Our vision is to raise awareness on safeguarding and build communication between institutions and people in the area of Scorțeni and work together to eliminate harm of any nature (mental, physical etc.) between individuals at all levels.
How? By bringing together all individuals, families, professionals and institutions, help them express their views, feelings and beliefs and preventing every form of abuse on staff, community members, children, adolescents and other vulnerable people.

Scorteni – South Muntenia - Romania

1. No awareness of "safeguarding" in the community as a whole
2. No awareness of active citizenship, no sense of commitment towards others or towards the community as a whole
3. Welfare and wellbeing of people have not been at the core of the decision-making process
4. Lack of CPD (Career Progress Development) such as management skills and examples of best practices for the Local Council's staff
5. Lack of trust in the local authorities and communication between people and institutions
6. Lack of participatory management and inclusive governance
7. Lack of community initiatives that bring people together.

The target group is the entire community of the 5 villages of the commune of Scorțeni, reaching out through institutions such as: schools, medical practices, churches, social services. Firstly we aim to deliver our message to almost all the about 6,000 inhabitants by at least one channel of communication. Main events: conferences and workshops in which the local community will be involved but printed flyers or radio spots will reach members of other areas too. Local authorities are part of the target group but also involved in some of the activities we will carry out. The aim is to ensure all major issues are followed up and discussed as a whole community with an integrated vision having safeguarding at its core and working together towards the development of local areas.

•3 major conferences - Raising Awareness of Safeguarding (on the 6 principles of Safeguarding: Empowerment, Prevention, Protection, Proportionality, Partnership, Accountability). Each conference to have an inspirational speaker able to motivate the audience and give them the power to take positive actions and advocate for others wellbeing.
Workshops:
•UAT and institutions - Protection - supporting victims so they can take action, Proportionality - making sure what we do is appropriate to the situation for the individual
•Key representatives of the institutions (schools, local council etc.) - How can we work together to implement safeguarding in our community?(Empowerment - putting people first and helping those who lack mental capacity to feel involved and informed; Prevention - responding quickly to suspected cases of abuse)
•Schools and parents-Raising Safeguarding Awareness - Safeguarding Children in Schools
•Institutions and community-Working together for a safer and more harmonious future (Partnership - sharing the right information in the right way and Accountability - making sure all agencies have a clear role)
•3 events - entertainment and activities aimed at creating bonds and getting to know each other outside the workplace. Local Council Team Building:1)Meet the person behind the role!; 2) The importance of mental health in the workplace; 3) Your challenge?

- writing a ‘Safeguarding Guide’ for both Institutions And Citizens
- forming a ‘Safeguarding Panel’ that will meet regularly to discuss, report and monitor resolution of any safeguarding issues in community
- creation on an ONG - Community Association of Scorțeni (the council form a partnership with ONG) that will also have a ‘Citizen Advise Bureau’ to deal with such issues
-implementation of Safeguarding Policies and procedures in all local institutions: schools, sanitary units, churches, council
- Scorțeni Council will be the umbrella body of all local institutions therefore its implication will be active

Increasing awareness of the problem and how citizens and authorities can contribute is our main purpose. This is in line with the see-something do-something model of do-ocracy and with the Smart Village concept: a rural area build on its existing strengths and assets as well as on developing new opportunities. Civic education is a prime concern of our NGO and of this idea: the development of an informed, effective, and responsible citizenry.
Through workshops and conferences, by listening to everyone's opinions, we aim to develop strong policies and procedures for institutions, which will be promoted through various communication channels, published and displayed in key areas, easily accessible to all. These policies and procedures will become embedded as best practice.

Raluca Uta: since 2014, Raluca has been working as a Extended Schools and Premises Manager being in charge of the Safeguarding and Health and Safety at Chrysalis Multi Trust Academy in Brent, London. Part of her role has been HR manager for 140 members of staff, therefore, staff wellbeing and mental health has been at the core of her role.
Ana Maria Barbu: since 2008 Ana Maria has been writing and managing projects financed by the European Social Fund for several NGO’s in Italy. As a form of responsibility towards her native region she is now planning to use her sound experience through projects aimed to combat social exclusion and to foster the community’s development.
Alexandra Manta: since 2014 has been writing and managing projects financed by the ESF, entrepreneurship an education

Human resources 23,100€
Office expenses 600€
Services 10,500€
Travel and accommodation 800€

Any constructive comment on the project's content will be much appreciated but also any advice related to our idea of raising awareness on the safeguarding concept and build communication between institutions and local communities.