IDeas against poverty! Citizens with Intellectual Disability act to reduce social exclusion and poverty (Europe 2020 Strategy) Erasmus Project

Project Title

IDeas against poverty!
Citizens with Intellectual Disability act to reduce social exclusion and poverty (Europe 2020 Strategy)

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Disabilities – special needs

Project Summary

Our project “IDeas against poverty! Citizens with Intellectual Disability act to reduce social exclusion and poverty (Europe 2020 Strategy)” has been framed in the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 and the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion. The information on the platform shows that in 2008, more than 80 million people lived in the Union below the poverty line, situation got worse with the economic crisis. The 8% of Europeans live in conditions of serious material deprivation. Among other risk groups, people with disabilities, or those with serious chronic diseases, frequently face significant economic and social difficulties that often affect the whole household they depend on
This, in the Europe of the 21st century, is unacceptable. The fight against social exclusion and the promotion of social justice and fundamental rights have long been key objectives of the European Union.

In the other hand, the empowerment and training of people with intellectual disabilities has been another priority of our project. Our learners have not participated from a position of vulnerable persons affected by poverty or exclusion, tributaries of the solidarity of others, who demand changes for themselves. They have participated as people aware of the social injustice that surrounds them and that -after a training process- are able to participate collectively in this fight against social exclusion that affects so many people.

The main objectives of our project, aimed at our learners, their families and professionals, have been:
– Knowledge and adaptation of the documents of the European Disability Strategy, and debate about their recommendations and applicability in the environment of the partner centers.
– Establishment of synergies with institutions that are dedicated to the fight against poverty and social exclusion, generating proposals and concrete actions in which our learners actively have contributed during these 2 years.
– Development of strategies for visibility and dissemination.
– Improvement of participation, mobility and transnational exchange of citizens with intellectual disabilities.

The beneficiary learners, linked to the four institutions of the partner countries (Spain, Hungary, Poland and Turkey) have been adults with intellectual disabilities, in different situations: there are groups that are in the labor market, other groups are being trained to achieve it. Some people carry out occupational, educational, and social habilitation activities. Others are in residential establishments throughout the day and are highly dependent. Therefore, each partner has adapted the type of activities to the groups it serves, its capabilities and interests.

200 learners with disabilities have benefited during these 2 years from the activities of our project. We have carried out 34 mobilities of people with intellectual disabilities, who have actively participated in the Meetings organized in each of the countries.

The four partners have adapted their general programs of activities to introduce as a thematic axis the fight against poverty and social exclusion, initiating collaboration with organizations in their environment dedicated to the fight against exclusion and developing joint solidarity actions.

Our publishable products are the Cooperation Guide for Learners and the Methodological Guide for Professionals, published in the four languages of the partners and in English, with pictograms. It include graphic and artistic material developed over two years by our students (comics, figuration) always with the theme of our project, as well as a detailed description of all the solidarity activities carried out. It is a quality material that facilitates its transfer to other groups interested in cooperation.

All partners are part of federations and entities of European dimension, therefore we have efforted to have a great impact and dissemination on thousands of people, through the inclusion and proactive participation in networks and representation forums of people with disabilities, their families, professional and solidarity networks.

We conclude by reiterating that the experience of exchange in itself, the knowledge of another reality that is different and at the same time similar, has been an opportunity and a necessity for people with intellectual disabilities.

“IDeas against poverty!”, a project aligned with the European Strategy, is aimed at the heart of European values: the values of fraternity, equality and inclusion.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 125324 Eur

Project Coordinator

PARC SANITARI SANT JOAN DE DEU & Country: ES

Project Partners

• KEZENFOGVA OSSZEFOGAS A FOGYATEKOSOKERT ALAPITVANY
• BONIFRATERSKA FUNDACJA DOBROCZYNNA
• Turkiye Down Sendromu Dernegi