15 groups under the project ‘’Include and Activate!’’ present their work

Ljubljana, 11 December 2018 – Slovenian Book Agency has been implementing the EU-funded project ‘’Include and Activate!’’ for three years now. The project aims to boost the development and implementation of interdisciplinary programmes of social activation and integration of vulnerable groups in society and labour market by focusing on the cultural creativity of participants. Project managers managed to double the number of groups that take part in the project this year, which means that training takes place in as many as 15 groups and reaches out to over 100 participants. As the end of the year draws near, project managers are planning on organising several closing events, while the special event organised today in the City Museum of Ljubljana featured Mateja Mahkovec, Head of the Managing Authority for ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund from the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy.

The event featured four groups of participants with mental health disorders presenting their literary works created during training. After all, culture speaks a universal language understood by each and every one of us. In fact, Slovenian prisons, included in the project, and groups of persons with mental health disorders will hold their own events as well. Four target groups are targeted by the project: i.e. persons with mental health disorders, persons with mental disabilities, persons serving prison sentences scheduled for release and persons participating in drug rehabilitation programmes. Participants across Slovenia are introduced to the world of culture and literature under the guidance of selected mentors and experts (acclaimed Slovenian writers, poets and illustrators), and are encouraged to build their own creativity by fostering self-expression and creative writing and developing the cultural potential. The project further supports gaining of digital literacy skills, public speaking and self-presentation skills. These events allow the participants to show what they have achieved, which is not only a reward for their hard work throughout the year, but also acknowledgement and recognition of the results of training. According to Mateja Mahkovec, Head of the Managing Authority, the results prove that skills and knowledge which support social activation and enable individuals to get fully integrated in the society and labour market can be achieved in a different and creative way. Mahkovec added that there is a huge number of successful projects that were supported by the EU funds across Slovenia and that we need to spread the word about the indelible traces left by the EU-funded projects which make our lives better.