Project''Reduction of social exclusion of children through innovative methods''
In order to reduce and prevent social exclusion and creation of sociopathological appearance, and to in order to work on social inclusion of children it is necessary to organize adequate systematic support, to develop support network for children and youth in frames of social protection system, and to create preconditions for combined system of social protection where NGO and private sector would provide social protection.

Strategic aim
Strategic aim is to socially include children from high risk families and socially marginalized groups by use of innovative methods in program of psychosocial work by which children improve personal competences for easier integration in local community. In order to fulfill the aim, in project implementation a number of activities has been realized regarding project management, animating and organizing groups of children, organizing individual sessions of psycho-social support for mothers

Project activities
Group work with children
In period of April-October 2009, in cooperation with Elementary School ‘Pazar’ and Elementary School ‘Kiseljak’ in total 96 creative workshops had been organized for 76 children who attend these schools. The children had been selected by the criteria which indicate the presence of social marginalization.
The expert team of Amica EDUCA had been focused in achieving following results in work with children:
• Developing positive self image
• Improving attention and concentration
• Recognizing and nominating feelings and needs
• Developing of communication skills and learning methods of nonviolent confrontation
• Developing cooperation as a method of behavior and appreciation
• Improvement of creativity and developing of imagination
• Developing useful habits and preventive actions on appearance of negative forms of behavior

Group work with mothers of socially marginalized children
In order to sustain positive changes with children, in this project we have worked with mothers of these children. 2 groups of mothers from Roma population (who are marginalized population) have been worked with, in premises of Elementary school ‘Kiseljak’. Another group of mothers (who are also marginalized) had been formed in Tuzla and workshops were held in Amica EDUCA’s premises. During implementation of project 28 mothers were worked with, in 3 groups.
Individual psychosocial treatments with children and mothers
From the begging of realization of group work with children and mothers Amica EDUCA has provided individual psychological therapy. The therapy attended children and mothers who had a need for additional psychosocial support. Symptoms with mothers were anxiety, depression, and with children extreme withdrawal and closeness towards the others, or the opposite, conflictive and aggressive behavior. During implementation of project in total 92 treatments were held, with 15 mothers and 5 children.

SOS telephone – calls made by project participants
During the project all participants were introduced to possibilities of using SOS line which provides needed support, 52 women (and children) had called for support.
Help provided to Public Kitchen ‘’Imaret’’
During the project, representatives of Public Kitchen ‘’Imaret’’ from Tuzla, addressed to Association Amica EDUCA with request for support. Considering that marginalized groups use services of ‘Imaret’ (often whole families with children), it has been decided to by food and to donate it to Public Kitchen ‘’Imaret’’
Help for disabled children (children with special needs)
Association ‘’Horizonti’ from Tuzla works with disabled children for which they implement different activities in order to strengthen their psychosocial health. Considering that these children come from families who have low or none income, the Association ‘Horizonti’ is tying to enable for certain number of children to spend vacation on seaside(accompanied by mothers). They asked Association Amica EDUCA for financial support, and it was approved.

Internal evaluation
During last month of the project, Amica EDUCA has organized an internal evaluation which included all participants of the project (members of the Association’s team who worked on the project and all beneficiaries). On the evaluation workshop the accomplishments and results of the project were defined.

Achieved aims and defined recommendations
• Handbooks and other written materials who were used in work with children were especially created and adopted to socially marginalized children.
• During implementation of project activities 8 groups of children were formed, 96 group sessions were held, and included 76 children of elementary school age.
• During the group work children showed big improvement: openness in communication, freedom in expressing their opinion, they adopted new socially acceptable patterns of behavior (increasing level of tolerance), they hawe found new forms of responses in conflict situations. With most of the children is evident improvement in school success. With older children aged 12-14 years, there is increase in their ability to make independent decisions.
• Handbooks were created for work with mother of socialy marginalized children whose contents and methodology are adopted to this population.
• During implementation of project activities-work with mothers, 3 groups were formed, 32 sessions were realized, and 28 mothers have participated.
• During sessions with mothers positive improvement in their communication with children are visible, improvement also in encouraging good behavior, setting rules and boundaries with children which is a precondition for finding long-term solutions who develop child’s self-discipline. Mothers also emphasize contentment with development of new relations in their family, and now they are aware of the importance of taking care of themselves and recognizing own resources (of which before they have not been aware).
• Through individual psychological treatment 15 mothers and 5 children have received psychological support, significant improvement has been recorded
• Through open SOS line 52 persons (mothers and children) have received psychological support, counseling and information.
• Considering achieved results Association Amica EDUCA on evaluation meeting has concluded that this project was very successful. The team professionals, who worked in this project, have emphasized that it is necessary to continue with providing this kind of support for this population. The recommendations of Amica EDUCA’s team is to continue with similar or the same project activities, and that it is necessary to find financial support for it.