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Description
The project aims at improving social inclusion and empowerment of the Roma community in the Municipality of Pernik. The project will improve the access of the Roma community and other vulnerable groups to social services, education, employment, health and non-discrimination and is based on the active participation of the Roma community and cooperation between local authorities, civil society and others stakeholders. The main target group of the project is Roma minorities and people from other vulnerable groups living in segregated communities, with difficult access to services, inadequate infrastructure, facing extreme poverty, social exclusion and marginalization. The project will develop activities in several main areas, including the introduction of a comprehensive approach aimed at improving the general conditions of the target group, where the same person is provided with at least two types of services from the following sectors: social assistance, education, employment and healthcare, depending on their needs. Under the project two buildings will be renovated and will be ensured mobile provision of complex health, social, educational and employment activities to the most vulnerable members of the roma community. For the successful implementation of the project, an effective partnership is envisaged with a local NGO from Bulgaria, which works in the field of Roma social inclusion and it is well known and accepted by the community, as well as in partnership with non-governmental organization from Norway Intermezzo Ungdom that works in the field of social inclusion of young people.
Summary of project results
The main problem and challenge was the acceptance of minority groups by the general population, as well as the emboldening of people of Roma origin to come out of their neighbourhoods and take advantage of all the services and opportunities that the public life of Pernik provides. As a result of the project activities, hundreds of people received integrated services that permanently changed their way of life.
Two premises were renovated and equipped – a center for integrated services and a training hall, allowing the Roma group to have better access to services. A multidisciplinary team was created, which worked intensively with the community and provided integrated services - psychological, medical, legal, social, labor. Educational mediators helped to ensure quality education and employment support. Many activities were implemented in local communities to overcome negative stereotypes through empowerment and training. A sustainable coordination mechanism for cooperation on the problems of the Roma community was created.
The results of the project implementation are: an appropriate infrastructure built, tailored to the needs of the Roma community, where the municipality will continue to provide services to the disadvantaged target groups - Roma and non-Roma. Through the implementation of the project, more than 1,600 people of Roma origin have benefited from improved and accessible services from the following sectors: social assistance, education, employment and healthcare; The awareness of members of the Roma community about their rights has improved. More than 5,000 people from Roma and non-Roma origin have participated in information activities and activities aimed at bringing the two groups closer together, which allows reducing the level of discrimination against Roma and overcoming stereotypes and prejudices towards them; the access to education for all - children, youth and adults has improved; Individual and group activities and trainings have improved the ability and willingness to effectively participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of public policies and services for the community, and thus the empowerment of representatives of the Roma community to participate in the decision-making process has been achieved.
Summary of bilateral results
Two working visits were organized and conducted for the purpose of exchanging experience in Bulgaria and Norway, as a result of the visits the participants received new knowledge, skills and competencies related to the social inclusion of vulnerable groups; A conference was organized and conducted and experience was shared among a wider range of stakeholders. The beneficiary''s capacity to work in a multicultural environment was improved as result of the exchange of experience and good practices with the partner organization.