Welfare Organization Launches Exciting New Projects During Government Week Celebration!
The Welfare Organization is set to launch several impactful projects during Government Week, which runs from August 24 to 30. These initiatives focus on enhancing community welfare through various health and rehabilitation programs aimed at women heads of households and the elderly, among others. Here’s an overview of what to expect from these projects.
The first initiative is the neighborhood-based social health project. This program aims to revitalize local institutions by leveraging the skills of qualified individuals and existing community centers under the Welfare Organization’s supervision. Seyed Jafar Hosseini, the head of the Welfare Organization, emphasized that this approach will significantly improve the quality of services available to local residents.
The second project, focusing on physical health and cancer screening for women heads of households, will be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior. This initiative is part of a broader national program aimed at improving health outcomes for this demographic.
As the country faces an aging population and a shortage of professional caregivers, the Welfare Organization plans to train consultants specializing in aging care. The first phase of this training program will commence during Government Week, with an initial cohort of 3,000 consultants being prepared in private centers affiliated with the organization.
Additionally, the Welfare Organization will establish 200 Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) centers in underprivileged and remote regions where access to welfare services is limited. Social workers at these centers will undergo a 20-hour training program to prepare them for their roles as facilitators, where they will manage around 150 cases each. Their responsibilities will include:
- Overseeing local communities
- Identifying individuals with disabilities
- Connecting families with available resources and services
Furthermore, the organization will validate approximately 330 elderly day-care centers in partnership with the national standards organization, ensuring that these facilities meet quality and safety standards.
During Government Week, a new talent search system for welfare recipients will also be introduced. This system aims to assist individuals in finding employment or starting their own businesses. Currently, the organization has collected data on 570,000 individuals, and this number is expected to reach 800,000 by the end of the week. For the first time, a comprehensive employment database specifically for people with disabilities will be unveiled.
The Welfare Organization will also enhance its operational capabilities by adding 13 vehicles and 200 ambulances to its fleet during this period.
Recently, National Welfare Week was celebrated nationwide from July 16 to 22, under the theme “Together for Well-Being; Participating Today, Empowering Tomorrow.”
Hosseini revealed that “10,566 projects, covering housing, employment, social, and rehabilitation sectors, will be inaugurated to mark the 45th anniversary of National Welfare Week,” with a total investment of 520 billion rials (approximately $580,000).
The breakdown of these projects is as follows:
- 77 percent focused on employment
- 21 percent dedicated to housing
- 2 percent aimed at social and rehabilitation services
Moreover, the organization will initiate 359 new projects, primarily in Kerman, Lorestan, and Isfahan provinces. Over the past year, 14,000 housing units have been allocated to beneficiaries and individuals with disabilities, with an additional 45,966 houses currently under construction. During Government Week, 1,942 housing units will be handed over to those in need.
In addition to these initiatives, the organization is launching a job support fund. Thanks to various welfare services, nearly 200,000 beneficiaries and individuals with disabilities have found employment, predominantly in the service sector, which represents 62 percent of these job placements.
During a ceremony in July for the deployment of harm reduction mobile centers in Tehran, Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labé, the interim resident representative for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Iran, praised the Welfare Organization’s enduring commitment to social security and inclusiveness over the past 45 years. She highlighted that the organization’s relentless efforts are grounded in Article 29 of the Iranian Constitution, which guarantees social security rights for all citizens.
Article 29 stipulates that every individual is entitled to social security benefits related to retirement, unemployment, old age, disability, and healthcare needs, with the government responsible for delivering these services and financial support through national revenues and public contributions.
Medagangoda-Labé commended the organization for restoring dignity and providing crucial care to those experiencing deprivation and social exclusion through initiatives like mobile clinics and harm reduction centers, along with various programs tailored for women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
In conclusion, the Welfare Organization’s upcoming projects during Government Week highlight its commitment to enhancing community welfare and addressing the needs of vulnerable populations across Iran.
