Newsletter

June - August
July 29th,2008
2006 Pentru Voi, TimisoaraTimişoara

Winner Pentru Voi Foundation

“Different but together” Pentru Voi Foundation’s project in Timisoara won the
Greatest Award of the Civil Society Gala, on 20th May, at the Romanian
Athenaeum.
After winning the prize for the best project in the section "Social services for people in
need", our project entered the final phase of the competition, along with the winners
from all the other sections of the competition and won the highest distinction of the Civil
Society Gala! It is the first time when the Civil Society Gala Award is won by an organization from Timisoara and it is also a pre-
miere for an organization for persons with intellectual disabilities.
"We thank our partner, Timisoara Municipality, which has supported us for 11 years now! We are thankful to the financer of this
project, the Open Society Institute Mental Health Initiative! I am very pleased about this award because we advocate for the
rights of persons with intellectual disabilities, who are one of Romania's most marginal-
ized social categories. The media brings up the disability issue only when another
scandal about institutions bursts. We have proved that persons with intellectual dis-
abilities belong to the community! Even if we are different, the only way we can lead a
good life is together!", declared Laila Onu, Executive Director of Pentru Voi Founda-
tion, at the Civil Society Gala. The project "Different, but together" aims to support em-
ployment of persons with intellectual disabilities.

National Conference
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Romania

22-23 September 2008 “The dawn of a new era” for persons with
Timişoara disabilities in Romania?

Pentru Voi Foundation organizes on 22-23rd September the
National Conference with international participation - “UN
Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities in
Romania”.
“Today promises to be the dawn of a new era – an era in
which the 650 billion people with disabilities will no longer
have to endure the discriminatory practices and attitudes that
have been permitted to prevail for all too long,” said former
UN Secretary - General Kofi Annan.
Romania signed the UN Convention on 26th July 2007 but
has not yet ratified it. Will the Convention mean “the dawn of
a new era” for the 500 thousand persons with disabilities in
Romania?
The Conference gathers important personalities of the
disability sector: Ingrid Körner, president of Inclusion Europe
and Victor Wahlstrom, former president of Inclusion Interna-
tional. The event is financed by the Open Society Mental
Health Initiative and Vodafone Romania Foundation.
More details about the Conference can be found at
www.pentruvoi.ro
 The 3rd edition of National Conference for Self-advocates

2-3 September 2008 - Mamaia

Pentru Voi Foundation organized the 3rd edition of the Self-

Advocates National Conference with the theme UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The purpose of the Conference was to seek answers to
questions like “What is the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities? What does it mean to me and what
does it bring new? What are my rights and how can I protect
them?”
The event was financed by the Open Society Mental Health
Initiative and Vodafone Romania Foundation.
More details about the project can be found at
www.pentruvoi.ro

Vocational Training designed for

Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

Pentru Voi Foundation and Romanian-German Foundation Development of Human

from Timişoara organize starting with 1st September 2008 Resources - Social Inclusion
two courses designed for persons with intellectual Measures.
disabilities from Timişoara: a computer (10 places) and a
The courses are financially
Building Finisher Course (12 places).
and administratively
The courses are part of the project “I want and I can work”, supported by the organizers
financed by the (cost of the course, course
European Union and materials, transport to and
by the Romanian from FRG and lunch). The trainers are employees of the
Government through Romanian-German Foundation, they are accredited and
the program PHARE have adapted the course curricula for the needs of persons
2006 - Economic and with disabilities.
Social Cohesion -
For more details: 0356 421 215 or www.pentruvoi.ro

Training Sessions for Professionals from the IBM Consultancy at Pentru Voi
Supported Employment Field ANNETTE CHITRA ANDRADE

