New experience for new beginning - Training for caregivers

It is evident that the population in Bosnia and Herzegovina and region is getting older, which means that the number of people over 65 years of age is growing. Care for elderly is now more important than ever because through stress, everyday problems and fear for livelihood more people find themselves in the need for care.

On the other hand we have a high unemployment rate and tendency to resignation among young people, which demands more engagement of all members and institutions in local communities. Education does not contribute much to their employment in B&H. Current data shows that unemployment – over 60 % - is the biggest problem of youth in our country.    

In order to at least partially respond to these problems, to create employment possibilities and to provide appropriate care for elderly and frail people, organisation “Fenix” from Sanski Most in cooperation with DVV International, implements in 2018 the project “New experience for new beginning” - Training for caregivers.

Centre „Fenix“ exists since 1997 providing support to target groups in specific, transitional life stages such as: pregnancy, childbirth, nursing/breastfeeding, early childhood, retirement etc. Beside counselling and education of pregnant women and young mothers,  Centre „Fenix“ runs the social programme for elderly, frail and socially disadvantaged people, conducts upskilling courses for medical workers, and operates since 2008 the nursing home „Zlatna jesen“.

Objective of the project “New experience for new beginning”  is to train 20 young people for the new occupation profile “Caregiver” and to increase their competitiveness on the labour market, whereas they will gain necessary experience through voluntary work in the nursing home  „Zlatna jesen“. The project is also aimed at promotion of health maintenance and care for elderly and improvement of efficiency and service quality in social care facilities.

The participants will attend 170 hours of theoretical courses and four months of practical training in the nursing home under mentorship and pedagogic counselling. 

Project participants: 20 unemployed young people from Sanski Most and suburban area.  

Project duration: 170 hours of theoretical courses and four months of practical training under mentorship.

Project objectives:

• Training of young unemployed people and increasing their competitiveness on the labour market;
• Promotion of health maintenance and care for elderly, and improvement of current conditions in the field of caregiving to elderly and frail people;
• Improvement of efficiency and service quality in social care facilities.