In Valjevo, on January 23rd, 2025, the introduction of a new service within the Marriage and Family Counselling Center of the Center for Social Work “Kolubara” was introduced. This service was launched within the project: “Strengthened women, strengthened community: Proactive support in Valjevo”, which is part of a wider German-Serbian development cooperation project implemented by GIZ in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue.
The project idea was developed based on the identified needs of parents of children with disabilities, single parents and Roma women, who bear the greatest burden of daily and long-term care for their children and lack professional and advisory support to enhance the development and greater independence of their children, especially children with disabilities.
Counselling work with parents of children with disabilities will focus on improving family dynamics by supporting parents to reduce the stress of daily childcare and improve their child support skills, so that children reach their developmental potential.
Professional workers in the counselling center will advise users on how they can exercise their rights, refer them to the services of other institutions, citizens’ associations and the local community.
The services of the Counselling Center are free, and they will work in the premises of the Center for Social Work Kolubara in Valjevo, Sinđelićeva 50b, from 3 to 6 p.m. Users from Valjevo can come to the Counselling Center on their own initiative, following the instructions of the Center for Social Work or educational institutions.
Parents of children with disabilities, single parents and Romani women are unfortunately multiple marginalized persons and therefore they will be provided with integrated support through social inclusion, integration, prevention of discrimination and promotion of gender equality.
At the same time, through campaigns on the importance of social inclusion and prevention of discrimination, citizens of Valjevo will be informed and learn more about the position and challenges faced by their many marginalized fellow citizens.
