European Social Fund in Poland: Best Practices - Europejski ...

» vocational counselling and gaining hands-on experience in professional
workshops (including upholsterers, tailors and handicrafts)
as well as in an IT room and psychology study room where the participants
were learning their new trades. Participation in the programme
ended with an exam”, concludes Andrzej Muzyk.
Lucyna Kaleta worked for many years as a tailor. However, she was
a victim of group redundancies at her company and found herself
without a job virtually overnight. She was unemployed for 5 years.
“When I found out about the course, I decided to give it a try. I have
learnt so much here. I improved my tailor’s skills and managed
to return to my profession! For six months I worked for the association
and now I am ready to start looking for a proper job on my own”,
the 45-year old woman declares with a great deal of satisfaction.
Edward Wojciechowski was another person out of work for a long
time. He tried several jobs. He ran his own business and for a period
of time held a managerial position. Finally, due to poor health
he received a pension, but later that pension was taken away from
him. In total, he had been unemployed for 7 years. “Thanks to social
assistance, I signed up for a training programme. Initially, I was
not impressed, but with time I gained confidence and changed my
point of view. My old dream was to get involved with artistic handicraft.
Thanks to STOPIL I started to paint and to engrave and etch
in glass. I regained faith in myself”, says the delighted 54-year old
from Nowy Sącz. Now he is thinking about setting up his own business.
From among 25 people who signed up for the training programme
run by the association, 16 have already found jobs. “Frankly speaking,
we were prepared for a much poorer result”, Andrzej Muzyk
says. He points out, however, that finding a job for the participants
was not the main objective of the project. “Our focus was on helping
the people who are permanently out of work to become active
again. We wanted them to regain faith in their own ability and to find
again a sense that there is a point in living. And we have succeeded”,
the delighted STOPIL President adds. ◗
Lucyna Kaleta
(nie pracowała przez 5 lat):
Wiele się tutaj nauczyłam,
udoskonaliłam umiejętności krawcowej
i jeszcze wróciłam do swojego fachu
Lucyna Kaleta
(out of work for 5 years):
I have learnt so much here.
I improved my tailor’s skills and managed
to return to my profession!
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