About us
URIHO – Institution for professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities from Zagreb is the leader in the area of vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities in the Republic of Croatia. Our institution has the longest tradition in this field – staring back in 1946. We run numerous rehabilitation and manufacturing programs, some of which include: a work centre and a virtual enterprise (training firm) for unemployed persons with disabilities, apprenticeship for young persons with disabilities, creative rehabilitation workshops, manufacturing programs for textile, ceramics, metal, leather, millinery, orthopaedics, cardboards, print business and a lot of other activities important for life, work and existence of persons with disabilities.
URIHO’s mission is vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, which is of particular interest for the society. Our approach to persons with disabilities is affirmative and integral, respectful of one’s abilities, and at the same time following the principle “equal opportunities for everybody”.
Vocational rehabilitation allows a person with disabilities to secure and maintain a suitable employment. By employing people with disabilities we try to foster their performance at work, boost a sense of acceptance and professional competence, as well as better social (re)integration, existential and financial independence.
We are very proud of winning our first IPA grant (from EU funds) in December 2010 for the project “Introduction of the model of the virtual workshop (training firm) for the long-term unemployed persons with disabilities with the aim of increasing their employability”.
Partner institutions in project implementation were the City of Zagreb and the Croatian Employment Service, Regional Office Zagreb. A valuable associate on the project was the Institute for Certification, Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities. After completing this one-year project, Virtual workshop (training firm) continued to work as an integral part URIHO's rehabilitation programs. Sustainability of this model of vocational rehabilitation was ensured in collaboration with partners and associates, with the intent to disseminate it to other parts of the Croatia.
Expert team:
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Višnja Majsec Sobota – Head of the Rehabilitation Department Antonija Mekinić - Social worker Lidija Bešlagić - Trainer for accounting and finances Jasna Kešina - Trainer for trade and marketing Ana Papeš - Instructor Inea Kolanović - Instructor Ivana Matoš - Psychologist / Mobile team for work with employers Vesna Zećirević - Special education teacher for rehabilitation |
lidija.beslagic@vr-radimoucimo.hr jasna.kesina@vr-radimoucimo.hr |
About IPA project
Introduction of a model of the virtual workshop for the long-term unemployed persons with disabilities
with the aim of increasing their employability
What is a practice firm?
URIHO's virtual workshop/training firm enables the beneficiaries to improve their knowledge and skills and gain work experience essential for efficient integration into the real working environment.
In the virtual workshop/training firm a „learn by doing“ model is applied - real-life situations that occur at the workplace are simulated: sale and supply of fictional products, financial and administrative follow up, marketing messages are written, catalogues are created etc.
In addition, soft skills, team work, efficient problem solving, search for alternative solutions, communication skills etc. are simulated and practiced.
The virtual workshop/training firm have up-to-date IT technology and is networked with other practice firms in Croatia and abroad. All of that contributes to purposefulness, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, complexity, comprehensiveness and the pace of all these activities.
The virtual workshop/training firm beneficiaries are coming through the Croatian Institute for Employment - Regional Office Zagreb. At the end of six months training in a virtual workshop / training firm, beneficiaries who have achieved satisfactory results are refer to the practice / rehearsal work with employers in the open labor market.
Expert team of the Virtual workshop monitors and assesses the work of beneficiaires and in cooperation with the Institute for Certification, Vocational rehabilitation and Employment of persons with disabilities and the Croatian Institute for Employment - Regional Office Zagreb evaluate the performance of beneficiaries in the field of labor and social competences.
General aim of the IPA project:Fostering social inclusion of persons with disabilities by their integration into the labour market. |
Specific objectives of the IPA project:To increase employment of long-term unemployed persons with disabilities in the city of Zagreb of administrative, marketing, commercial, financial or accountancy professions by improving their knowledge, skills and working experience by applying the "learning by doing" model. To introduce the model of a practice firm for unemployed persons with disabilities in the city of Zagreb with the aim of expanding this model to other regions of Croatia. |
Target group:The target group consists of 16 long-term unemployed persons with disabilities of administrative, marketing, commercial, accounting, and financial professions with high school or two-year of four-year university degrees.
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Partner institutions |
Associate institution |
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Croatian Employment Service, Regional Office Zagreb |
City of Zagreb |
Institute for Certification, Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities |
In the first year of implementation (4.12.2010.-03.12.2011.) the project was funded by the EU under the IPA, Component IV: "Development of Human Resources - Fostering effective inclusion of people with disabilities into the labor market."
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Development: Magis tim