Alaturi de Voi

Close to You Foundation (ADV) is a non-governmental organisation and a work integration social enterprise, established in February 2002 by Holt International Children's Service USA, whose mission is the integration of people with disabilities or other vulnerable groups . Its national headquarters is in Iasi and it is registered as a Romanian foundation, independent from state authorities, not conditioned by certain ideologies, doctrines or religions. Close to You Foundation established in time 3 social businesses, being declared the 2016 Social Entrepreneur of the Year within the international competition EYEntrepreneur Of The Year: UtilDecowas established in 2010 and created throughout time over 100 workplaces, of which at least 40% have been for people with disabilities. UtilDeco offers services of archiving and document storage, the production of protection equipment / an online store. JobDirectwas established in May 2016 as an Agency for Placement and Assistance at the Workplace, offering services of evaluation, testing, counselling, professional capacity building, mediation and placement on the labour market, as well as job coaching for people with disabilities or from groups at risk. WISE.travel was established in August 2016, initially under the name UtilDeco Travel. In June 2018, the agency was re-authorized as tour operator under the brand WISE.travel and offers travel services and event organizing, while 50% of its profit is donated to NGOs and social enterprises. Close to You Foundation is fully reinvesting its profit in the not-for-profit activities developed, especially in supporting two day centres for children and adults with disabilities from socially disadvantaged groups, promoted under the name the Youth Club. Close to You Foundation has developed over 75 projects/programmes in the last 16 years, financed by international bodies, local authorities and from its own funds. The programmes of the foundation carried out at the local, national and regional level and at the cross-border/transnational level, are in the domain of social services and social economy, innovative services targeting the inclusion and employment of vulnerable groups, particularly young people. In parallel, the lobby and advocacy component for the NGO sector has been developed by the promotion and defence of the rights of direct beneficiaries - people from vulnerable groups and a development assistance component - granted to NGOs from the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Nigeria. Close to You Foundation is also the initiator of FONSS - Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations for Social Services, founded in August 2014, currently including 33 members, NGOs certified as providers of social services in the North-Eastern Region. The presidency of the first mandate was held by the Close to You Foundation , through its legal representative, Angela Achitei. As of July 2015, Close to You Foundation is a member of the Monitoring Committee of the Regional Operational Programme 2015-2020 - North-Eastern ADR, and since April 2016, a member of the Anti-Poverty National Coalition. Close to You Foundation is accredited by ANC for Trainer, Bookbinder, Common skills - digital skills, Social Economy Entrepreneur, Social enterprise manager, Project manager, Registrar and Archivist. Close to You Foundation is certified according to ISO 9001 - quality management, ISO 14001 - environment management, SR OHSAS - standard on health and occupational security management system and SR ISO/CEI 27001 - information security management system. Close to You Foundation is investing in the community, being one of the initiators of the concept of social economy and of the Law on Social Economy, adopted in July 2015. For the development of the sector, the foundation periodically organises training courses for entrepreneurs and social economy managers, study visits, national fairs and ensures counselling and coaching for the development of social enterprises.