Pentru Voi Foundation organized on 3rd June a training
session on „Supported Employment for intelectually
disabled people”.
The training session accommodated 25 professionals and it
precedes another course, both planned for 2008. The
emphasis of the course was on developing new
competences and was designed for professionals from the
supported-employment field. The two training session, part
of the program „Different but together”, are organized with
the financial support of Open Society Mental Health
Initiative.
A series of discussions and case-studies covered various
aspects of promoting supported-employment, preparing the
service users for supported-employment, career planning
and analyzing the workplace, approaching the potential
Annette Chitra Andrade, a representative of
IBM who heads leadership development in
South Asia from India, offered a
consultancy program contributing in this way to the
organizational development of Pentru Voi.
Her work focused on training the management staff on
Organizational Development and also on establishing a
number of specific objectives applicable to Petru Voi. Chitra
quickly understood the needs of our Foundation and she
enhanced the organising of several Consultancy sessions
with other IBM representatives in Timişoara. Furthermore,
Chitra promoted Pentru Voi to other companies in Timişoara
and proposed ideas for improving the 2% Campaign. We
are thankful for her contribution and also for her devotion for
the mission of the Foundation.
 Bronze at National Special Olympics Games
in Germany
Pentru Voi Foundation sport-team, trained by instructor Zina
Costin, participated to Special Olympics, competition that
took place in Karlsruhe, Germany, between 16-21st June
2008. Pentru Voi Team brought home one bronze medal at
bocce team.
„It was for the first time when our sportspersons participated
at bocce team at international level. Three months before the
competition, we did not even know this sport existed. Under
these circumstances, the bronze medal is a great
performance. Furthermore, our team had a great feeling
participating to such a great sport event, in Germany.”
Proposal for modification of methodological norms
regarding the Law 448/2006
With an already extensive experience in getting actively
involved in the legislative process, by communicating to
decision takers proposals and comments on legislation in the
disability field, Pentru Voi Foundation made its voice heard
regarding the Government Decision (GD) for the modification
and amendment of the methodological norms for the application
of Law 448/2006 on the protection and promotion of the rights
of persons with disabilities.
Pentru Voi Foundation handed in to Minister Paul Pacuraru a
letter in which we highlighted the fact that the above mentioned
GD is illegal, as it modifies the provisions of the Government
Emergency Ordinance (GEO) 86/2008. Thus, article 78, para-
graph (3), letter (b) of the Law 448/2006 was modified by GEO
86/2008, as follows: “to buy products of services from
authorized protected units, produced through the own work of
the employed persons with disabilities, on the grounds of a
partnership agreement, for the same amount of money which
was due for the State, according to the provisions from letter
(a).” The projects of methodological norms, which was
* FLASH NEWS * FLASH NEWS * FLASH NEWS *
• High level IBM visit, July 2008
A delegation of CEO IBM Bucureşti, Adrian
Budura, Sale Representative IBM Timişoara and
Irina Stoltz, Corporate Citizenship & Corporate
Affaires Specialist, visited Pentru Voi
Foundation. Impressed by the activities ran in
our Center, they decided to start a collaboration
with the Pentru Voi Protected Unit. They also
showed interest to support our 2% Campaign,
through IBM Romania.
We are twice thankful to Annette Chitra Andrade,
IBM India Consultant, who facilitated the visit.
declared Laila
O n u ,
Executive
Director of
Pentru Voi
Foundation.
T h e
Romanian
Team, represented by the sportspersons of “Dumitru
Ciumăgeanu“ Special School in Timisoara, won several other
medals at the athletics section: one gold medal, two silver
medals and one bronze medal.
supposed to explain the concrete manner in which the law
shoul be applied, modifies the provisions of the law, which is
illegal. Thus, the project replaces the text “to buy products of
services from authorized protected units, produced be the own
work of the employed persons with disabilities” with “to buy
products of services from authorized protected units, produced
by or with the involvement of the employed persons with
disabilities”. This changes the meaning of GEO 86/2008 and
does not prevent the immoral use of article 78 of Law 448/2006.
Pentru Voi Foundation proposed a version of text which is a
much clearer and easier to be applied, inspired by the German
model, namely: “at least 50% of the value of the contracts
signed by a protected unit on the grounds of article 78 of Law
448 is to be used for the payment of the salaries of the persons
with disabilities employed by the respective protected unit”. The
letter was first handed in to the General Secretariate of the
Government, to the Prime Minister of Romania and to the
National Authority for Persons with Handicap, but no measures
were taken as until now.
• Study visit to Norway, August
Manuela Oprea, psyhologist at “Ladislau
Tacsi” Day Center, went on a study visit
to Norway, organized by the Psychiatric
Sanatorium from Modum Bad with the
support of Karen Elisabet Berg. Manuela
participated to a seminary on “Treatment
of dissociative disorders generated by
traumas, with accent on abuse” and after-
wards she visited the local Clinic, an ac-
tivity-centre and a protected unit.
 Study visit to Holland The Protected Unit is continuously
developing

Melinda Malonay, kinetotherapist at “Ladislau Tacsi” Day At the moment Pentru Voi has 51 employees, persons
Center, went on a study visit of three weeks organized in with intellectual disabilities. On 1st July, Pentru Voi
the context of New Generations Exchange - Holland for employed 10 persons and we plan that another 10 will get
young professionls, with the support of Rotary Club a job in September.
Timişoara, Rotary Wijchen and our friend, Joze Janssen,
The mobile teams were very effcacious in the last couple
member of Rotary Club from Elst.
of months: Procter & Gamble and Contitech are the main
The purpose of the visit was to learn about various employees. We are now trying to initiate a new
approach methods applied in the social services field on collaboration: with Preferitta Coffeteria and with
people with Flextronics.
intellectual
The newest activities carried out in the materials range,
disabilities in
consist of portioning and packing fertiliser for plants - two
Holland. She visited
persons were employed full time for these tasks.
several day centres,
protected units and This summer we managed to buy a new oven for the
also a medical unit bakery in Sacalaz, therefore the pastry range will be more
specialized on difersified and the products will be of superior quality.
physiotherapy.

Pentru Voi Foundation organized three summer school!

Summer School at Sasca Montană & Poieni Summer School at Râul Alb
Strâmbu, 21-27 July 29 August - 4 September

Pentru Voi organized this year The program included

three summer schools for its training sessions designed
service users. for persons with intellectual
disabilities, music, dance,
The summer school organized in sport events, trips, disco and
July at Sasca Montana (Caraş the traditional campfire.
Severin county) and Poieni
Strâmbu (Timiş county), The summer schools were
accommodated 80 beneficiaries, organized with the financial
persons with intellectual disabilities. support of the Open Society
Mental Health Institute.
The third summer school was
organized at Râul Alb for 20 adults
with severe intellectual disabilities.

The Blue Group

The most beautiful garden

Ladislau Tacsi Day Center organized between March –

August 2008 the contest “The most beautiful garden”.
The participants were the four groups - yellow, green,
orange and blue of the center. They were provided with the
necesary materials and according to their preference and The Orange Group
imagination the groups carried on various activities specific
to gardening. Ion Slavici Street no 47
The contest itself is perceived as a rewarding prize because 300521 Timişoara, Romania
everybody is waiting the prize award ceremony to find out 0256.228.062, pentruvoi@pentruvoi.ro
what is the winner garden. www.pentruvoi.ro