Report on the activities of Slovene Philanthropy in the year 2010

Slovene Philanthropy is a humanitarian organization operating in public interest since 1992. Our programs are aimed at increasing the quality of life in the community and advocacy for the socially weak.The central activity of Slovene Philanthropy is the promotion of volunteering. We firmly believe that through volunteering we can all contribute to a better and more tolerant society, based on the respect of all people regardless of their personal or living circumstances.The values we advocate are:respect for nature and fellow man, solidarity, tolerance, equality and equal opportunities for all.

We enter the community with our programs in areas where national institutions are not yet active or not active enough, but have room for great improvement through voluntary work. Such areas include:aid to refugees, children and young migrants, aid to the homeless and other persons lacking health insurance in assurance of healthcare services, advocacy of migrant worker rights, connection of socially isolated groups and cooperation and advocacy in the drafting of fairer policies.Unfortunately, the stratification of society is creating ever new areas where the active engagement of people is absolutely necessary for the assurance of just society.

We firmly believe the quality of life in our community is our common responsibility, so a large part of our activities is directed towards informing and raising awareness.

In 2010 Slovene Philanthropy gained 98 % of the funding from public tenders, 1.34 % from donations and 0.07 % from membership fees.

21 employees cooperated in the implementation of Slovene Philanthropy programs in 2010. 95 % of these were actively involved in programs, working with and for users, while 5 % or one employee was working in administration.

Through our programs, 234 volunteers performed 8333 hours of volunteer work (study aid for asylum seekers, refugees, implementation of guardianships, advocacy of migrant workers, volunteer doctors), which amounts to 83,3330 EUR worth of professional work pursuant to the Voluntary Work Act.

Program of Volunteering

The purpose of the "Volunteering" program is the promotion of volunteer work among residents of Slovenia, connection of volunteers, organizers and mentors and exchange of best practices.

The aim of the program is the establishment of volunteering as a core value to be cultivated at all levels of Slovene society and the establishment of a system to support the inclusion of residents in volunteer work through volunteering organizations and the state and promote solidarity among residents as a preventative measure for the assurance of quality living conditions for all.

We served as an information hotspot for all seekers of volunteer aid and interested volunteers and helped them find appropriate volunteers or work.In the area of training and education of volunteer work organizers and mentors, the main purpose of the program is to provide support in the establishment or raising the quality of volunteer work in individual organizations. In the area of training interested volunteers it is our goal to train as many volunteers as possible for providing quality work.In 2010 we have supplemented our established introductory training sessions, workshops for volunteers in organizations and schools with themed training for volunteers in separate areas of operation.As the main cooperative of the government we were intensively involved in preparing the Voluntary Work Act and were also tasked with informing voluntary organizations and the interested public of its progress.

As the coordinator of the Slovene Network of Voluntary Organizations, we counted 664 member organizations at the end of the year.According to available data, the Network has in 2010 retained its role as the largest operative network of various voluntary non-governmental organizations in Slovenia.

The Slovene Philanthropy also hosted a non-governmental work group for systemic regulation of volunteering. The group held monthly meetings throughout 2010 and was involved throughout the process of drafting the Voluntary Work Act. Slovene Philanthropy provides technical and expert assistance to the Ethical Committee of Organized Volunteering.

Users of the Volunteering program:

  • seekers of voluntary aid,
  • seekers of voluntary work,
  • volunteers,
  • individuals subscribing to e-news,
  • primary and secondary school and university students,
  • mentors and organizers,
  • volunteer organizations,
  • legal persons (companies) and
  • the wider public.

In 2010 the Volunteering program consisted of the following:

Organization of 4 events that included over 10,000 volunteers

-the 7th Congress of Volunteering, Day for Changes, the 11th Festival of Youth Volunteering and the Volunteering Day

We carried out 123 training sessions that included 2,402 volunteers

-We carried out 30 training sessions for volunteers that included 388 volunteers

-We carried out 16 training sessions for voluntary work mentors, through which we trained 386 mentors

-We carried out 77 workshops at primary and secondary schools and voluntary organizations that included 1,628 individuals (potential volunteers)

We provided counseling to 2,381 volunteers and organizations in the search for voluntary aid and volunteer work

-counseling for 350 seekers of volunteer aid and volunteers,

-counseling for 2031 organizations in the establishment, management and mentoring of volunteering,

Throughout the year we continuously informed over 2,000 individuals and 3,300 organizations of news, events, systemic management of vlunteering, etc.

