Slovak Association of the Visually Impaired Youth (official abbreviation “SAVIY”) is non-profit, non-governmental association of humanitarian type. Its main objective is to meet specific needs of children and youth with visual impairment, to contribute for inclusion of this group in intact society and to stimulate them for independent way of life by key competences development. Membership of association can be obtained mainly by persons aged up to 28 years, independently on state of their sight. SAVIY has 45 official members at the present time and number of them is growing. SAVIY provides service also to others who are not members of SAVIY and want to join activities sometimes. Amount of those young people with visual impairment is more than 300, they come from whole territory of Slovak Republic. SAVIY realises activities of different type: sport, culture, education etc. For example camps, competitions, trips, weekend meetings. SAVIY has realised several training courses aimed for instance at development of life and communication skills or handling of support devices. SAVIY cooperates closely with the Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union (UNSS) which is the biggest  civic organisation providing service for people with visual impairment in Slovakia. SAVIY is associated member of UNSS, member organisation of the Slovak Disability Council and observer member of international organisation for youth with visual impairment - Visually Impaired's Educational World Support (VIEWS).

Some of national and international projects which SAVIY organized or cooperated on as partner in last four years:

Project “Mutual views“ (2008): National project aimed at intergenerational exchange and presentation of life of persons with visual impairment (VI). Main activities of the project is to produce short documentary where lifes of youth and elderly with VI are shown comparing their skills, interactions and to present this film to intact society during several workshops.

Training course “Put in motion“ (2008, Senec, Slovakia): Training course which gethers youth leaders with VI and youth workers from different EU and EU neighbouring countries. We try to create space for organisations which didn’t have experiences with Youth in Action Programme and present them this tool pointing out exchanges, European Voluntary Service and mixed-ability approach.

Seminar “Diversity – the fuel of dynamics“ (October 2007, Antalya, Turkey): Event organized prior to the European Blind Union General Assembly 2007 as part of Equality and Diversity Forum. Main topics: exchange of knowledge among european youth with VI, Youth in Action Programme, labor market’s opportunities for youth with VI, intergenerational dialogue.

Project “Doorknob“ (2007): National project with three main topics: Development of key competences - free time youth clubs for students with VI; Trainings for volunteers and youth leaders of activities for youth with VI – approaches of inclusive activities for youngsters with VI; Web book of inclusive activities for people with VI and techniques how to adapt activities changing them into accessible format.

International Youth Exchange “Roule Ma Poule“ (July 2007, Aix en Provence, France): This mixed-ability exchange got together youth with fewer opportunities and special needs of different kind: youth with mobility problems, youth with VI, youth with mental disadvantage and intact youth as well. During workshops and activities young people were given opportunity to share their experiences and get to know each other.

Seminar “Project Tromsoe“ (September 2006, Tromsoe, Norway): This seminar’s main theme was to discuss possibilities of VI youngsters’ active participation in Youth Programme, mainly in Actions 1 and 5 of the Programme and entitle changes of coming Youth in Action Programme.

International Youth Exchange “Breaking the Boundaries of Blindness“ (August 2006, Reykjavik, Iceland): Participants discussed barriers in their lifes as persons with VI. They proposed solutions how to make inclusive environment for all and how they can contribute themselves.

International Youth Exchange “Relax Your Body and Mind“ (August 2006, Kamnik, Slovenia): Mixed-ability project. Its main goal was to better life quality of young people with fewer opportunities from different backgrounds by relaxing body and mind having art, dance, massage, sport workshops.

Seminar “CHANCE“ (October 2005, Prague, Czech Republic): This seminar gave opportunity for youngsters with VI from several european countries to get in touch with former EU Youth Programme. They were given advices how to use it when working in field of youth with VI. Mostly Action 1 and 2 of Youth Programme was discussed.

International Youth Exchange “Summer touch“ (July 2005, Liptovsky Jan, Slovakia): Bilateral youth exchange for Slovak and Czech young people with and without VI. Participants were stimulated for getting to know each other, for mutual exchange of experiences and opinions mainly by sport activities.

Project “Door“ (2004): National project aimed at development of key competences of young people with VI in free time youth clubs and during several weekend meetings. The final goal of whole project was to convince participants to prepare their own public activity for local community presenting their gained skills. For purposes of this project’s activities a group of volunteers (with VI and intact ones) was trained for leading inclusive activities.

Summer camps: Every year summer activity. Our organisation realizes or cooperates on realization of such activity. We try to create proper space of activities for youth with VI promoting independent life approaches, development of key competences and space for interaction with their intact fellows.

Youth clubs: Regular meetings for students with VI. Main idea is to use free time activities and discussions for development of key competences.