Description
The project addresses early marriages among the Roma as a major internal barrier to education and employment. The project aims at preventing early cohabitation and marriages among the Roma in Stolipinovo neighbourhood of Plovdiv by empowering the young Roma to choose education and jobs instead. First, about 70 volunteers from the neighbourhood will be selected. Second, 6 discussions on the reasons and factors for early marriages will be held with Roma parents. Third, volunteers will be trained to prevent early marriages. Next, a large-scale campaign on family planning and reproductive health will be held. Next, about 250 Roma parents will be involved in discussions in small groups. Finally, young volunteers will organize 2 outdoor events to promote social inclusion, education and employment through prevention of early marriages. The project will benefit the whole Roma community in Stolipinovo, the young and their parents, as well as local authorities and Bulgarian community.
Summary of project results
The project was targeted at raising awareness about the risks and consequences of early marriages and teen births among the Roma and the millet from Stolipinovo neighbourhood in the city of Plovdiv. The planned results were achieved by means of discussions in the community to reconsider traditional family practices and gradually reduce the number of cases of teen cohabitation and births. The project started a process of change. The result related to reducing the number of early marriages may be visible in a couple of years’ time. In that respect the main strategy to ensure sustainability was to build the community capacity so that the project ideas can be spread in the community. The activities carried out helped boost the capacity of volunteers and the organization team to inform the community and hold discussions with the adolescents and young people who want to create a family as well as their parents and grandparents about the risks and consequences of early marriages and teen births. The main target groups were young people, both learners and non-learners. They were directly involved in the organization and holding of youth events, preparation and participation in information campaigns for health education. Group work with the parents was an important part of the project. During the meetings between the parents and various specialists, issues related to teen health, the legal framework regulating early marriages and teen births and youth employment were discussed. Volunteers, young people and parents from Stolipinovo neighbourhood in the city of Plovdiv took part in the project. For more information:
www.roma-95.org. Facebook page: fondacia.roma
Summary of bilateral results