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The Amica Educa SOS Telephone THE SOS TELEPHONE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 3 SETS OF ACTIVITIES:
SOS TELEPHONE (035) 251-666
The SOS helpline is open for all people (children, young people, women and men) who are faced with crisis and stress situations. Trough the talk to professional experts (psychologist, social worker) all callers can be provided with:
Read more about our support by SOS Telephone 1. The Project - Overview 1.1. Educational part The after-war project has developed into a centre for psychosocial education and counselling to last and to become
independent of outside help eventually. Most seminar teachers (especially those for creative painting and peace
dances) are Bosnian women. They get supervision by a Swiss or German trainer about once a year.
Goal: 4 Topics on 6 Levels All the seminar teachers were present plus Ivona Erdeljac from Amica Educa, who had collected the visions and opinions of the Bosnian teachers of peace dances, creative painting, the members of the Amica Educa Team and its board. The following questions were raised and discussed:
Based on these discussions the board of AMICA Switzerland defined the 4 x 6 action plan
The heavy dependence of Amica Educa on AMICA Switzerland will be terminated by December 2009. In order to create a smooth and successful transfer of the seminars teaching the 4 methods of dealing with trauma, i.e.
A structure on 6 levels has been established:
The Swiss and German seminar teachers plan only one stay in Tuzla to supervise the professionals that have reaches level 2, 3 or 4 and to help in the choice and empowerment of one or two responsible women per method. The person(s) responsible organises a seminar plan for 2008 – in cooperation with the other heads – and carries out the activities mentioned under 5. above.
1.2. Counselling part The continuous services of the Amica House have also developed.
1.3. Target groups Continuing education for professionals: training directed at professional women and, to a increasing extent, also men
from all around Bosnia, with educational, social or medical background. Most courses also allow men to improve
their skills (they are mainly teachers and social workers). We are pleased to observe that relationships between
men and women have improved and become much more natural over the past three years.
Ongoing services reach the following target groups: interested women, girls and children (including refugees and Roma) of the Tuzla region (ethnically and socially mixed); the returnees who experience difficulties in adapting to the daily life in their places of origin. The Learning festival is a good means to spread the message to all groups in the country that learning is a life-long experience.
Amica EDUCA – Tuzla: Scenes THE GENERAL DESCIPTION OF THE PROJECT SEE HERE BELOW! In accordance with the work plan for 2004 Association
Amica Educa
in Tuzla has continued the realization of the program
''Educational and psychosocial support for children and adults''.
Context – Bosnia-Herzegovina today
Context – Bosnia-Herzegovina today The time period of this report includes the processes of socio-economic recovery, reconciliation, return, implementation of laws and work towards their harmonization with the laws of the European Union. The process of privatization is still going on, the rate of unemployment is high, and the percentage of returning refugees is lower than expected. The implementation of the rights of workers and employees is slow, so strikes are very frequent. It is estimated that every fifth citizen lives below poverty level and every third are at poverty level. Two thirds of young people wish to emigrate from Bosnia and Herzegovina. From 2003, European Union has been imposing the regional economic development; therefore regional development agencies have been established. One of them is NERDA for Southeastern B&H, where Tuzla is located. A medium long term strategy of development of B&H (2004-2007) has been adopted. Its aim is to satisfy the requirements of sustainable and stabilized economic development, to reduce poverty and to speed up B&H integration into the European Union. Focused and continuous work of all actors in the community and state is necessary in the process of establishing functioning markets of speeding up the return of refugees, reconstruction, reconciliation, improvement of human rights, solving the problems caused by privatization, reducing the unemployment rate and the emigration of young experts, as well as reducing the electoral apathy and poverty. The NGO sector has taken a step forward in contributing to development of B&H in all areas, but it still does not have the mechanisms to work as a whole. The Region of Tuzla Canton has made an effort to improve the democratic process and to induce the active participation of civil society. The NGO network, ''Referenta grupa'' Tuzla, is recognized as a good example of networking in B&H. In the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) report, in the System of early warning, the following is stated: ''the key
moves, towards a better future of Bosnia and Herzegovina are still made by the international association. Here, it is needed to
change the mentality of the policy, in strengthening of civil society with the plan and strategy, to provide the opportunity to the
citizens to shape their own future and the destiny of their own country. It is needed to organize campaigns for mobilizing the
citizens' energies, which are not small. Individuals, as well as, society are being identified as simple objects on the margin of
events. The familiar experience is arising that, one who is not informed and included cannot take the responsibility and one who
is Amica Educa
,
after eight years of work, has its own
experience that confirms the personal development of the individual is
a path towards a better future and a prerequisite to get control over
one's life. Some major difficulties are:
In what way Amica Educa contributes to the development of civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina? The focus, goal and the way of working , specific for Amica Educa, that uses the new approaches in learning, is to develop the citizens' awareness of the need for lifelong learning and to provide them with the support to become aware and to feel that they can learn, through their personal experiences in educational processes, the following:
Gained knowledge and skills are, as we all know, the best investment in security and sustainability.
