)

Duration: 1.9.2018 - 31.8.2020

Financing: In the framework of the Cooperation Program Interreg V-A Slovenia-Croatia, the project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Head of the project at SRC Bistra Ptuj: dr. Klavdija Rižnar

Partners:

• Development Agency of the Savinjska region d.o.o. (RASR)
• Re-use Center d.o.o., SO.P. (CPU)
• Public institution for regional development of Varaždin County (JURA)
• Center for Social Welfare Čakovec
• Public institution for the development of Međimurje County REDEA (REDEA)
• Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia - Regional Unit Ptuj (ZRSZ - OE Ptuj)

Included regions:

Slovenia: Podravje region, Savinjska region, Osrednjeslovenska region

Croatia: Varaždin County, Međimurska County

PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

In the cross-border area there is a great need for the development of integral social activation programs due to problems that occur on both sides of the border, i.e. long-term social vulnerability of vulnerable target groups due to unemployment, from health problems to poor information and social inclusion.

The project addresses the priority area of ​​social security and employment services with the aim of strengthening the partnership of public authorities (CSD, Labor Offices) and other stakeholders in the field of social activation (social enterprises, non-formal education institutions, NGOs, etc.). The goal of social activation is to help the long-term unemployed and long-term recipients of DSP to be (re) actively involved in society, if possible in employment, so they become more motivated for life changes and improve psychosocial health.

2SoKroG as an innovative public service model upgrades the system of social transfers that otherwise prevent absolute poverty but does not provide sustainable solutions and is a serious problem in terms of demographic indicators. In order to improve and upgrade public services with the model of social activation, it is crucial to ensure the raising of the institutional capacities of public institutions, the development of competences and the appropriate qualification of public service personnel, through which vulnerable target groups will be trained to tailor-made labor market forms at the end of social activation and integrate in various social systems.

In the cross-border area, the project can achieve the first in practice proven social activation, which is crucial for transforming the work of the Centers for Social Work and the Labor Offices as key public institutions in changing the existing situation.

RESULTS OF THE PROJECT:

• established and strengthened cross-border structures of cooperation between public institutions and vertical integration in the field of social activation,
• developing and testing an innovative model of social activation in the Centers for Social Work and the Labor Offices with the aim of empowering vulnerable target groups to increase social and employment inclusion (in social entrepreneurship and other tailored markets for the work of the cross-border area)
• development of competences and skills of civil servants to implement social activation in order to ensure a healthy and safe environment in the cross-border area,
• Improving the timely visibility of citizens for various risks of slipping into poverty through a preventive program and (non) media campaign,
• transfer of cross-border results, experiences and the project of developed practices to other areas and areas of interest.