Background
The Open Heart Foundation, with its socio-therapeutic centre for youth, and its centre for social integration for adults, serves people in poverty, with dysfunctional families, with additions to alcohol, victims of physical and psychological violence, facing unemployment, that have induced themselves self-harm, self-mutilation, suicide attempts, physical and psychological violence, unemployment, depression, social anxiety. Adolescents and adults present emotional problems, show difficulties to cope with life, have a low level of social competences and group dynamics are not taken in. These people have limited capacities for dialogue and to resolve conflict in a constructive way. The feeling of isolation because of the problems they struggle with causes them additional psychological trauma that prevents them from acting in society. Adults, in addition to social problems, have professional problems and are in a situation of long-term unemployment.
Activities
The Go on!, butterfly project addressed a group of youth and adults attending the Open Heart Foundation that manifested social concerns (dysfunctional families, alcoholism, depression, social anxiety, suicide attempts). From August to the end of November 2022, it run therapeutic and skill-building workshops (art-therapy, self-development, make-up, tailoring), organised volunteering activities and concluded with a fashion catwalk public event to display the fashion garments that the target group designed and customised (80 guests).
Results
The 12 adults and 43 youth involved in the project feel now a positive image of themselves, and seize the importance to presence a cared and well-groomed appearance to introduce themselves in society/employment. They have built interpersonal relationships among the participants and outside. Capacity-wise, these youth and adults have acquired new professional and organisational skills. Professionally they have acquired tailoring skills (understand it also as creativity) and have notions on how the fashion industry develops. They have shown to perceive the value of work and commitment and are able to sort out their responsibilities. The public hand clapping at the final event was the cherry on the top for the target group.
People being served
People being served : People who are marginalised
Age group : Adults 26-60, Young people 18-25
Number of participants : 51-100
Schedule
Project status : Completed
Collaborations
Images
Overview
Society presence : Poland
Focus of the project : People
JPIC Imperative : Transforming and Being Transformed
UN Sustainable Development Goals : 3 Good Health and Well being, 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