We also promoted volunteering in 10 further events organized by other parties.

The Volunteering program has its internet site: where seekers of volunteer aid can find volunteers and providers of volunteer work can find users.The web site is also used for publishing information on current volunteering events.

Program of Intergenerational Cooperation

This project is implemented through two projects titled Fruits of Society and Fruits of Society House that are continuing in 2011.

The program has the following goals:

• improving social inclusion and participation of the elderly, thereby improving the quality of life of individuals and expanding their choices,

• gaining and training of volunteers of all generations for work in intergenerational cooperation, support and promotion of intergenerational volunteering,

creation of circumstances for various generations to meet and cooperate and promotion of intergenerational learning that increases the social capital of individuals,

• transfer and acquisition of practical knowledge and skills that enable greater independence and improvements in the financial situation of individuals,

• promotion of intergenerational cooperation and solidarity and promotion of tighter bonds between generations and greater regard for the values of intergenerational cooperation,

• influence the drafting of social policies through development of quality intergenerational activities and research in the field,

• beat prejudice among generations - ageism and sensibilization of each generations to the issues of another and achievement of reciprocity in intergenerational cooperation,

Users of the program of Intergenerational Cooperation:

  • volunteers,
  • the elderly and the retired,
  • primary and secondary school and university students,
  • volunteer organizations,
  • the wider public.

The aim of the Fruits of Society House project is to establish and maintain the operation of an intergenerational community centre in Murska Sobota.The Fruits of Society House was opened in 2009 and is the first centre of its kind in the country.Its intergenerational program and activities are based on the needs and abilities of the older and the younger generation, on co-creation and creative socialization. The project emphasizes an intergenerational exchange of knowledge and experience, lifelong learning and new options for employment.

The project also has its own information and promotion internet site:

Beside the Fruits of Society House, 2010 also marked the continuation of the Fruits of Society project, which was initiated in 2006. In 2010, the project was introduced in 33 schools and pensioner societies and similar associations.The projects systematically links together schools and pensioners' societies in mutual cooperation.Its numbers are increasing every year and Slovene Philanthropy carries out project promotions and expansion as well as workshops at schools.

We have cooperated at a systemic level with:

-the Ministry of Labor, Family and Social Affairs in the drafting of the strategy of intergenerational cooperation and the presentation of best practices in the organization of intergenerational centers that are a key Slovene priority in the development of social care.

-the Association of Pensioner Societies of Slovenia, Faculty of Social Work, Ministry of Education and the Education Institute of Slovenia in the establishment of intergenerational programs (expert discussion titled The Culture of Coexistence and Professional Social Challenges and Opportunities.Seminar:Europe in School, presentation and panel discussion at the Festival for the Third Life Period.)

-7 municipalities and local associations in the establishment of intergenerational centres or programs (Maribor, Domžale, Kostanjevica na Krasu, Izola, Kamnik, Ig pri Ljubljani, Beltinci)

In 2010 the program of Intergenerational Cooperation included 1,261 users (volunteers, the elderly and retired, primary and secondary school students and university students).

We carried out:

  • 351 intergenerational workshops at the Fruits of Society house,
  • 5 themed training sessions (70 participants),
  • 8 promotional events organized in house,

and created a handbook on the methodology of intergenerational workshops.

Program of Migrations

The purpose of the Migrations program is to provide support to various migrant groups in Slovenia through providing information, counseling, advocacy, psychosocial aid, striving for appropriate legislation and practice in the field of migration and other activities contributing to better integration of migrants in Slovenia.The program also aims to raise awareness of modern migrations among the professional and wider public, educate professionals and volunteers, promote cooperation between various actors operating in the field of migrations in Slovenia and cooperation in various professional bodies tasked with migrations.

