At “Dare Dzambaz” in Skopje

Handicap International awarded PORAKA 
 

On 20 January at the humanitarian organizations’ centre “Dare Dzambaz” in Skopje, the Regional Director of Handicap International for South East Europe, Mr. Alexander Cote, awarded the 2005 winner for best practice in the field of service for the disabled at the place of living to the Republic Centre Supporting People with Intellectual Disabilities – PORAKA.

“Today, Handicap International feels that Macedonia is one of the countries in the region with real capacities to make the society more accessible and more open for the people with disabilities. From New York to Brussels, from the preparations of the Convention for the rights of the people with disabilities by the United Nations to the implementation of the action plan for the people with disabilities by the European Union, the development of the policy which supports the complete participation in the society of the people with disabilities is not just an option any more, but also a responsibility for all authorities, both on local and central level. We truly hope that in future, the Macedonian government will support the development and the sustainability of the services for people with disabilities more actively, as well as of those founded and managed by PORAKA. Besides the progress made in Macedonia regarding the provision of services for the people with disabilities, there is still need of developing other types of service, such as: small group homes, independent living, a resource centre, personal assistants, centres for temporary housing, supported employment, etc. It is also necessary to establish partner relations between the public and the non-governmental centre, stated Cote. He pointed that in April, both organizations will organize a conference focused on concluding partnership agreements between the governmental and the civil sector.

The award totals 2,000 Euros and should be used for activities related to the development of the services.

 

K.B.