140 humanitarian projects with foreign aid have been implemented in the Vitebsk region

Over the past few years, 140 humanitarian projects with a social focus have been implemented in the region, attracting over 7 billion rubles in foreign gratuitous aid, reported Vera Astapenko, Head of the Department of Social Support for the Population and Stationary Institutions of the Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee.

The international charitable public association "Sofia" provides territorial centers for social services with rehabilitation equipment of various types, including wheelchairs. In 2015, together with the Gorodok District Territorial Center for Social Services, a humanitarian project worth over 72 million rubles was implemented.

The construction of a building for labor workshops for the social and labor rehabilitation of disabled people in the Lepel district is being carried out at the expense of the international charitable society "Ecostroitel" (Germany), which has allocated 400 thousand euros for these purposes.

A five-year agreement has been concluded with the International Public Association "Help People" (Netherlands), through which a laundry room (28 thousand euros) was built for the 24-hour stay department of the Shumilino district. They are also implementing agricultural projects based on two social institutions in the region, providing necessary products, methodological literature, and carrying out consulting and control.

Thanks to the republican aid fund "Let's Help Them Live" (Italy), an extension for a sports hall with exercise equipment (30 thousand euros) was built at the Orsha day care center for disabled people.

Many projects are being implemented in cooperation with the charitable Catholic society "Caritas" of the Vitebsk Diocese. More than 100 thousand euros worth of projects are planned for this year, and 70% have already been completed. As part of the adaptation of people with disabilities to work, "Caritas" is equipping sewing workshops, printing sections, and laundries, and building greenhouses at territorial centers.

– In the Orsha boarding house, paving slabs will be manufactured thanks to the community. A project worth 32 thousand euros is also being prepared for the opening of woodworking shops in Babinichi, Vitebsk region, – Vera Astapenko said.

Elena Alimova, "Vitebskiye Vesti".