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Description
The project responds to the need of improvement of the status and opportunities of children in contact with the law in Roma communities in the cities of Plovdiv, Pazardzhik and Lom. The project will apply an effective integrated approach to the target groups - vulnerable Roma children, representatives of Roma informal groups and civil society organizations, Roma mediators. The project promoter will implement the project in partnership with two Roma organizations with significant impact in the Roma communities of Plovdiv and Lom.
- A specialized service "Center for Counseling and Legal Aid for Children" will be developed and implemented in the premises of the promoter and the partners.
- Partnerships will be built in the three municipalities with key institutions that are important for working with children in contact with the law, through three workshops and partnership agreements.
- The capacity of the teams and key institutions will be increased through three specialized trainings
At all stages of the project there will be cooperation with the Norwegian NGO SAVE A CHILD, which will study the experience of Norway in this field, consult the project, participate in online meetings and the final conference.
Summary of project results
The overall goal of the project is to introduce and develop an effective integrated approach aimed at improving the status and opportunities of children in contact with the law in three Roma communities in Bulgaria.
A comprehensive study was conducted across three Roma communities in Plovdiv, Lom, and Pazardzhik to assess the legal and social barriers faced by children.
Established three “Consultation and Legal Aid Centers for Children”, offering legal and psychological support- safe spaces where children could receive legal guidance, psychological support and assistance navigating the justice system.
20 partnership agreements for the provision of services have been signed.
Throughout the project, centres have provided direct support to 118 children and their families, ensuring they were not left to face legal proceedings alone. Strengthening Institutional Cooperation was accomplished through 3 working meetings that brought together 20 representatives from key institutions in each region to foster coordination. Three training sessions equipped professionals from child protection, social services, and law enforcement with tools to improve their interaction with vulnerable children. A total of 90 participants attended three information sessions introducing the study’s findings to stakeholders. An additional 90 participants from the Roma community engaged in awareness events designed to improve understanding of children’s rights and available services. Public outreach materials included 2,000 leaflets and 150 posters, further promoting the initiative.
Embedding child justice services into existing municipal and national systems increases sustainability. Formal partnerships, policy changes, and capacity-building efforts enhance long-term impact.
Summary of bilateral results
The contributions of the Norwegian `Save a Child` Foundation included:Guiding research focus – They helped Bulgarian experts identify key problem areas for children in conflict or contact with the law, ensuring that initial assessments addressed the most pressing issues.Providing solutions based on international experience – While the challenges faced by children in Norway differed from those in Bulgaria, Save a Child proposed adaptable solutions that could be implemented in the local context.Enhancing research and training efforts – Their participation in reviewing reports, sharing Norwegian best practices, and engaging in online discussions transformed some meetings into informal training sessions, strengthening the skills of Bulgarian specialists.