Close To You Foundation (adv) | WISE

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Close to You Foundation (ADV)

Close to You Foundation (ADV) is a non-governmental organisation and a work integration social enterprise, established in February 2002 by Holt International Children’s Service USA, whose mission is the integration of people with disabilities or other vulnerable groups. Its national headquarters is in Iasi and it is registered as a Romanian foundation, independent from state authorities, not conditioned by any certain ideologies, doctrines or religions.

OUR CONTRIBUTION TO GLOBAL GOALS

66 HIV-infected abandoned children from 7 counties were integrated into families;
over 2,500 people from vulnerable groups from Iasi, Constanta and Mures counties benefited from social and psychological assistance services;
over 115,524 people have received information about transmission of HIV infection and adopting risk-free behaviours in information campaigns conducted in schools and high schools, discos and clubs, on the street and directly in deprived communities;
27,000 pregnant women from Iaşi, Constanţa and Mureş counties received pre and post HIV testing and other sexually transmitted diseases;
146 HIV-infected children were assisted not to abandon school due to frequent hospitalizations;
over 150 children and young people benefit annually from the Youth Club services, a program that helps them develop their own independent living skills.
10 children infected with HIV received scholarships to go to school;
over 500 young people from vulnerable groups (disabled, placement centers, poor families, behavioral disorders, etc.) participated in summer schools organized by Close to You Foundation in their 16 years of activity on topics such as: health education, trafficking in human beings, career orientation, personal development, entrepreneurship, peer education, etc.
over 1,000 underprivileged youngsters have benefited from one or more services within the UtilDeco social enterprise: Vocational Therapy, Vocational Training and Qualification, Employment.

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Social services provided

Close to You Foundation is constantly providing for various types of free social, educational and employment services, resorting to an integrated approach, by applying the one-stop-shop principle.

In the Youth Club, over 150 children and young people from poor families, whose parents left to work abroad, with disabilities, of Roma ethnicity or coming from orphanages, are benefiting from an integrated package of social and educational services that develop their independent life skills, ensure the continuity of their education and help them overcome difficult moments related to depression, violence, abuse or other social problems. The intervention is continued in the community to over 10.000 children and young people benefit every year.
UtilDeco: Work Integration Social Enterprise, certified as a protected establishment. It ensures additional services of social professional integration, counselling and professional guidance, workplace qualification and continuous assistance in the individual development of every employee's potential, turning disabilities into abilities. At least 40% of the permanent employees are disabled people.
JobDirect - Employment and Work Assistance Agency: This innovative service ensures the integration of young people from vulnerable groups into the unconventional labour market by providing an integrated package of employment and social services: skill assessment and testing; counselling and professional guidance; professional qualification; internships at UtilDeco; mediation and employment on the labour market; job coaching for preserving the job for at least 6 months since employment. This service is provided every year to more than 30 young people and adults from the “difficult to employ” category.

Awards:

”Social Entrepreneur Of The Year” Prize in 2017

”Social Entrepreneur Of The Year” Prize granted to Angela Achitei for the establishment of UtilDeco as a social enterprise within Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Programme, the only global entrepreneurial competition taking place in more than 145 cities from 60 countries, covering over 94% of the global economy.

2016 - The prize for the first 50 specialised groups registered in 2016 with the Unique Registry of the Transparency of Interests - RUTI, implemented by the Romanian Government, granted by Violeta Alexandru, minister for Public Consultation and Civic Dialogue.
2016 - The prize for “Development of the NPO sector” awarded to Mrs Angela Achitei by Star of Hope Romania Foundation.
2015 - The prize for “Business with social impact” granted by Business Days.
2014 - Bucharest, Structural Funds Gala, First Prize, section “With INCLUDED impact”, for the results obtained by developing the project “Alliance for the Development of Social Economy” by Close to You Foundation, partnered with General Department for the Protection of Individuals with Disabilities, MMSF, Motivation Romania Foundation, D.G.A.S.P.C. Iasi and Social Cooperative “ll Poliedro” Italy and co-financed by the European Social Fund through POSDRU 2007-2013, priority axis 6 “Promotion of social integration”.
2014 - Bucharest, Civil Society Gala, Dan Manoleli special prize for the development of civil society.
2014 - Iasi, Young Values Gala, special prize for social involvement granted to Close to You Foundation as a recognition for the contribution to the promotion of the authentic values of Iasi.
2014 - Iasi, Feminine Models Gala,” Entrepreneur in social economy” prize for UtilDeco's activity.
2013 - Excellence prize as a model of good practice within the initiative ENWHP “Promoting health at the workplace for employees with chronic diseases - Work and Public Health (work PH)” in Brussels.

In September 2013

the European Commission published us on its website as a good practice model representative for Romania on the disabled people's protected employment.

2011 - Special prize from the Trade and Industry Chamber of Suceava as a recognition on behalf of the business community of Suceava of the quality of its involvement in civil society and of the fundamental values it supports.
2011 - Diploma of merit for promoting the social economy by developing UtilDeco initiative from the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Protection.
2011 - Honorary diploma and Excellence Trophy granted by the Trade and Industry Chamber of Iasi as “a recognition from the business community of Iasi on the quality of its involvement in civil society and of the fundamental values it supports.”
2010 - Prize for Model of involvement in civil society given to ADV Centre of Constanta within the Radio Awards Gala of Constanta.
2010 - First Prize for the Most visible NPO and first prize for the best relationship with the media at ONG Fair of Tg. Mures.
2009 - Prize for “organization of the year” at the Volunteers' Gala in Iasi.
2009 - Honourable mention at Civil Society Gala, section “Defence of individual/collective rights for the project “Consolidation and replication of the information, counselling and legal assistance service”.
2008 - Honourable mention at Civil Society Gala for the campaign “I get involved for you”.
2008 - Special prize of 5.000 euro and specialised business counselling for 3 years for establishing the work integration social enterprise within the Competition of Social Enterprises NESsT - ABN-AMRO 2007.
2007 - Second prize on the partnerships developed with the decentralised institutions, granted by the Prefecture of Iasi County.
2007 - Second prize on the involvement of the foundation in the community of Iasi by the Iasi City hall - Department of Community Assistance.
2007 - Nomination of the campaign “I get involved for you” for the Carol Davila prize.
2007 - Nomination for the best annual report - Romanian Donors' Forum.
2007 – “The best volunteers' coordinator prize, awarded at the Volunteers' Gala of Iasi, organized by Bethany Foundation of Social Services.
2007 – “organization of the year” prize granted at the Volunteers' Gala of Iasi, organized by Bethany Foundation of Social Services.
On 10 May 2007, Petrisor Ostafie, member of the Executive Council of Close to You Foundation and, at the same time, beneficiary, was awarded by His Royal Majesty, King Mihai I, the financial component of `Hanno R. Ellenbogen for Citizenship`Prize. The prize was given to His Majesty the King by The Prague Society and Global Panel Foundation.
2007 - Prize for “The youngest volunteer” at the Volunteers' Gala of Iasi, organized by Bethany Foundation of Social Services.
2006 - Prize for “Volunteer of the year at the Volunteers' Gala from Iasi, awarded by Bethany Foundation of Social Services.
2006 - Nomination of the component “The talkative Corner” within the campaign “I get involved for you!” at the People for People Gala.
2006 - Special mention at the Civil Society Gala for the project “Right to health, right to education for all children”.
2004 - Prize for the best reflection of the volunteering activity awarded by Pro Vorbis within the competition “The best annual reports”.
2003 - National recognition as a model of good practice on child protection for “Service of Maternal assistance for HIV-infected children” awarded by USAID, W.L. and ANPCA.