COUV ACTES - Psychologie communautaire

Community Psychology: Common Values, Diverse Practicestheir social, professional and community integration – on dimensions like employment, training, education,housing, civil rights and duties, and others.This program analyzed and showed the lack of resources and opportunities at the local level, in areas likeeducation, training, and other assets. As resources for families, like personal belongings and other assets(clothes, electric applyents, furniture, etc.) were found to be important for the integration process, “O sonho”started to build the foundations for a social store, receiving these kind of assets for family support.The lack of training and educational programs was also evident. So, 2008 was the year to build partnerships andget started with education and training programs: IT professional training and education (with FSIT); alternativeeducational programs for adults (with FSIT); and literacy programs (with Education Ministry local delegation).Three other programs also started in 2008: Local Contract for Social Development; Microcredit; and CommunityProgram for Food Support. Local Contract for Social Development is a national program aimed to fight povertyand social exclusion, implemented by local NGO’s, and built around 4 major lines: employment, training andqualification; family and parenting intervention; community and institutional capacity; information and access (IT)– directed to youth (in Setúbal). A partnership was also established with a Portuguese NGO to enable thispopulation to benefit from microcredit, since “O sonho” ensured the settings for ANDC (National Association forthe Right of Credit) to develop its work with low income people. The Community Program for Food Support wasanother partnership that allowed the organization to provide the families food supplies. In times of crisis, foodsupplies needs have increased and a partnership with the NGO Banco Alimentar became more relevant forsupporting low income families throughout difficulties. “O sonho” also collaborated at the local level in theNational Program “Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly”, run by Social Security Institute.In 2009, a year marked by the international crisis and with increasing consequences on local unemployment,hunger and families’ income, “O sonho” developed and strengthened the food support program; and was granteda Professional Integration Office, from the National Institute for Employment and Professional Integration.Due to a partnership with FSIT (Foundation for Spreading Information Technology) it was also possible toexecute a gesture language training program and training for trainers program.DiscussionWe analyse this process according to two major topics: the entrepreneurial experience and poverty fightingintervention.The entrepreneurial process is complex and several factors contribute to its success. Nevertheless, we reflect ona few basic elements. One crucial element was the possibility to participate in decision-making in Local SocialAction Council. This participation brought a more consistent knowledge about social intervention networks and163