The second consecutive year, the NGO "New Life", with the financial support from DVV International Moldova, has been implementing an unusual project. It aims through learning activities to cultivate new skills and contribute to the reintegration of psychoactive substances users and HIV-positive people who are in detention or undergoing rehabilitation in the therapeutic community. The title of the project is "Partnership for education and reintegration of users of psycho-active substances and HIV-positive people.”
Ina Vutcariov, the psychologist of the association "New Life" and the coordinator of the project tells us.
Ina, at what stage is the project?
Everything is going great! All that we have planned on activities in prisons and the therapeutic community is according to the plan. We have good results, the support groups that we have established are stable, the beneficiaries are interested in the new project, we are on a rhythmic way, but at the same time, we take care to manage everything.
How many people are involved in the new project?
The latest reports indicate 62 registered people. Periodically, however, someone gets out, someone joins. The project’s beneficiaries are from three prisons and from the therapeutic community - the "New Life".
Do you see any changes in men involved in the project?
Of course. Many are involved in the project for the second year and we see how they develop their skills as they become more experienced. They already have knowledge and some skills. This year we see a much greater interest in support groups that have increased in numbers. If last year it was necessary for us to keep everything under control, that everything is in place and nothing disappears, now the group itself has assumed this responsibility, the participants themselves have formulated rules and check independently their compliance. If for the therapeutic community this is quite common, then in prisons this is an outstanding performance.
The hand-made objects really indeed contribute to their reintegration?
For the person to reintegrate into society, it is required for a ready society, for certain perspectives in this society, but also it depends a lot on the actual person who wants to be accepted. It is about certain skills, the ability to do something, as well as to have certain values in life - to be honest, dignified, to behave respectfully in the group, not to raise conflict, to have self-control. All these are learned within the project. The project also contains a component on the development of collaboration ties with the business sector. So we give these people the opportunity after the release from prison or after finishing the rehabilitation course to benefit of support by being employed and earn at least little. Therefore, yes, such activities contribute to reintegration, but not in isolation, but in a complex framework, together with other factors.
Why business people would employ people of this category?
Business is the engine of certain changes, i.e. people want to create something and to change the world around them. When we involve in our business such a person who has used drugs or was in prison, or both, we offer such a chance to change his lifestyle from a destructive to a constructive one - we really do change the world around us. Yes, there are plenty of risks, problems, complications and cases where people have tried, but failed. But there are many good practices and positive experiences, when people are given a chance, they get employed, and they change their lives for the better.
For what do you need all these?
Our organization has the following position: we are fighting for people throughout their lives, as long as they want it and allow us to help them. In our work we apply numerous and diverse practices, but the aim is one - to give a chance to those who want qualitative and lasting changes and who are not afraid to choose another path.
Author: Elena Derjanschi (Source: Positive Initiative)