9 June 2025
Ljubljana, Slovenia
The Association EPEKA, a social enterprise, in partnership with the ŠENT Association, is implementing the Ljubljana SA+ social activation program. The program is aimed at social activation and improving employment opportunities for vulnerable groups in Ljubljana.
As part of one of the activities in Module I, we took a boat trip down the Ljubljanica River with the participants of the Lj-Center group and explored the city. We realized that such a trip is truly an unforgettable experience. We got to know the city from a completely new perspective. The Barjanka is a boat that is 10 meters long and 4.2 meters wide. It was named after the Ljubljana Marshes Nature Park. It has been transporting people along the Ljubljanica River for 15 years, offering a slightly different view of the city’s sights than we are used to. Each captain is a local who has lived in Ljubljana since birth.
About the project: In September 2024, the EPEKA Association, so.p., in cooperation with the ŠENT Association, launched the Ljubljana SA+ project, which aims to promote social activation and improve employment opportunities for vulnerable groups in Ljubljana. The total value of the project is EUR 1,199,992.50, of which EUR 479,997.00 is co-financed by the EU. The program is part of a public call for co-financing of social activation+ projects and is supported by the European Social Fund+ (ESS+).
The project addresses the key challenges faced by recipients of cash social assistance, the long-term unemployed, temporarily unemployable persons, and inactive persons with complex social problems. Through carefully designed activities, we want to empower them and support them in reintegrating into society and the labor market.
The program will last 36 months, during which time the EPEKA Association, together with the ŠENT Association, will implement:
Workshops and training courses for the development of functional competencies, social competencies, digital skills, social inclusion, etc.
Individual work and counseling to support the planning of personal and professional goals.
Opportunities for program participants to gain practical experience for the labor market at selected organizations and employers, as well as work-study projects.
The program is based on the long-standing experience of both organizations in the field of social activation and employment of vulnerable groups. We expect to include 225 people in the program and ensure that at least 28% of participants achieve a positive outcome in the form of employment, inclusion in education, or improved social inclusion. Social activation+ programs are designed to provide comprehensive support to individuals from vulnerable target groups with the aim of increasing their social inclusion, improving their employment opportunities, and strengthening their personal skills. The aim of the programs is to actively involve individuals in various forms of social, educational, and employment empowerment. This reduces their social exclusion, improves their chances of entering or re-entering the labor market, and develops key personal skills such as self-confidence, independence, communication, and other competencies that contribute to a better quality of life and independence.
The project is an important step towards greater social inclusion and improved employment opportunities for vulnerable groups in Ljubljana. The EPEKA Association and the ŠENT Association are working together to ensure the successful implementation of the program and long-term positive effects for participants.
For more information about the Ljubljana SA+ program, please contact us at: epeka@epeka.si
SA+ projects are partly funded by the Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities and the EU, specifically from the ESS+. The projects are co-financed by the PEKP 2021–2027, policy objective 4 “A more social and inclusive Europe for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights,” priority 7 “Long-term care and health and social inclusion,” specific objective ESO4. 8 “Promoting active inclusion to foster equal opportunities, non-discrimination, and active participation, and increasing employability, in particular for disadvantaged groups (ESS+).”
The Association EPEKA, Soc. Ent., is supported by:
