The biggest challenge is building and strengthening trust for both the workers and the families served in the Csíki district center, where they can provide activities for everyone from six to sixteen years old.
At the end of February last year, the Csík neighborhood center opened its doors for the community of Sepsiszentgyörgy living in difficult circumstances, the operation of which is financed by the municipality of the county seat of Trószék through the Social Support Directorate.
The local group of the Catholic aid organization Caritas in Gyulafehérvár is responsible for the services provided to families, and currently several psychologists, social pedagogues and social workers help with the development of the children and advise the parents. They found a home "They come here from school as if they were coming home," said Melinda Csutka, Caritas social worker.
We could even call the bright, modernly designed space, which the Caritas staff arranged to be family-friendly, as a second home, so the children can relax on comfortable bean bags after school, do crafts and even have a snack in the building's dining room.
They also started their own library, to which they are still accepting donations in order to expand the selection for children.
What's more, they also created a "quiet" room where, after a difficult day, the children can talk about what happened to them in the company of a developmental psychologist.
However, don't be fooled by the playful environment: from 6-year-old schoolchildren to 16-year-old teenagers, they can provide suitable activities for all young people.
Being a community center, they support all generations, however, at the moment, there are mainly activities organized for children, because there is the greatest need for this, and Caritas also covers children and parents.
"We provide recreational activities that also have preventive value, because the employees develop skills that are necessary for them to get on better and better in everyday life," explained the specialist, emphasizing that they also affect the results achieved at school and adaptation in communities in closed groups. ongoing afternoon sessions.
The biggest challenge is building and strengthening trust for both the workers and the families served.
According to Melinda Csutka, many people still turn to psychologists with prejudices, fearing that if they do, they will be stigmatized. "There is also a stereotype against Caritas, even now many people expect food and clothing from us. We really operate with a charitable purpose, but over the years our mission has also changed, we also provide a different kind of assistance than the one that has remained with people," he explained.
As he said: these prejudices can only be overcome slowly and with patience.
"It is now felt in the center that a certain stability has developed, the colleagues keep in constant contact with the parents, who count on them, and it is easier to entrust the children to them. The biggest achievement for us is that trust has been created," the employee of the organization emphasized. That is why in the future they will continue to focus on families, and from this year the program will be created with special attention to parents.
The center closely cooperates with the Gödri Ferenc Primary School in the Csíki neighborhood, whose teachers are willing to help shed light on the problems, including the increasingly widespread school bullying and aggression, which is increasingly present in all educational institutions.
That is why the skills development session called the School of Parents will be organized regularly from now on, and those who have not yet used the center's social services are also welcome at the meetings. Kinga Hubbes, regional coordinator of Caritas, said that even before the opening of the center, this kind of assistance was available at the organization, but not as efficiently.
By bringing the service physically closer, it is much more accessible to the community, and that was the goal," he said. The past year has been successful, and the support of the municipality of Sepsiszentgyörgy proves that when the goal is shared, it is easier to achieve. He also emphasized that Caritas is still open to cooperation with other organizations, joint work and development.
Cover image: Csíki district community center
Source: Székelyhon.ro
