As part of the "Social Inclusion in Montenegro" project, on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 12:00 p.m., the Municipality of Kotor organized the eighth swimming event in a row at the "Zoran Džimi Gopčević" Indoor Pool, where, in addition to the elderly, people with physical disabilities, patients housed in ZU Special Hospital for Psychiatry "Dobrota" Kotor also participated. We are happy that through this project we have reached one of the rare opportunities for the socialization of people with mental disabilities and for the experiential demolition of prejudices and stereotypes towards this group.

Physical activity is one of the key prerequisites for maintaining satisfactory and improving impaired mental health. Experiences in the treatment of mental illnesses around the world irrefutably prove the importance of socialization in the suppression and/or stagnation of symptoms of mental illnesses. That is why it is extremely important that people with mental disabilities housed in the ZU Special Hospital for Psychiatry "Dobrota" Kotor have started using the resources provided by the "Zoran Džimi Gopčević" Closed Pool. In this way, these people are not only given the opportunity for physical activity, but also for interaction with other vulnerable groups and most importantly - a sense of belonging to the community.

With the support of the staff of the Special Hospital for Psychiatry, 6 people with mental disabilities participated in the swimming event, who were visibly satisfied with the opportunity to participate and socialize. On the other hand, the people of Kotor could personally meet and establish communication with this group, which, although it resides in Kotor, is almost completely invisible to all citizens of our city. Bearing in mind the above, we hope that the Special Hospital for Psychiatry will continue to show its willingness to support the implementation of the project by the participation of people with mental disabilities in swimming events.

Let's remind you that every Sunday starting from January 28 until mid-May, swimming events are organized for different vulnerable groups in our city, who, under the supervision of an expert - a physiotherapist, do adapted exercises in the pool, so that they help in the range of their movements or strength, in depending on the general condition and needs. The participants and the physiotherapist are also supported by the students of Kotor High School Medical School, and we would like to thank the management of this educational institution for understanding the importance of this project.

We owe special thanks to the friendly and accommodating staff of the "Zoran Džimi Gopčević" Indoor Pool, who enable us to ensure that every swimming event takes place in impeccable conditions.

In cooperation with the Ju Home for the Old "Grabovac" Risan, the Day Care Center for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities in Rakite and the Ju Resource Center for Hearing and Speech "Dr Peruta Ivanović", the swimming events so far have been attended by elderly people, people with physical disabilities, children with developmental disabilities and young people with hearing and/or speech impairments. The project team encourages the mutual interaction of different vulnerable groups at swimming events, and already at the second swimming event people with physical disabilities were joined by elderly people, which will also be the case on Sunday, March 17 at 10:30 a.m., while from 11:30 a.m. school children will of age and children with developmental disabilities can enjoy the Pool.

We hope that this project will encourage the citizens of Kotor to come to the "Zoran Džimi Gopčević" Indoor Pool and to participate in swimming events to give stamp and importance to social inclusion through physical activity. Interested parties can get more information about the project itself, as well as about the Calendar of Events, by calling +382 63 276 782 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12:00 to 15:00.

In the previous year, the Municipality of Kotor started the implementation of the project "Social Inclusion in Montenegro", whose goal is to improve the conditions for physical activity as a tool for improving the quality of life and health protection and as a means for social inclusion. The project is financially supported by the Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, in accordance with the Law of the FVG Region of October 30, 2000, no. 19.

Miroslava-Mima Ivanovic

Coordinator of the Center for help (motivation) and support for vulnerable groups of all ages