Seminar – Inclusion perspectives within the project “Reintegration II”

2024-03-11

Supporting Vulnerable Groups through Labor Integration and Other Social Services from the Perspective of Various Stakeholders in the Community

On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, a seminar titled “Inclusion Perspectives – Supporting Vulnerable Groups through Labor Integration and Other Social Services from the Perspective of Various Stakeholders in the Community” was held in Pirot as part of the “Reintegration 2 – Further Support for Sustainable (Re)integration of Returnees in Serbia” project. The seminar was led by experts in the field of inclusion and labor integration, Lidija Milanović from the organization IDEAS, and Professor Zoran Vesić from the Faculty of Political Sciences.

In the first part of the seminar, participants had the opportunity to discuss key stakeholders, obstacles, and possibilities related to the current framework for labor integration. Lidija Milanović shared her experience and expertise, exploring ways to improve support for persons with disabilities (PWD) to achieve sustainable labor integration.

In the second part of the seminar, Professor Zoran Vesić addressed the topic of support for PWD and other vulnerable groups in the inclusion process, with a specific focus on supporting labor integration. Discussing support for employers and other relevant stakeholders, the conversation revolved around creating conditions for employment and inclusion. This seminar represents a step towards strengthening collaboration among relevant stakeholders to improve conditions and perspectives for vulnerable groups, encouraging an inclusive society through labor integration and social services.

The following day, on March 7, 2024, a presentation of the Public Call for Civil Society Organizations for the allocation of funds to support the development of social initiatives in Pirot was organized at the Dobrosusedski Club in Pirot.

The primary goal of the Reintegrate II project is to contribute to the sustainable (re)integration of returnees under readmission agreements and locally socially vulnerable populations in central and southern Serbia.

The project will support over 800 beneficiaries in Pirot to strengthen their economic and social position and enhance their integration into the community. Support is planned through subsidies for self-employment, various business training, requalification and qualification courses, employer subsidies for opening new job positions and employing returnees under readmission agreements and other less employable population categories, support for children and youth through inclusive workshops, and the development of institutional capacities in the field of social protection at the local level.

The total project value for the City of Pirot is 400,000.00 euros, and the project will run until April 31, 2025. Information about project activities, open calls, and more will be available on the project’s website www.reintegration.net, as well as on the City of Pirot’s website, partner organizations, and associations.

The project is led by the German organization ASB (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund), with the implementation partner Initiative for Development and Cooperation (IDC) from Belgrade, and the beneficiary regions in the project are Pirot, Rasina, and Raška districts. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with the support and co-financing of the City of Pirot.