EIPA, the European Institute of Public Administration, this week awarded the City of Hafnarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur the EPSA, or the European Public Sector Award. The award is given to public service projects that demonstrate good practice and innovative solutions to challenging issues. The theme of the 2017 EPSA awards was innovation in public service, and the award was presented in Maastricht, the Netherlands, this week. The organisation received a total of 149 nominations from 30 member states across all sectors and policy areas. The project from Hafnarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur that received this prestigious award is called The Wasps: Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are extremely proud of this recognition, which is a testament to the ambition and professionalism that the management and staff of the City of Hafnarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur show in their work. Hafnarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur's Family Services are truly deserving of this award, and it is great to see this pioneering work in services for disabled people attracting attention on an international stage. It is rewarding to work with creative people who have an eye for new solutions and are prepared to put in a great deal of effort to make them a success. For that, we on the Family Council are both proud and grateful,\u201c said Gu\u00f0laug Kristj\u00e1nsd\u00f3ttir, Mayor and Chair of the Family Council.<\/p>\n
The Wasps project, which was launched in autumn 2015, aims to increase flexibility in services for disabled people regarding employment and social participation, and to give disabled people the opportunity to participate fully in society on their own terms. The project's aim is to increase innovation and entrepreneurship among disabled people through a value-adding social role in employment, thereby working towards a change in society's attitude towards disabled people.<\/p>\n