EMERGENCY FUND TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND RECESSION
The Emergency Fund to Mitigate the Effects of the Economic Crisis has been created by the philanthropist George Soros to assist the socially vulnerable groups in the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union (20 countries, including Montenegro) whose situation is aggravated by the ongoing economic crisis. The Fund will be operational until the end of 2011 and will make available $100 million. The Fund is targeted at assisting children and youth from socially vulnerable groups in meeting their health care, educational and social needs, and helping the protection of rights and retraining of the people who have lost their jobs. The Fund also supports projects concerning social activism and solidarity that promote open society values. The Fund operates independently from the regular grant-making programs. Funding decisions are made by the National Soros Foundations for projects requiring up to $25,000 and by a subcommittee of the OSI International Advisory Board, Budapest for all grants above $25,000.
Foundation Open Society Institute - Representative Office Montenegro is in charge of the Emergency Fund implementation in Montenegro.
1. Initiative to enhance women's employability in Nikšić
The project of the SOS Phone from Nikšić aims at economic empowerment of women from particularly vulnerable groups, such as unemployed women aged 35 to 50, exposed to difficult circumstances and risk of social exclusion due to their family situation (single mothers, divorced women with children, women victims of family violence, women whose partners are chronic alcoholics etc). A group of 40 women are envisaged to undergo training on active job seeking and self - employment. Assisted by consultants, they will develop their own ideas into business plans. The amount of EUR 5,000 has been allocated for implementation of the top five business plans.
2. Food and hygiene products for the victims of violence at the Safe Women's House shelter
Considering that the NGO Safe Women's House receives no support from the state to run the shelter, it has to rely on donor support for some of the expenses. The project provides food and hygiene products for the victims and their children staying in the shelter, from 1 July to 31 October 2010.
1. Support to employment of women from Berane/Petnjica - training in home-manufacturing and assistance in product marketing
The Association intends to organize sale of surplus wool and a ten-day program to train a group of 12 women to manufacture carpets, rugs and covers. Revenues from the sale of such products will enable the weavers to purchase weaving looms and wool and start their own manufacture and possibly a co-op. The project will be implemented from May to November 2010.
2. Sheep breeding as form of support to rural households from the northern region of Montenegro which are in the state of social need
The project includes provision of "mini-flocks" (ten sheep of the local "pramenka" breed) to ten rural holdings owned by families in the state of social need in the municipalities of Bijelo Polje, Mojkovac and Kolašin. The project is intended to help improve their socio-economic situation. Beneficiaries will be selected following a public advertisement in the local media. In order to be eligible, households are required to have their own supply of hey, sufficient manpower to take care of the "mini-flock", stables and other preconditions for breeding. The contract lays down their obligation to keep the flock for a minimum of three years. The project is implemented by the Center for Development of Agriculture in cooperation with the Social Welfare Center from Bijelo Polje and the Regional Office of Cattle Breeding Service.
3. Agriculture for a better life
The project aims to provide assistance to the disabled persons from Bijelo Polje with no or very low income who are eligible to engage in farming. The project is intended to help improve their socio-economic situation. The Association will inform potential beneficiaries interested in greenhouse production. 23 beneficiaries will be selected based on their social status and capacities. They will receive equipment and material for farming: greenhouses, irrigation systems, crop seeds and tools. They will also be provided guidance and expert assistance of an agriculture specialist. Greenhouse crops provide three harvests a year, sufficient to meet the needs of the individual household and provide surplus to be sold on the market.
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