IWI Project, a support program for families seeking to improve their well-being

Laura Hurtado on 4 September 2024

A program that provides support to families with minors in their care who detect difficulties within their own homes and wish to address them in a community-based manner

The IWI Project (community in Maori) is a pioneering service in Catalonia that offers support to families with underage children to improve their well-being, using the Family Group Conference restorative justice methodology, originally from New Zealand. This methodology is based on dialogue and trust in the abilities of families to find solutions to their problems through the active involvement of their community and support network.

The project is aimed at families who detect difficulties in their family dynamics and wish to address them. IWI offers a safe space where family members can express their needs and, together with the reference people they select, find community solutions to their problems. This process includes individual meetings with family members, the creation of a support community, and a final meeting where actions to be taken are discussed and agreed upon.

After the family meeting, IWI conducts follow-ups to assess progress and strengthen community ties. This follow-up is an opportunity to acknowledge the community’s effort and recognize the positive changes that have taken place. Thus, IWI not only works to resolve immediate issues but also seeks to strengthen family and community relationships in the long term. Additionally, there are plans to establish physical offices in all four provinces to provide a point of reference for families.

Characteristics of innovation

User empowerment, Families and upbringing, Link with the community, New model of intervention, Self-management and participation

Localization

Catalonia

Partners / Funders

Plataforma Educativa, Taula d’Entitats del Tercer Sector Social de Catalunya, and the Department of Childhood and Adolescence of the Generalitat of Catalonia.

Genesis

The IWI project development began in 2023, and its public inauguration took place on June 20, 2024, in Barcelona. The Fundació Acció Social Infància (FASI), founded in 2010, is an entity that promotes innovative projects in child welfare at risk in Catalonia through family intervention. Moreover, since 2021, the organization has been part of RN7U, a group of social initiative entities that work to improve the quality of life of people at risk of social exclusion and defend their rights.

Level of implementation

According to the latest annual data, FASI has served 160 children and young people in children’s homes, more than 20,000 young people have been part of the Service for Adolescents and Families (SAIF), and 117 families have received support within the Extended Family Intervention Service (SIFE).

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Manawanui, Self-Directed Support for people with disabilities

Laura Hurtado on 12 June 2024

Project aimed at enhancing the autonomy and freedom of choice for people with disabilities

Manawanui is an initiative that promotes Self-Directed Support, a system of assistance that encourages people with disabilities to choose, through a personal budget, how, when, and with whom they manage the care services they receive.

Through these personalized budgets, “agents” (mostly volunteers) guide and accompany users in decision-making and self-management of these services. The main goal is to place the person at the center and promote their autonomy.

Users develop a personal life plan and are responsible for managing home care services, hiring necessary personnel, and setting their own goals. In this way, people with disabilities gain independence and freedom of choice in their daily lives.

Característiques de la innovació

Disability, Independent living, Innovative organization, New model of intervention, Personalization of the service, Self-management and participation, User empowerment

Localització

New Zeland

Col·laboradors / Finançadors

–

Gènesi

Manawanui was created in 2004 and has become a leading and pioneering initiative in self-managed funding for people with disabilities in New Zealand.

Nivell d’implantació

According to Manawanui, 26% of the population under 65 in New Zealand eligible for the program is enrolled in the project. The organization has more than 3,500 users in total, 68% of whom are under 35 years old.

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IWI Project, a support program for families seeking to improve their well-being

The IWI Project is a program that provides support to families with minors in their care who detect difficulties within their own homes and wish to address them in a community-based manner.

Virtual Metaverse to Improve Daily Skills of People with Intellectual Disabilities

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V-TOOLS, Virtual Reality Applied to Social Innovation

Laura Hurtado on 29 May 2024

Project that combines technology and social innovation through immersive experiences with the aim of improving the lives of people and communities

Under the motto “If you don’t live it, you don’t feel it”, V-TOOLS uses virtual reality as a pedagogical tool to address social issues. The initiative mainly focuses on the prevention of cyberbullying and gender-based violence, with special attention to the dynamics generated among children, adolescents, and young people.

The organization conducts sessions in educational centers, targeting individuals aged 10 to 18 years old, where users put themselves in the shoes of people experiencing situations of violence, control, and discrimination. In the field of gender-based violence, for example, there are audiovisual capsules on topics such as jealousy, friendship, social networks, and sexual relationships. Regarding cyberbullying, the program addresses prejudice, diversity, and physical stereotypes, among other aspects.

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