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The Haraka Home Foundation was founded on 4 January 2006 by the non-profit association Disabled Children’s Centre Hope and 13 people, many of them parents, from various walks of life. The present development plan was also prepared in co-operation with them. The aim of the development plan is to determine the directions and areas of activity for Haraka Home up until 2011. The main aim of the Foundation is to create a home in northern Estonia for youth with intellectual and multiple disabilities. The development plan complies with Estonian legislation and the general plan of Saue rural municipality. The development plan was compiled keeping in mind the special needs of people with intellectual and multiple disabilities, living in a community as per the family model.
Location of Haraka Home
Haraka Home is to be built 30 kilometres from Tallinn and 6 kilometres from Ääsmäe, in the centre of Maidla village.
The surrounding natural conditions of the Haraka Home provide the inhabitants with clean air, peace and safety. The nearest artificial lake is one kilometre away and can be used for swimming.
The location of Haraka Home in a village centre gives the inhabitants of Haraka Home the opportunity to actively communicate and participate in the life of society; the Haraka Home also creates new jobs in Maidla village and its neighbouring areas.
Historical Background From the beginning of 1990s schools and classes for children with intellectual and multiple disabilities were set up in Estonia, mostly by parents themselves. The Salu School at Ääsmäe was founded in 2003 by the non-profit association Disabled Children’s Centre Hope. In the course of several years these schools help students to acquire skills and knowledge that will enable them to live and work in an appropriate manner. In order to guarantee that the students do not forget what they have learned in school and that they have a place for further study and work to suit their abilities, the Haraka Home is a natural continuation of the work done in Salu School. In spring 2007 the first two students will graduate from the Salu School and are already waiting for the Haraka Home to be ready.
Inhabitants
According to the initial plan, the first house will be finished in 2008 and can house the first six village inhabitants with their activity supervisors. The Haraka Home is meant for thirty young people with severe and profound disabilities and multiple disabilities, to be taught and helped to cope independently by activity supervisors. The number of activity supervisors depends on the disabilities of the youngsters and on their needs.
Job Opportunities at Haraka Home
The Haraka Home will enable all young people to work according to their abilities (for some, being able to dress themselves and keeping the room tidy is a job in itself). In the workshops youngsters can try carpet weaving, carpentry and pottery. An objective is to plant an orchard and a small pleasure garden for our own purposes. Studying and working together with the activity supervisors will give people with intellectual disability the opportunity to spend the day in an active and interesting way. Haraka Home is going to start providing a day centre service so that other young people with severe and profound disabilities and multiple disabilities in Harjumaa County could also be involved.
Infrastructure
The post office, library and bus stop nearest to Maidla village are six kilometres away at Ääsmäe. Immediate medical aid is provided in Maidla village; an ambulance must be summoned from Tallinn (25 km away). Mobile phone networks are available. Electricity in the Haraka Home territory needs to be restored. The gravel road leading to the village needs refurbishing. Saue rural municipality carries out road maintenance works. A waste collection company will be contracted to dispose of the waste.
Co-operation Partners
The project has been approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, Harjumaa county government, Saue rural municipality government and the Estonian district of Lions Clubs International. The execution of the project has also been supported by EMT, the Union of Harju County Municipalities and volunteers.
Other Relevant Information
The Haraka Home is a great place for practical and in-service training for the students of several educational institutions – Tallinn University (special education, social work), Tartu University, Tartu and Tallinn Medical Schools, Tallinn Teaching School – as well as for volunteers.
Development Potential
Haraka Home’s co-operation with the rural municipalities of Harjumaa County and state institutions, the involvement of investors and structural funds of the European Union all help guarantee that the village will develop according to the development plan.
MISSION There is a place for everyone under the sun.
VISION A village promoting good-quality and natural lifestyle for people with intellectual and multiple disabilities; a village where everyone has equal opportunities for living, learning and working according to their abilities.
• an optimal living environment
• main house
• five residential buildings
• workshops set up
• day centre service
• orchard
• available IT services, permanent internet connection in each family house
• established management model
• co-operation with various public institutions
• practical training of university students
• improvement of the general independence of the youngsters
• healthy lifestyle
• improved social life
• functional neighbourhood watch
• sustained, waste-free living environment, waste handling system
• dedicated employees with special training
• continuing Haraka Home chronicles |
