EU PROGRES

Woodworking machine obtained with financial support of the European Union and the Government of Switzerland through the European Partnership with Municipalities Programme EU PROGRES was delivered today to the Association for Assistance to Persons with Special Needs in Raška. This is part of the support for 11 civil society organizations from South and South West Serbia who successfully implemented projects within the first and second call of the EU PROGRES Citizens Involvement Fund with the aim of increasing social inclusion of the most vulnerable social groups.

As part of the project “Craftsman’s Workshop – A Step towards Independence” that the Association implemented two years ago in Raška, a workshop was equipped and carpentry tools and machinery were acquired. That made applying for public works possible as well as for other jobs so that the Association members could earn money by making furniture. In that way, 30 persons found temporary employment and some of them were permanently employed in local enterprises.

After a successful project with good results additional EUR 4,500 were allocated through EU PROGRES in 2013 to procure a CNC woodworking machine (the so called milling machine) that would allow the association to independently manufacture items out of wood and other soft materials.

“After you program it, this machine can manufacture the finished product that can be further worked on quite easily allowing the persons with disabilities to perform their jobs without a strain. The machine will be set up in the craftsman workshop. Five people will operate the machine by being directly involved in the manufacturing process. Boards, key rings, icons, picture frames and other souvenirs they manufacture will be sold in souvenir shops in Raška, tourist centres Kopaonik and Golija”, said the president of the Association Zlatan Vukosavljević.

European Union and the Government of Switzerland are allocating through EU PROGESS additional EUR 27,000 for procurement of equipment for 11 civil society organizations from Raška, Ivanjica, Bosilegrad, Leskovac, Novi Pazar, Prijepolje, Prokuplje, Vladičin Han and Vranje.