Creative Association "Circle"

Project idea

The New Opportunities project offers adults with disabilities employment and professional training in the field of vertical gardening. By setting up a greenhouse for plant cultivation, the project will train workers with disabilities in various horticultural processes, including plant propagation, planting, and the creation of living plant compositions.

These plants will then be sold for vertical indoor landscaping, with the income generated being used to pay the salaries of employees with disabilities and fund the further development of the project.

One of the project’s key advantages is its potential for home-based work, allowing people with disabilities to cultivate plants at home under the guidance of specialists from the Foundation. The project draws in both new and existing workers with disabilities through partnerships with social and educational institutions, as well as with “My Career” employment center.

Relevance

Although people with disabilities are willing and able to work, they often face obstacles such as a lack of infrastructure and proper support. Government programs exist to help people with disabilities find employment, but according to the FRI (Federal Register of People with Disabilities) website, 73% of the employable population with disabilities in Moscow remains unemployed. Employers are hesitant to hire people with disabilities, and many training and production centers for the blind and deaf have been shut down. The situation is even more challenging for those with mental disabilities.

Beyond physical limitations, individuals with disabilities encounter psychological barriers to employment, such as low self-esteem, social isolation, and stigmatization. Additionally, there is often a lack of motivation to work due to an unfriendly environment, with many preferring to rely on social benefits instead of facing the risks associated with employment.

The underdeveloped legal framework and the reluctance of businesses to employ people with disabilities further contribute to their unemployment. To address these issues, there is a need for a system of supported employment and social labor.

In France, for instance, there are 800 adaptive enterprises that employ 400,000 individuals from the most complex disability categories, including the elderly and those with minimal training.

Social effect

Creation of jobs for persons with mental disabilities in the city of Moscow