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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Presentation of projects approved to support persons with disabilities

Belgrade, 22 June 2006

Serbian Assistant Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Policy at the Department for Protection of Persons with Disabilities Sladjana Markovic today presented results of the competition for choosing projects to improve the position of persons with disabilities, which will be financed by the fund for programmes of socio-humanitarian organisations with a sum worth some 180 million dinars.

Speaking at the occasion Markovic said that from the 310 projects submitted 159 were approved. She explained that project designers had three months to prepare a project and submit it to the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy, and added that the aim of the competition was to improve the position of persons with disabilities by offering them help through activity projects through citizens’ associations.

She pointed out that the approved projects deal with daily activities in a safe environment, therapeutic counseling, and independent living and living with support for persons with disabilities.

The projects also deals with activities for improving accessibility in physical surroundings, access to information and campaigns aiming to increase awareness and support in the general public, said Markovic. She added that the maximum duration period for approved projects is 11 months and the minimum period two months.

According to Markovic, 27% of the approved projects will be implemented in Vojvodina, 25% in Belgrade, and two in Kosovo-Metohija.

Markovic said that among other things the Leskovac Association of persons with dystrophy will invest in the construction of an egg farm in order to employ persons with disabilities. In Veliki Popovac a house is being built where children and young persons who are currently living in social institutions will be able to lead an independent life. A project has been approved to open a driving school in Cacak for teaching invalids.

She said that the Ministry, aiming to strengthening cooperation between the government and the non-governmental sector, has entrusted monitoring and support of the approved projects to units of citizens’ associations.

Markovic said that in autumn a new competition will be announced which will have a wider scope and will include projects for providing employment, professional orientation and flexible work conditions to persons with disabilities.

After the presentation of projects, representatives of citizens’ associations to whom funds have been approved for realising the projects signed contracts with the Ministry, which set precise deadlines and methods for using the approved funds.