Results achieved :
Effects/influences of Amica Educa's work The significant effects on the global level are seen in following fields:
Cooperation and networking By joint efforts of Amica Educa and other organizations in the network of organization following activities have been realized:
The Lifelong Learning Festival in B&H 2004 The days of this year Lifelong Learning Festival in B&H 2004 were held in the period July 07 – 12 2004. By following the same mission as previous Festivals did, this year Festival chose the motto ''the lifelong learning is a way toward personal development and more qualitative future''. The Program Board consisting of the members of IIZ-DVV, OSCE, EU, Federal Ministry of education and science, HOPE '87 Foundation was formed aiming at establishing the cooperation with the governmental institutions competent for education, local nongovernmental organizations as well as international organizations that focus its work in the field of education. Organizational development Amica Educa has its resources: Personnel - skilled and educated, associates, the Team dedicated to the mission of the organization, competent and respectable Management Board, long-term partnership with Amica Schweiz, educators/trainers who are dedicated to the organization, members who have been using our services for a long time and sharing their experience with others. Amica Educa has a good reputation, is supported by governmental institutions, owns the house (working place), has some income of its own but is still dependent on donors. In spite of having all these resources, we are aware of difficulties of the NGO sector. The development of capacities of the NGO sector is e requisite for satisfying the needs of citizens, establishing partnerships with the governmental and business sector, for contribution to developing strategy as well as for the sustainability. Concerning the organizational development, we have realized the following activities:
Financing / self-financing The sources of financing are:
The important outcome of our work is the educated citizen who recognizes the value of learning and is willing to spend time and invest money in personal development. The fact is that different organizers of seminars, which are similar to ours, cover all costs for their beneficiaries, which makes it very hard for us to ask and get seminar fees. Plans for the following period In the next two years, we plan to define the long-term development of Amica EDUCA. In accordance with this goal, following activities are planned:
Suada Selimović, Selma Alicić, Ivona Erdeljac ___________________________________________________________________________ In the project ' 'Psychosocial support to traumatized women and children '' (and other people in need of support), the following activities have taken place during the first half part of 2004:
The cooperation with the University – Participation in the program Summer University in Tuzla After seven years of experience in applying the modern methods in the psychosocial work, our educators, foreign and local experts are invited to prepare a lecture and workshops at the Summer University in Tuzla. The cooperation with 3 faculties of Tuzla University (faculty of Philosophy, Defectology and Economy) is established. This confirms the quality of our work and the acceptance of the nongovernmental sector as an important actor in the reform and development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The cooperation with the University is being realized within the Amica EDUCA's project: The Lifelong Learning Festival in B&H 2004.'' This is the Fifth Festival of lifelong learning, and it is the first time it has been realized in cooperation with the University.
