Description
The project addresses the challenges faced by the Roma community in Valchi Dol Municipality (high unemployment, poverty). The project aims at empowering young Roma students to break the vicious circle of low education, unemployment and poverty by supporting them to develop work skills and motivation. First, 7 employees of Valchi Dol Municipality will be selected as mentors of Roma students. Second, 15 Roma students aged 16-18 from the vocational class for “small and medium-size business” will be selected as participants. The students will have a 1-day motivational training to help with job hunting, self-development, career orientation, starting their own business. Finally, the students will have a 1-month traineeship with the municipal administration. The project will benefit the 15 Roma students, their teachers, parents as well as the Roma community in general. The 2 partners will provide a safe working environment, the selection of students and contacts with their parents.
Summary of project results
The project was needed due to the specificity of the small municipality in a rural area with high poverty and unemployment rates particularly visible among the members of the target group, the Roma. The project achieved its goals, namely support Roma pupils in acquiring work skills and motivation to start a job as well as spread the labour skills as a self-help and solidarity mechanism. 15 Roma pupils and 7 municipal officers from Valchi Dol Municipality took part in the project implementation. The one-month internship with the administration of Valchi Dol Municipality enabled the pupils to be in a real work environment and implement real tasks acquiring the skills needed to find a job. The municipal staff changed their attitude to the Roma for the better. The municipal administration will continue to work with the Roma community even after the project strengthening its effect. The project set a good example and spread the labour skills as a self-help mechanism. Roma empowerment and the spread of the self-help mechanism will have a long-term impact on improving the economic conditions, social status and quality of life of the Roma community. The good example spread among the peers and the families of the pupils involved in the project. The association will look for opportunities to implement ideas favouring the Roma and will continue to inform them via the website. The project partners were Valchi Dol Municipality and Vassil Levski Secondary School. The municipal administration ensured safe working environment, equipped workplace and office consumables, mentors and free transport to the villages. The school selected and motivated the pupils, maintained contacts with their parents and supervised their practical learning. For more information, see:
http://www.obucheniedalgoletie.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/%D0%A8%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D…
Summary of bilateral results