The project's target group are people who, due to their sensory specifics, have less chance of becoming specialists and find professional realization, that is blind people, most of whom have completed higher education.
The project targets people with defective eye-sight who cannot find realization on the labour market because society disregards them as 'invalid'.
The Ahuri association has become familiar with the problems arising from the sensory specifics of the blind and created a methodology for applied therapy to be put in practice in cases of altered senses.
HOW THE TARGET GROUP WAS SET UP: the needs of the people comprising the selected target group have been established:
Typically, they do their best to find their niche and a meaningful fulfilment. However, they need just a little support: a certain period for tactile therapeutic trainings, audio-readings and video workshops to boost their positive attitude. Our target group is in need of qualified instructions and adequate materials for initial acquisition of applied stimulating techniques aiming to aid their motivation, relaxation and self-expression, as well as of extensive promotion to make their accomplishments public.
JUSTIFICATION OF THE NEED FOR THE PROJECT. SUMMARY: The Association deems the activities envisioned under the project to be especially important as far as the mental and physical health of people with defective eye-sight are concerned and those among them who remain unemployed for long time spans.
MAIN AIM: to support the protection of the mental health of the most vulnerable social groups in the conditions of an economic crisis – blind people, the needy and the unemployed.
Objectives: 1. Providing a Reading-room and fund of handbooks for reading during seminars with simultaneous translation for groups of blind people; 2. A series of studies for blind people and needy for building up mental resistance through methods of art therapy for blind people; 3. Individual and group audio and video studies for unemployed people for helping them in stress conditions resulting from long-term redundancy.
MAIN ACTIVITY: Creation and functioning of a Center – reading room for stress prevention and protection of mental health for blind people and unemployed in need. STAGES:
STAGES:
1. Setting up a Day Centre - Reading Room for the blind and the needy:
a. tender procedure to rent the premises, equipment (heater, shelves); and preparation of the centre for daily activities;
b. shaping visual appearance, dissemination of information leaflets about the project;
c. provision of the most useful materials for the daily activities, incl. work materials and consumables.
2. Development of all necessary aids for the working group and of a state of readiness for the seminars and meetings:
a. translation and editing of the project's manuals and aids; dissemination of manuals and aids for the group's members;
b. uploading on audio-carriers of manuals in Bulgarian language fit for individual use by the blind;
c. contractual agreement for catering services for the coffee-breaks during seminars.
3/ Carrying out daily activities in the Reading-Room:
a/ organization of workshops in the format of Modules made up of reading groups;
b. individual and group stress and distress therapy for blind people (know-how with a tactile therapy, 4 hours a day);
c. consultative audio and video trainings with long-term unemployed handicapped people to bolster their mental health (know-how for video-therapy with scheduled talks, 4 hours a day).
1. Established by the project and long existing after its end a Center – Reading club specially designed for use by blind people and people in need (by assumption more vulnerable to depression and stress in the aspect of mental health in the conditions of market stagnation and economic crisis;
2. Created by the project and long existing after its end library, CD, DVD and audio fund for use of blind people directed to physical and mental health protection;
3. Created motivation in the members of the target group on the basis of consultations and art-therapy, conducted by a highly qualified instructor and aiming to boost their self-esteem and health.
Contact information
Tatyana Boyanova Bobeva, Consultant-instructor and lecturer
90 Lyuben Karavelov Str., Sofia 1000, Bulgaria
Cell Phone: ++359 878 291468
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