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Description
The project was initiated to meet important problems of marginalized minorities in the municipalities of Maglizh and Nikolaevo, defined in the Strategy of Stara Zagora District for equality, inclusion and participation of Roma for the period 2021 - 2030 in implementation of the National Strategy of the Republic of Bulgaria for equality , inclusion and participation of the Roma / 2021 - 2030 /.The project proposal envisages the creation of 2 hubs to offer complex integrated health and social measures in support of Roma inclusion in the municipalities of Maglizh and Nikolaevo. The scope of the project activities will include children over 7 years of age, young people (12 - 29 years old) and adult representatives of the Roma minority. In addition to medical examinations, the hubs specially equipped for this purpose will also host seminars, talks and other mass or individual forms of work with the target groups on topics such as prevention of early or unwanted pregnancy, hygienic care, mprovement of health culture, prevention of early pregnancy. dropping out of the educational system, etc. We plan to increase the organizational capacity of municipalities by providing certification training for Roma educational and health mediators.For this purpose, the municipality of Maglizh plans to build a new health center, which will have offices for medical examinations and health mediation will be carried out in the field of prevention in all its aspects. In the building of the National Chitalishte "Perobuda - 1869" - Maglizh there will be premises where psychologists, social workers, health and educational mediators will work with the target group. In the municipality of Nikolaevo, two existing municipal buildings will be repaired and adapted for these activities. All specialists engaged in the project will provide mobile services within the planned activities in other settlements in the municipalities where persons from the target groups of the project have been identified.
Summary of project results
A large percentage of the representatives of the Roma ethnic group have low educational qualifications or no educational qualifications at all, which creates serious difficulties in their adaptation to the integration policy implemented by the municipal administration. The age structure of the Roma according to the last census indicates a low life expectancy rate. The representatives of the Roma population are characterized by a high and early /under 18/ birth rate, low education and no professions, which creates difficulties in their adaptation to the labor market and their social inclusion. Their children risk repeating the model of social isolation of their parents
Two centers for health services and preventive activities in the field of health care for representatives of the target groups were created in the municipalities of Maglizh and Nikolaevo. Two separate hubs for socially integrated activities for representatives from the Roma minority were established in the municipalities of Maglizh and Nikolaevo. Preventive examinations and consultations by medical workers for uninsured persons from the target group in health centers were provided. Organized and conducted information events by the mediators on important topics in the areas of healthcare, prevention of early pregnancy, child care, healthy eating, etc. Representatives of the Roma ethnic group received integrated social inclusion services (at least two services in the field of health, education, social and/or labour). Organized and conducted campaigns to increase the level of health knowledge and the prevention of socially significant diseases and harmful habits for the target group. Organized and conducted educational campaigns to raise awareness on civic education issues, to prevent early school leaving, to support students and their parents, to prevent aggression, prostitution and other anti-social behaviour. Organized and conducted campaigns to raise awareness on labour law and social issues and support access to the labour market. Organized and conducted campaign in 4 training cycles for children and young people who have dropped out of the education system and are unemployed (NEETs) with the aim of motivating and including them in various forms of education and/or the labor market.
The measures implemented developed skills to deal with social isolation, cultural differences and economic problems. Active inclusion and empowerment of representatives of vulnerable groups in society to participate in public life was achieved. The project reached 665 representatives of the target group (children 7-12 years old, youth 13-29 years old and senior citizens from the Roma minority in disadvantaged situations in the municipalities of Maglizh and Nikolaevo) and over 2,400 people reached by information campaigns and activities other than information campaigns. One of the key outcomes was the transfer of good practices from Norway in the field of socially significant problems in childhood and youth, working with families of vulnerable groups to build integration bridges. In this way, the strengthening of bilateral relations between the Bulgarian and Norwegian partners was achieved.
Summary of bilateral results
One of the key outcomes was the transfer of good practices from Norway in the field of socially significant problems in childhood and youth, working with families of vulnerable groups to build integration bridges. Training visit in Norway was organized to familiarize participants with social services for the inclusion of marginalized communities in the country and good practices. Experts from the Norwegian partner conducted a 6-day training on knowledge transfer, local good practices and social innovations in the field of integration into society and the labor market. The training combined theory and practice, visits in institutions aimed at providing services to support language acquisition and integration, visit to the innovative Trondheim International School and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Psychology, exchange of experience and good practices. Three one-day events were held in Bulgaria - workshops for municipalities with over 40 participants. During the workshops, an evaluation session was organized to present a monitoring report by the Norwegian partner with conclusions and recommendations for the continuation of the project activities in the sustainability period and indicators of success.