The aim of the project was to contribute to the deinstitutionalization of young people with intellectual difficulties, placed in specialized institutions through provision of services in the community; improving the quality of life of eight persons with intellectual difficulties aged between 18 and 35 years and assisting them to prepare for an independent life.
The protected house offers to young people opportunities for independent life through learning and support provided by professionals – physiologist, speech therapist, social worker, and occupational therapist. The six youngsters who live in the protected house have at their disposal place for individual and group work, bed rooms, family-like kitchen and dinning room, fruit and vegetables garden. Two more people will be welcomed to the house by the end of March 2009.
The major of Ovoschtnik village, the local doctor and policeman regularly meet and support the team of professionals working in the protected house as well as the youngsters living there. The local people also accept and support youngsters and often visit them.
The long-term aim of the project is to prepare the young people to leave the protected house and start living independently through teaching them how to self-serve, to develop their social and occupational skills. This could lead to reintegration of the young people in their biological families and successful integration in society.
Association “Optima”, Kazanluk
Bina Sadova
61, Hristo Botev Str.
6100, Kazanluk
Tel. 0431/ 6 30 98
