Empowered – Strengthening regional cooperation for the inclusion of persons with disabilities
The 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 project will be implemented in six countries of the Western Balkans with the primary goal of promoting the social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities (PwDs) through regional cooperation, structured dialogue, and long-term development. ➡️ The project aims to empower PwDs and their representative organizations by creating opportunities for open regional dialogue, strengthening their advocacy efforts, and building a culture of cooperation and mutual learning. By exchanging best practices and jointly developing community-based support systems, the project will pave the way for more inclusive and resilient societies across the region. Empowered will particularly focus on the specific needs of blind and deaf persons, often among the most marginalized within the disability community, ensuring that their voices are heard and their rights are respected in every step of the process. Through a series of national and regional workshops, conferences, and public campaigns, the project will raise awareness, promote institutional support, and build bridges between people, governments, and civil society. The project also strives to strengthen cross-border networks and create regional models that can be replicated in other parts of Europe. These models will include accessible employment services, inclusive education approaches, and innovative tools to help PwDs access information and opportunities. The initiative is committed to developing sustainable support systems that extend beyond the life of the project. Inclusion is not a one-time effort—it is a continuous process that requires policy changes, accessible environments, and societal awareness. By working together across borders, we can ensure that no one is left behind. 🤝 Partners involved in the project include: 🔹 LIR Civil Society (LIR CD)🔹 PREDA Plus Foundation🔹 Alfa Centar Nikšić🔹 Community Development Institute (CDI), North Macedonia🔹 Initiative for Development and Cooperation (IDC), Serbia🔹 Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (ADRF) Together, we believe that regional solidarity, knowledge exchange, and shared responsibility are key to building a future where every person with a disability is recognized, supported, and fully included in all aspects of life.
We are starting!
We’re excited to launch the new 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 project, focused on strengthening the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PwDs) across the Western Balkans. Led by the German organization Arbeiter Samariter Bund Deutschland e.V. and funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the project will span 44 months, from September 1, 2024, to April 30, 2028. Partners: LIR Civil Society (LIR CD) LIR CD PREDA Plus PREDA Plus Foundation Alfa Center Alfa Centar Niksic Community Development Institute (CDI) CDI Macedonia – ИРЗ Македонија Initiative for development and cooperation (IDC) IDC Serbia Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (ADRF) Albanian Disability Rights Foundation The main goal of the project is to promote the inclusion of PwDs through regional cooperation and development in the Western Balkans. Specifically, the project aims to empower PwDs and their organizations through regional dialogue and advocacy, sharing best practices, and jointly developing community support systems. In the target communities, representatives from various sectors will enhance their ability to coordinate and implement joint initiatives that promote social investments in education and employment for over 20,000 PwDs. During implementation, recommendations on effective partnerships between the public, private, and civil sectors will be developed. During the project, PwDs and their organizations will use forums for regional dialogue and networking to define needs at the local, national, and regional levels. By sharing best practices related to partnerships between the public, private, and civil sectors, the project will lay the foundation for restructuring social investment funds to better support PwD inclusion.