December 2013 – October 2015

Budget

28,258 USD

Funded by the East Europe Foundation

The project consists of providing support to people with disabilities and their families, in order to reduce poverty, improve quality of life, and increase their social inclusion. To achieve this objective, the project includes planned activities, focused on the following areas:

• Employment of persons with disabilities
• Empowerment of persons with disabilities and their families in the development and implementation of small businesses
• Development of social entrepreneurship activities for persons with intellectual disabilities and their families

The nationwide work experience of Keystone Moldova in the deinstitutionalization of persons with intellectual disabilities and the creation of support services at community level confirm the difficulties and the high degree of discrimination faced by adult persons with disabilities, particularly those who have been and are still deprived of the right to live in the community and be employed.

Businesses avoid hiring people with disabilities on the grounds that the workplace and the working schedule have to be adapted, facilities have to be provided, etc.

In this context, Keystone Moldova supports the employment of people with intellectual disabilities and supports people in income-generating activities at home or within social services (Supported Living and Community Home). Currently, Keystone Moldova provides support to a group of ten people (mothers caring for children with disabilities and staff from social services for people with disabilities) already producing handbags and purses for women from recyclable material (metallic colored film).

Through the project, Keystone Moldova intends to continue social entrepreneurship activities through:

• Increasing the number of manufacturers of bags by creation of a group of people with intellectual disabilities from the persons who have been deinstitutionalized or are in the process of deinstitutionalization from the Orhei Residential Institution for Children (boys) with Mental Disabilities.
• Developing the work skills and time and money management skills of people with intellectual disabilities, who have lived in residential institutions for more than 15 years.
• Facilitating the employment of people with intellectual disabilities in the free labor market, in order to enhance their social inclusion.