Program goals:

- information, counseling and psychosocial aid to various

migrant groups,

- permanent aid in the integration of various migrant groups,

- advocacy and efforts towards improving the protection of various migrant groups,

- training and integration of volunteers and professionals working with target groups,

- raising awareness of modern migrations among the professional and wider public,

- monitoring of modern migrations, preparation of analyses and research in the field of modern migrations,

- cooperation and linking of various actors in the field of migrations.

Project users

- various migrant groups (asylum seekers, refugees, migrant workers, unaccompanied children ...),

- volunteers,

- professionals working in migrations,

- the wider public.

The activities we pursue to achieve program goals include:

-counseling,

-provision of information,

-psychosocial aid,

-advocacy,

-custodianship for unaccompanied children,

-Slovenian language lessons,

-other study aid,

-social activities to aid integration.

The program includes volunteers who receive training and mentor support.

At a systemic level we strive for appropriate legislation and practice in the area of migrations in Slovenia. We are cooperating in the following expert bodies:Council for Integration of Aliens, Working Group for Combating Against Trafficking in Human Beings and Working Group for the Issue of Unaccompanied Children.

We also cooperate in the Separated Children in Europe Programme, are members of the Health for Undocumented migrants and Asylum seekers network and work with the European Integration Forum.

Program of Promotion of Health

The purpose of this program is to raise awareness among the wider public on reproductive health and improve the health and social situation of people without health insurance.

Program goals:

  • answering questions regarding reproductive health,
  • inclusion of persons without appropriate health insurance into the existing healthcare system,
  • arrangement of stay in the Republic of Slovenia,
  • arrangement of permanent residence,
  • arrangement of a suitable pension,
  • acquisition of personal documents,
  • arrangement of suitable lodging,
  • informing users of their rights,
  • psychosocial aid to users,
  • mediation with various institutions for users,
  • promotion of clinic as a best practice case.

Users:

-persons without health insurance,

-the wider public.

Clinic with counseling service for persons without health insurance

The purpose of this program is to improve the health and social position of persons without health insurance and help them enter the healthcare system.The clinic is staffed by 40 volunteer doctors working through Slovene Philanthropy.A full-time social worker takes care of the social needs of clinic users.

In 2010 the existing 628 users of the clinic were joined by 97 new users of which 27 % are Slovenian citizens.In 2010 the clinic accepted 728 users.

Activities:

  • Social services work at the clinic and in the field,
  • cooperation with various institutions,
  • training of volunteers,
  • training of employees,
  • work of the commission for awarding financial aid to users,
  • clinic promotion.

Methodology:the predominant model of operation is individual work with users.

Raising awareness of reproductive health

The project is staffed by two volunteer physicians who answer questions regarding reproductive health through the Zanima.me website.

Program of Development Cooperation

The main objective of the centre is to help developing countries and provide them with technical and expert assistance through the transfer of best practices from Slovenia. Main program users include local NGOs through which we are able to reach end program users - school workers, mental hygiene professionals, children, women, the elderly and other vulnerable groups. Activities through we reach our goals are:various psychosocial programs in the community and in schools, training and strengthening the capacities of school workers, training and strengthening the capacities of mental hygiene professionals and other persons and institutions relevant to the lives of end users and those who are most exposed, development and promotion of volunteer work in schools and the community, programs of women empowerment.

Part of the activities of the centre takes part in Slovenia and Europe, consisting mostly of raising awareness of the wider public on the issues of especially vulnerable groups (the elderly, women, children) in developing countries and influence upon government, non-government donors and their policies. This is achieved predominantly through promotional activities (promotion of Millennium Development Goals and cooperation in the drafting of national policies).

In 2010 our programs reached Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia, North Osetia, Uganda and Kenya.

Programs are implemented in conjunction with local partner organizations or in partnerships with other Slovenian and European organizations.

The Development Cooperation program consisted of 18 projects.Some of these projects are continuing into 2011.

The Development Cooperation program had no regular employees in 2010. Projects within the program consisted of the following activities:

- organization of 16 seminars held by Slovene Philanthropy experts (Caucasus, Ossetia, Chechnya, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia),

- international camp for youths from west Balkans and Slovenia in Slovenia,

- working visit of a representative of Slovene Philantrophy with the establishment of organization in Kampala, Uganda.

We are members of the Help Age International network that advocates the rights of the elderly.