Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, H.E. Mr. Olav Reinertsen and his spouse Mrs. Gry Reinertsen visited Youth Association “Ružičnjak – Los Rosales” today in Mostar. They wanted to learn more about its activities in providing support to children and youth with disabilities. This Association is one of 23 civil society organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina that received grant through EMBRACE project - Enable and Embrace Beneficial Civil Society Environment funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Youth Association “Ružičnjak – Los Rosales” received almost 40.000,00 BAM for implementation of their project “Support services for children with disabilities and their parents through sensory integration therapy/early intervention and counseling corner”.

“Social inclusion is core in the Norwegian society regardless who you are and where you come from. When it comes to children with disabilities, we certainly believe that we need to enable them to be part of society and eventually to enter the labor market with the same opportunities as those without disabilities. I am glad that we have been able to provide support to this Association and I am looking forward to our next meeting where we can talk about possible future cooperation” said Ambassador Reinertsen.

“Social integration is one of the most needed activities in our society today and we are happy that the Royal Norwegian Embassy and UNDP recognized the importance of our project. Through this project, we have focused on children who have not been enrolled in any programms, meaning children from rural areas and children from vulnerable families that would not be able to afford these therapies” explained Mirna Mezit, director of Youth Association “Ružičnjak – Los Rosales”.

“Support services for children with disabilities and their parents through sensory integration therapy/early intervention and counseling corner” project is implemented in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton will contribute to improvement of the quality of social inclusion of children and youth with disabilities. It is expected that at least 50 children of pre-school age with visible disabilities, or those in risk of developing disabilities that parents or legal guardians are not capable of providing necessary physical or psychological support, where they need adequate intensive therapeutic, educational and rehabilitation support and assistance.

About EMBRACE project:

Project “Enable and Embrace Beneficial Civil Society Environment” (EMBRACE) is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in the amount of around 1 million BAM and is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). General aim of the project is supporting social development through enabling participants of the civil society to better address needs of local communities. EMBRACE is implemented in 12 local communities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project will support social development through improved delivery of services of civil society organizations through the improvement of their organizational capacity and the creation of a more favorable environment through interventions in the regulatory framework.