Strengthening the resilience of the elderly and people with disabilities during COVID-19 and future disasters

The project “Strengthening the Resistance of the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities during COVID-19 and Future Disasters” is a three-year initiative in the Western Balkans region, coordinated by the Serbian Red Cross and supported by the European Union, the Austrian Development Agency and the Austrian Red Cross. Launched in late 2020, it connects partner national Red Cross societies and civic associations from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo, and networks of civic associations in countries representing the elderly and people with disabilities. The Red Cross of RNM and the association of citizens “Humanity” are joint partners in the implementation of project activities in Northern Macedonia.

The aim of the project is for the elderly, people with disabilities, national Red Cross societies and citizens’ associations to better cope with the COVID-19 situation in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.

The project envisages activities in separate four thematic areas to ensure the preservation of mental health and building resilience by providing services for psycho-social support to the elderly and people with disabilities, to provide assistance with cash transfer; strengthening local communities by providing support for small micro-project grants at the local level for the implementation of various social inclusion activities for the elderly and persons with disabilities and providing evidence-based policy recommendations for long-term care services during COVID-19.