Social Integration Programs

Social Integration Programs

In Kladno

In Kladno

© Martin Šimáček

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In almost every Czech town there is a neighbourhood, a street, or a house inhabited by the poorest people. In many cases, these are spatially excluded localities missing common services, social networks and education opportunities. People there live in insufficient housing and hygienic conditions. Long-term unemployment is common and they are often dependent on welfare benefits. Once referred to as Roma enclaves, such places today are labelled as socially excluded localities.

People in Need has been active in the fight against poverty and social exclusion since 1999. When it began, the organization offered free field social work under the Field Programmes framework. They helped people from poor localities resolve problems with housing, unemployment or debts by means of social counselling and assistance. The offer of services has gradually been improved over the following years to include legal and employment counselling, remedy classes, a social assistant to the police, and drop-in facilities designed to provide meaningful leisuretime activities for children from underprivileged families.

Social Integration Programmes (SIP) emerged in Summer 2006 to provide a complex and coherent package of services for socially excluded individuals and families. The Programmes also offers counselling and assistance to those towns affected by further development planning.

Social Integration Programmes currently operate in more than 50 municipalities in the Czech Republic. Approximately 140 people, the team consists predominantly of field social workers, their coordinators, trainers, lawyers, and other people helping Czech municipalities implement appropriate social integration policies.

Services available to people living in social exclusion:

- Field social work
- Employment counselling
- Legal counselling
- Services of a social assistant in criminal proceedings
- Drop in centres and after-school education
- Support of education and tutoring

Further activities:

- Counselling and assistance to towns in further development planning
- Information and training activities

Social Integration Programmes are co-funded by the European Social Fund, the Czech Republic national budget, The City of Prague budget, the Non-governmental Organizations in Karlovy Vary Region Support Fund and MindShare.