An Overview Of SPASDI
The Society for the Protection of the Socially Disadvantaged Individuals was established to respond to the alarming rise in numbers of victims of social disadvantages in Iran such as poverty, addiction, prostitution, homelessness and divorce in Iran. The organisation is a non-governmental and non-profit organisation founded in 1999 whose objective is to prevent and intervene in social problems in the Iranian society. In order to achieve this goal the organisation uses four general guidelines:

1. To increase awareness and enhance discussion on social issues in society
2. To motivate people to take action to change their own social disadvantages
3. To promote co-operation and co-ordinate activities among all civil society partners
4. To support and carry ut social research and the results can influence policy making

The organisation relies on professional social workers and enthusiastic volunteers. The social workers have more than 30 years of experience with working in prisons, orphanages, city councils, universities, hospitals and charity centers. The organisation has also created a wide national network. The organisation collaborates with other NGOs, UN organisations and qualified experts (university professors and researchers).

ACTIVITIES:

HIV/AIDS

Teaming up with three other NGOs in Iran, we submitted a proposal on prevention of HIV AIDS amongst youth in Iran. The proposal was approved by global fund to be funded ($4,000,000 for the first two years).
Another project on providing educational services regarding HIV/AIDS and sexual behavior for youth which was funded by Dutch Embassy and co financed by EHYA is now running.
Hotline (EHYA)
The Hotline project has been established in late 2002 with financial contribution of British, Dutch and Swiss Embassy. This program provides counseling upon the phone calls of disadvantaged people in the fields of runaway girls, HIV/AIDS, bad parents, high risk behaviors and etc.
Workshops
Workshops on various social topics have been organized e.g. on vulnerable girls (Oct. 2000), on understanding the inclination of youths towards addiction (Nov. 2000), on violence against women (Jan. 2001), on the definition of the manner of interaction of government and NGOs (March 2001), on the relation between the existing Iranian schooling system and the creation of a creative thinking generation (May 2001), on leisure time and social health (June 2001), on sexual abuse of children (November 2001), on life-long learning education and its effects on society (February 2002), and in spring 2002 a workshop on the anomic society will be organized.
Counseling
We organize counseling on family matters in various educational institutions in Southern Tehran (in 2001 we had 20 two-hour sessions) and family counseling service for factory laborers. New sessions at educational institutions have been planned for 2002.
Capacity Building
We provide technical assistance to NGOs to strengthen their capacity and we stimulate the formation of new NGOs in the provinces of Kurdestan, Khouzestan and Gilan. We also provide space in our building to some newly formed NGOs to enable them to have general meetings, courses and seminars.
Supporting law reform
In collaboration with other NGOs we try to define the relationship between government and NGOs in Iran. This group of NGOs have advised the government on how this relationship should be and have contributed to the formulation of a new law on the status and functioning of NGOs in Iran.
Supporting Afghan refugees
In 2001 - in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - we carried out a project to support Afghan and Iraqi refugees by assessing their living and working situation and to provide them with housing and other basic needs.
Research and education
We carry out various studies on social issues. At the moment research is being conducted on the possibilities of having a system of foster parents/families in Iran. In spring 2002 in co-operation with the Center for Women s Participation a project will start on life-long learning for parents of students and handicapped children. In cooperation with the Swiss Academy for Development, this organization is planning a nation wide research on the anomic situation amongst youth in Iran and its effects on Development

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CONTACT DETAILS

The organization is located in the center of Tehran and shares a building with another NGO that assists handicapped children. If you have any questions or if you are interested to know more about this organization please contact Mr. Hani Mansourian.