The Organization of people with disabilities of Kursumlija from the South of Serbia from Kursumlija in cooperation with their members with disabilities in these difficult times of emergency in Serbia sew protective masks and equipment for their members (people with disibilities) and geronto housekeepers and other members of the community.
Due to the lack of masks at the time of the virus coronary pandemic, members of the Organization of people with disabilities of Kursumlija went spontaneously to sew cotton masks for their members (people with disabilities, geronto housekeepers and other members of the community).
In order to somehow help the society that is struggling for human lives but also encounters this virus, we will not sell protective masks, but every sewn mask, she says, will be donated, said Marko Filipovic, president of the Organization of people with disabilities of Kursumlija.
Sewing and tailoring equipment (old crafts) The Association has received through the project “Activate for more opportunities”, which is up to the program “Support of the European Union for active involvement of young people”, worth 4.7 million euros, which is funded by the EU (IPA 2014) and co-financed by the Government of the Republic Of Serbia. The project is managed by the Ministry of Finance – Sector for contracting and financing programs from EU funds, while the institutional beneficiaries of the project are the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans’ and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The Activate for opportunities project envisages a range of activities for the promotion and employment of persons with disabilities. Support for the self-employment of persons with disabilities, work practices and training are the main goals of the project. The project is implemented in cooperation with the partner municipality of Kursumlija and professional services dealing with unemployment.
The Activate for opportunities project envisages a range of activities for the promotion and employment of persons with disabilities. Support for the self-employment of persons with disabilities, work practices and training are the main goals of the project. The project is implemented in cooperation with the partner municipality of Kursumlija and professional services dealing with unemployment.
In these difficult times of emergency, the Organization of people with disabilities of Kursumlija demonstrates a remarkable example of kindness, solidarity, and sacrifice with their Kursumlija geronto housekeepers, where they assist the elderly and disabled through home help.
It is especially important to know that the municipality of Kursumlija has just over 18,000 inhabitants, but that as many as 35 percent of them belong to the older population, and that the data show that the population of this city is getting older.
Attaching a pillow to a time-consuming woman who doesn’t get out of bed, or adding a glass of water to a sick blanket – seems simple, but when the elderly and infirm are at home, they have no one to do it for them, such help is invaluable. The only ones that can be trusted are the geronto housekeepers, members of the Home Help project, said Marko Filipovic, president of the organization.
Home assistance is a real need for often neglected groups of citizens, so the importance of changing something in this area has been recognized, and the home help project of the same name has been launched. 60 seniors and people with disabilities are included, improving the quality of life for each of these individuals. “Home help” for any of them specifically means overcoming existing difficulties, restoring optimism, creating a sense of belonging to the community, better orientation and greater solidarity with families and other people in the environment during these difficult times.
The Organization of people with disabilities of Kursumlija has been successfully implementing the “Home Help” service for the elderly and the disabled for seven years: assistance with daily living activities, purchasing groceries, home and apartment hygiene, assistance with walking and taking to a doctor – these are some of the basic tasks of geronto housekeepers working for the Organization of people with disabilities of Kursumlija.
Stay at home, and think of those who put on masks, put on gloves, go out of their homes and go to feed someone, change clothes, make the day more beautiful, said Marko Filipovic, president of the organization.
The European Union has directed assistance to the Organization of people with disabilities of Kursumlija to train geronto housekeepers, hygienic equipment, and includes a larger number of families receiving assistance.
Staying at home is a must-have at the time of the global pandemic of the virus corona, even legal for those over 65 in Serbia. Yet, to those who are temporal and infirm, live in remote places, and have no one to help them, COVID-19 has complicated a very easy life.
The days behind us are extremely difficult, but they have produced many heroes, who have reminded us of what kindness, sacrifice and solidarity are. Among these heroes are the geronto housekeepers from Kursumlija, who have been helping those who need the help for years.
Project ”Activate for more opportunities!” is a part of the European Union Support to Active Youth Inclusion grant scheme
Organization of people with Disabilities of Kuršumlija, Koste Vojinovića 6, 18430 Kuršumlija
uos.kursumlija@gmail.com
Project funded by the European Union and co-financed by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and implemented by the Organization of People with Disabilities of Kuršumlija and Municipality of Kuršumlija
