ZDK Ministry of Economy Supports Project to Open a Public Center for Children and Adults with Special Needs

The Ministry of Economy of the Zenica-Doboj Canton expressed its readiness to provide full support to the Public Institution Centre for Children and Adults with Special Needs in their intention to establish their own enterprise, which would be registered as a sheltered workshop. This opens the space for the employment of persons with developmental difficulties, primarily users of Day Centre services.

Existing practice in workshops for adults at Day Centres in Zenica, Visoko, Žepče, Maglaj and Tešanj has shown significant results in training persons with developmental difficulties for work through textile, agricultural, household and carpentry workshops. Long-term cooperation with the Ministry of Economy was agreed upon, and as part of marking the institution's tenth anniversary, staff will attend the ZEPS fair and present products made in their workshops.

Minister Sibonjic promised assistance in contacts with international organisations, particularly the Turkish Embassy and TIKA, with the aim of supporting Day Centres in procuring minibus vehicles for transporting users and finding donors for the expansion of existing facilities. The concept and possible solutions were presented by the institution's director Ernad Metaj and business units coordinator Meldina Ugarak.