Quarterly Progress Report: Service centers for families of children with disabilities

The centers provide a range of free services, including short stays, psychological support, labor and occupational workshops, individual and group treatment, and education of trainees. Some Service Centers also offer additional services, such as information provided by social workers, individual speech therapy treatments, and animal-assisted therapy. The Service Centers in Sarajevo, managed by the Association "Dajte nam šansu / Give Us a Chance," have been particularly active in the period between October and December 2017. The Sarajevo First Children's Assembly was held in the Multimedia Hall of the Novi Grad Municipality, where four initiatives were proposed to provide every child with the right to education, regardless of status, family upbringing, to protect them from violence, and to help children with developmental difficulties access public transport. The Association also organized a workshop for representatives of socially responsible companies, Service Center partners, and parents of children with developmental difficulties. The Service Center "Dajte nam šansu # 2" was opened on December 4th, 2018 in the Municipality of Stari Grad Sarajevo, with the official opening attended by the US Ambassador to BiH, Maureen Cormack, Mayor of the Municipality of Stari Grad, Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, and a renowned athlete - first Ambassador of the Service Center, Amel Tuka. The "Open Door Days" were organized for members of the Assembly of Municipality of Stari Grad, allowing them to visit the SC, meet the beneficiaries, and learn about methods used at the SC. In Foča, the Service Center "Tračak nade" signed a grant agreement for the continuation of its work, with a total value of USD 40,000. The Service Center provided over 2000 services in this period and had 62 registered families by the end of December 2017. The activities included a humanitarian evening to mark the International Day of PWDs, a series of joint activities to mark the Birthday of the Association and the International Day of Volunteerism, and a "New Year's Mini Creative Fair" where beneficiaries had the opportunity to present their creative handicrafts and sell them. The Service Centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been successful in meeting the expectations of beneficiaries, with a constant increase in the number of beneficiaries and the number of services provided. The centers have also been recognized for their quality services, with beneficiaries recommending the SCs to other families of children and people with developmental difficulties. The Service Centers have been funded by various sources, including the USAID's Marginalized Populations Support Activity, which signed a new grant agreement with the Association "Dajte nam šansu" for a new grant of 176,000 USD for the next two years. By the end of December 2017, the Service Centers in Sarajevo had 398 registered families, and in the previous period (October - December) provided 2434 services. The Service Center "Dajte nam šansu # 2" was officially opened on December 4th, 2018, and the "Open Door Days" were organized for members of the Assembly of Municipality of Stari Grad. The Service Center "Tračak nade" in Foča provided over 2000 services in this period and had 62 registered families by the end of December 2017.