Handicapped

2 Pages 621 Words

The Home for Handicapped Children and Young People in Veternik is the social welfare institution. The Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina established it on December 20th, 1971 and it started working in February 1972 with 210 protégés.

The growth and development of the Home has been summarised in several pictures by the philosopher, Prof. Aleksandar Becin:

Having in mind the position I occupied for more than three decades in the system of social welfare in the Province (Vojvodina) and, among other things, the official contacts I had had with the Specialised Institute in Veternik from its establishment all until recently, there is no doubt that I could validly testify about the whole development of this institution.

For the period until 1992, with all the recognition (construction of buildings, establishment of services, involvement of a number of protégés in the work of several workshops, occasional organisation of successful cultural and sports manifestations and meetings with users of similar institutions etc.) it would be a sad picture depicting the conditions of everyday life of children.

Now, within the last 6-7 years a marvellous paradox has been happening: during the severest social crisis the unseen rise is recorded, as well as transformation and achievements in all conditions and aspects of work of the Institute and in the life of children in general. The Institute has grown into one of the most representative institutions of this kind in the country, according to the level of material and expert equipment, organisation and rich contents and the atmosphere in work and life. It is the matter of buildings and space in general, housing, clothing, food, hygiene and health protection, special nursing and rehabilitation, occupational and cultural-entertainment and recreational activities etc. They installed their own heating system of rooms that are now clean and neat. In the previously empty yard that wa...