The promotion of the first book that is result of the work of local educators is entitled: ''Creative expressive painting of the children with special needs''. It will be marketed during the Festival. The Annual Assembly – organized in February, 28 2004 The preparation for the Annual Assembly was carried out in February. In order to present Amica Educa's work, info material
such as press papers, posters and charts was prepared. A press conference was organized. Info material and Assembly
invitations were sent to approximately 120 addresses including the governmental institutions, donors and associates. The Assembly was successful. There were members of the assembly, team, Board present but also the representatives of the Federal and Cantonal ministry of education, representatives of Ministry of work and social policy and Pedagogue Institute of Tuzla Canton. A positive atmosphere and good energy were present. We enjoyed the presence of a representative of the Federal Ministry ''the assembly has a spirit'' that we consider as rare at governmental meetings. Need for support In the conversation with Mrs. Bohny, during her visit, members of Amica Educa team expressed the need for professional support in the implementation of some evaluation recommendations. The question is: Can Amica Schweiz support Amica Educa in the process of professionalization and sustainable development by providing the "consultant". The willingness for support exists and we are waiting for the final decision. Fundraising The Amica EDUCA's program has been mainly realized thanks to the support of our partner organization Amica Schweiz, DEZA and with its own incomes. Several project applications have been prepared and sent to potential donors. So far the Institute for International Cooperation of German Public Adult Educational Association has granted financial support for the Lifelong Learning Festival in B&H 2004. We expect support from Tuzla Municipality, the Government of Tuzla Canton and Federal Ministry of education and science. Education of Team members In the period from January until May, the Manager of the Association participated in four trainings in the field of Humanagement in Hanover, Germany. The Education has been completed successfully. The workshop ''career management and professional self organization'' was organized for the Team members. Team members continue their education in the fields related to their work in Amica EDUCA. ________________________________________________________________________________ GENERAL DESCIPTION: Centre for women and children in Tuzla, Bosnia Project: Since the end of the Bosnian war in 1995 we have developed the consulting and training centre AMICA EDUCA for traumatized women and children. 7 years after the end of the war a second traumatization can be diagnosed: The living conditions of the refugees have not improved. Unemployment is higher than 50 % and many young people move abroad. Thus the hopelessness of the population increases. Training: T he main purpose of the project is to train (female) doctors, social workers and teachers in modern methods of trauma processing by therapists from Switzerland and Germany. What cannot be told with words often finds its expression in painting or in rhythmic movement: Expressive art therapy and universal peace dances are very successful therapeutic activities. Thanks to previous professional training the participants can practise their new skills in their jobs and at home. At present the courses of expressive arts therapy are taught by Bosnian women who were trained in earlier seminars. Advice and workshops: The AMICA SOS telephone gets between 300 and 600 calls a year and acts as a hotline either by giving advice directly or referring callers to other institutions. The AMICA project also offers psychological and – sometimes – legal assistance. The weekly painting and dancing workshops help women, young people and children to release pressure, find creative expression and to structure their daily life. Finances:
So far AMICA Switzerland has had a yearly budget of CHF 150 - 200'000.-, about half of which
financed by DEZA (Federal department for development and cooperation with Eastern Europe). To finance the
remaining 50 % we have asked cantons (i.e. Baselland, Baselstadt), cities, churches, companies and private people
to support the project. Fortunately the income generated by the project in Tuzla has increase considerably since
2002 because the local team has found international sponsors.
More details about AMICA Switzerland
During the war, women from Bosnia, Switzerland, Germany and Italy organised an emergency aid
campaign in the State of Tuzla. In 1996 AMICA Switzerland founded Amica-House, a facility of
war-traumatised women and children, specialising in further education.
Several Seminars in accordance with announcementFamily Therapy Activities Offered throughout the Whole Year
Space is made available in the group to deal with individual problems and traumatic experiences. Amica EDUCA also offers courses in its painting atelier for children and women from the region of Tuzla. Anybody interested can use/rent the atelier.Amica EDUCA runs a SOS-Helpline . A social worker advises women every day. Although we are not (yet) in a position to offer safe accommodation to the women (who often experience domestic violence) – they can get advice in our house, called Kuca AMICA. Thus we offer open and safe space which is available to all the women, regardless of their religious background, social status etc. There are also regular programmes for girls and elderly women (self-help groups, massages). Facts and Figures
AddressesAmica EDUCA; Klosterska 13; BH Tuzla 75 000
Coordination in Bosnia: Suada Selimovic or Selma Alicic Tel/Fax 00387 35 248 912
Coordination in Switzerland: Andrea von Bidder Tel/Fax 0041 61 421 8108
AMICA EDUCA sets the further education of specialists working directly with trauma victims of the war in Bosnia or of violence at home, as its top priority. In order to achieve the goal of self's sufficiency, independent of the support of our founding organisation AMICA Switzerland, Amica EDUCA's regional organisational body is striving to secure its own financial base. Please ask for more details! |
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included and informed cannot take no responsibility''.
Programs that Amica Educa realized
in 2004:
l and primary school children
The Program Board for the Lifelong
Learning Festival in B&H 2004
on the state level was formed in May, and its
members are representatives of European Commission,
OSCE, Institute for International Cooperation of German
Public Adult Educational Association, Ministry of civil affairs,
Federal Ministry of education and science, Ministry of
education of Republic Srpska and Amica EDUCA as
organizer.
