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Description
Project "I Have a Dream" aims to evaluate, implement and disseminate new methods of empowerment of Roma women and girls through advocacy based on the following elements: (a) development of personal skills and self-esteem, and (b) implementation of innovative Norwegian models for direct advocacy through methods of art and culture. The project is designed to (a) build an internal (Roma community) and an external (public opinion) environment demonstrating respect for Roma women as individuals, and at the same time (b) provide Roma women with tools to stand up for themselves as persons capable of asserting their rights, interests and dreams. The project will achieve its aims through innovative methods of empowerment through direct advocacy. It is implemented jointly with the Norwegian NGO KUN. They have extensive experience in empowering vulnerable social groups and are committed to the cause of protecting the rights of women and minorities.
The main expected results of the project are:
(a) a study and analysis of good empowerment practices; (b) conducted trainings for 60 Roma women for the development of personal skills and knowledge of empowerment through advocacy: (c) seminars conducted and established network of female Roma clubs through art, folklore and deliberative discussions; (d) the project''s information campaign will reach at least 25 000 people and at least 5000 Roma; (e) the innovative methods of empowerment through advocacy will be approbated in 6 cities.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to evaluate, implement, and disseminate with the support of the Norwegian partner /advocacy organization KUN - Centre for Equality and Diversity/ new methods for empowering Roma women through direct advocacy and support to organize and defend their interests before local and central authorities. The project had two main approaches: a) working with the target group through the development of personal skills and self-confidence; and b) applying innovative models used in Norway for direct advocacy through arts and cultural methods. This project aimed to: a) create an internal (for the Roma community) and external (for public opinion) environment that demonstrates respect for Roma women as individuals, and at the same time b) provide Roma women with tools to assert themselves as subjects capable of fighting for their rights, interests and dreams.
The project held deliberative discussions in 6 localities - Rakitovo, Dupnitsa, Kyustendil, Botevgrad, Radomir, Blagoevgrad, with the participation of about 150 people. 3 research reports on the role and situation of Roma women in Bulgaria and about Roma in Norway were prepared, discussed, and disseminated. An information campaign on social networks was conducted. Six advocacy campaigns were organised and carried out in the mentioned localities, six Roma women''s clubs were established there, and their members underwent 18 soft skills trainings. Two national meetings of Roma women''s clubs and a travelling exhibition with photos of successful Roma women role models were also held.
The project introduced and tested the model of direct advocacy, which empowers the target groups and allows them to organize and advocate their interests to local and central authorities. LARGO and the target groups developed their capacity to organise and run successful direct advocacy campaigns in different areas - health, social policies, education, culture, etc.
The general public, media and local authorities were made aware of the project and its objectives through the public awareness campaign, the dissemination of printed materials (reports, booklets, brochures, posters), the travelling exhibition, the two national meetings and the advocacy campaigns in the six localities.
The project had a positive impact on the development of LARGO - new followers were attracted, the circle of supporters of the organization was expanded, the expertise of the team was upgraded.
Summary of bilateral results
The partner KUN - Center for Equality and Diversity is an organization with a great experience in empowering vulnerable social groups, committed to the cause of protecting the rights of women and minorities. Its role in the project was through filming video messages, participating in meetings, sharing information about Roma in their country and about Norwegian projects dedicated to ethnic minorities, and producing a report about Roma in Europe and in Norway.The project has added significant value to the development of Roma women in six localities and is expected to be continued through a project on the same theme won in another competition. Good practices for direct advocacy are available to all NGOs and informal civil society groups that would like to use this mechanism to protect their interests. The results will be sustainable precisely because the project has shown that the model is applicable in our country, works effectively and the experience gained from its approbation is accessible to all. Direct advocacy practices have already been successfully replicated for other civic causes in different parts of the country - through advocacy campaigns for the rule of law or through trainings on the topic at national level. The direct advocacy approach has also entered the civic education curriculum at the Spanish High School in Sofia and at Softuni BUDITEL.