Caritas Romania Confederation announces the launching of the project: SenioriNet Federation’s – Stronger NGOs to support the elderly in Romania!

The project is implemented by Caritas Romania Confederation in partnership with Four Change Association, FSC – Community Support Foundation and Caritas Mitropolitan Greek-Catholic Blaj and benefits from a 247.230 euros grant from Active Citizens Fund – Romania, programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The project aims at increasing the capability and sustainability of NGOs and the the civil society sector. The project aims at increasing the capability and sustainability of NGOs and the the civil society sector.

The project’s implementation interval is that of 32 months (April 2021 – November 2023) with the eligible estimated cost of EUR 263,383.97.

The project starts from the need for coalition of social and socio-medical services providers for the elderly, so that they become a strong voice supporting the seniors in Romania. It targets to increase the capacity of representation for 60 NGOs providing socio-medical services for the elderly, by formalizing the informal network SenioriNET in order to produce systemic changes in the practice of financing from public funds.

Doina Crângașu (Caritas Romania), Project Manager:The problems the elderly face come from the lower degree of independence, following the issues related to age – loneliness, poverty enhanced by scarce incomes, the lack of community support networks, difficult access to socio-medical services in the proximity. In this context, the social and socio-medical services for the elderly are essential in order to increase their life quality.

The project’s objectives focus on the following directions:

• The formalization of the informal SenioriNET network in order to become a relevant actor in the dialogue with the authorities.
• The development of SenioriNET member organizations so that they are able to carry out advocacy activities in order to contract social and medical services for the elderly.
• Increasing the level of information and awareness regarding the elderly rights in Romania. In this regard, a White Paper on the Rights of the Elderly will be drafted, namely the position paper for the advocacy campaign. At the same time, we will be issuing a petition and aim to collect 10,000 signatures in order to support the rights of the elderly in Romania.
• Increasing the SenioriNET network’s degree of representation in the European profile platforms, in order to represent the interests of the elderly in Romania at European level and to take on good practices models.

The project’s direct beneficiariesare 60 NGOs providing socio-medical services for the elderly or working with them. The choice is justified by their needs: professionalisation, advocacy, ensuring the services financing. The indirect beneficiaries are the elderly who will receive services adapted to their needs.

In 2013, Caritas Romania Confederation and Four Change Association were the organizations among the founding members of SenioriNET – the network of home care service providers in Romania and their goal was to increase the elderly’s access to such services. Since the beginning, SenioriNET has carried out activities to defend the rights of the elderly in Romania and to promote socio-medical services for them; it has also developed a public policy for the access of the elderly to home care services and was part of consultations with various central and local authorities on the issue of the elderly.

The Active Citizens Fund Romania programme is funded through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The overall objective of the Grants is to reduce economic and social disparities, and to strengthen bilateral relations between 15 beneficiary countries and the Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). The programme is administrated by a consortium composed of Civil Society Development Foundation, Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation, Resource Center for Roma communities, PACT Foundation and Frivillighet Norge, acting as Fund Operator design by FMO- Financial Mechanism Office of EEA and Norway Grants. The objectives of the Active Citizens Fund Romania are to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and to empower vulnerable groups. With a total allocation of 46.000.000 euro, the programme pursues a long-term development of the civil society sector sustainability and capacity, stepping up its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and human rights, while strengthening bilateral relations with organizations from the Donor States, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. For more information about the Active Citizens Fund in Romania, please go to www.activecitizensfund.ro. For more information about the EEA and Norway Grants, go to www.eeagrants.ro.

Side infos:

* 212,000 elderly (6.5% of persons older than 65) face serious or total limitations, do not benefit from the family help and need support for daily activities, and 1 in 2 Romanian elderly are affected by loneliness, which leads to disastrous effects on their physical and mental health and on the quality of their life. Moreover, the phenomenon of aging leads to marginalization and social exclusion of the elderly. (according to a Study conducted by The Royal Foundation Margareta of Romania). Estimates indicate that by 2050, the percentage of the elderly population will reach 30% of the total population.

** In 1994, the 10 Caritas organizations operating in Romania gathered in a national network: the Caritas Romania Confederation. Established in order to promote the social projects of its members, Caritas Romania is involved in lobbying and influencing social policies both at national and European level through Caritas Europe, EC’s strategic partner on social issues. Through complex programmes in the field of social assistance, Caritas annually meets the needs of about 70,000 beneficiaries in Romania. Inspired by the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church, the mission of Caritas organizations is to support the poor and socially marginalized ones to express themselves and regain the right to a decent and dignified life through complex social assistance programs and charitable, humanitarian activities.

Four Change Association: NGO founded in 2012 by a series of Romanian civil society experts who aimed to accomplish positive, major changes in the non-governmental sector, as well as in the communities in which they operate. Through its activities, the association contributes to increasing the level of professionalism of non-governmental organizations by providing support in areas such as: research, promotion, strategic planning, project management, etc. The organization’s mission is to support the civil society organizations to become relevant actors in the development of Romanian society.

FSC – Community Support Foundation: NGO located in Bacău with public utility status, apolitical and non-profit, without religious character, established in June 1997. Through its programs it contributes to the improvement of lives of those in situations of marginalization and social risk. FSC enjoys national and international recognition with institutional partners from the UK, Norway, France, and Germany and has won over 25 awards at major galas and events promoting social responsibility and NGO excellence.

Caritas Mitropolitan Greek-Catholic Blaj: member of the Caritas Romania Confederation, which brings together 11 diocesan Caritas organizations, 6 Roman Catholic and 5 Greek Catholic. Caritas Blaj carries out projects in Blaj, Brașov, Luduș, Mediaș, Sibiu, Târnăveni and Teiuș. Medical and social home care is the main service carried out in 6 localities in Transylvania through medical and social workers, people with extensive experience in the field.