A number of staff members from various government departments recently attended a workshop to prepare them for the execution of the new Integrated Neighbourhood Development Program (INDP).
The departments involved were Department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs, Labor Affairs, Social Affairs and the Department of Collective Prevention Services.
The workshop was a team building exercise for the aforementioned departments that would be involved with providing services at the community helpdesk.
The staff learnt elements of working as a team to ensure that optimal service is provided to members of the community and what constitutes a healthy attitude in human services.
Another element dealt with was community empowerment and a participation based approach to working in the community.
The Community Helpdesk to be established in three of the most populace districts will offer one-stop-shop community public services.
The target groups that the Community Helpdesks will be catering too are: elderly, youths, and parents, single mothers, teenage mothers, drug-addicts, chronically ill patients, the mentally ill, persons living below the minimum wage or the poverty level.
The INDP project is responsible for the improvement of the neighbourhoods. It is a proactive process of integrating social, cultural, economic and environmental planning to build community commitment and capacity.
A holistic approach has been developed in order to provide the assistance to communities in need.
The INDP falls under the responsibilities of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labour.
Facilitator for the workshop was Aisheline Maduro.