In its 25 years of existence, the Association of Persons with Cerebral Palsy and Other Disabilities of Veles has been working to improve the lives of children and young people with disabilities. In addition to common activities such as ensuring accessibility and inclusion in regular education, this association decided to devise new innovative social service to help both these people and their families.
Thus, it began with a simple lavender harvest, where they got the idea that if there was a field where these herbs could be cultivated, the funds earned could be used for the needs of persons with disabilities. The United Nations Global Environmental Fund supported the project with a small grant and that is how this, now already successful story began. Now the association has fields with lavender, basil, savory and mint and products such as herb bags, tinctures, teas, creams, soaps, essential oils, etc. are created by using a dryer and herb distiller. By selling these products the Association earns funds for its mission, a real social economy!
“Persons with disabilities live in small group homes, now we have 3 but as in June we will have 4. People who live there need 24-hour care, something which is quite expensive, so the concept we came up with helps us a lot. All the profits earned from the herb fields are used for our social services,” says Daliborka Zlateva, President of the Association.
