NGO “Association of Parents of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities – Razvitak Cetinje”
The organisation was founded in 2003 to make up for the lack of support for persons with disabilities. Its founders are parents of children and young people with developmental disabilities.
The Association of Parents of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities “Razvitak” Cetinje is an independent, voluntary, non-political, social and humanitarian organisation of parents of children and young people with developmental disabilities. Through its work and many activities it helps improve the quality of life of children, young people and adults with developmental disabilities.
The organisation’s core goals are to improve and develop the social, educational and health care systems for persons with disabilities, and to encourage and include children, young people and adults with developmental disabilities in every area of social and economic life, especially education and employment.
Our programmes are attended by 34 participants and around 50 parents of children and young people with developmental disabilities. Over many years of work we have successfully carried out numerous projects. For 10 consecutive years our organisation has run personal assistance projects, and we are also known for our educational programmes and sports and recreation activities. Over the past year we strengthened our psychological service and launched occupational therapy programmes.
As an association of parents of children and young people with disabilities, we recognised the need for activities that were not available in the community, so we organised our work as a day centre for our participants and members. Everyone can take part in a range of educational, psychological, sports and creative activities according to their abilities.
The organisation runs a psychological counselling service, where the psychologist offers counselling, educational and other activities and sessions, both in groups and one-to-one.
Some participants attend an educational support programme run by two educators (a teacher and a pedagogue).
Our participants take part in regular sports and recreation activities led by physiotherapists or sports coaches.
Last year we launched an occupational therapy programme and set up the conditions for creative and cooking activities. These activities have done much to strengthen the organisation and to create an environment that strongly supports the development of entrepreneurial work.
Every day our participants take part in activities run by a pedagogue, a psychologist, a physiotherapist and a sports coach, with special attention given to creative and fun activities.
Locally, the organisation is known for its many activities. Continuity in our work, the active participation of our target group in all activities, good equipment and the ongoing support of the Old Royal Capital Cetinje, especially in providing premises and covering utility costs, all contribute to the sustainability of the organisation and the successful pursuit of its mission and vision.
In addition, the organisation has successfully carried out many other projects aimed at reducing discrimination and improving the social environment. We have developed programmes that encourage the cultural and social life of young people with developmental disabilities and, together with many partners at local and national level, helped shape inclusive policies, all to improve the position of the people we represent.
We organise many humanitarian activities and partner with other well-known and respected non-governmental organisations.
Our work has earned the respect of many institutions and organisations, and we received the “13 November” award presented by the Old Royal Capital Cetinje.
We are a member of the umbrella network of parents of children with developmental disabilities, the NGO Union of Associations of Parents of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities “Naša inicijativa” Podgorica.
Razvitak