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Description
This project envisages the creation of a hub for functionally linked health, social and educational services in support of marginalized minorities. The project activities will be aimed at children from 0 to 6 years and their families, school-age children and youth and adult members of the Roma minority. In 5 kindergartens in the municipality of Stamboliyski for the youngest will be divided into available for the purpose sports and playrooms and / or outdoor sports grounds, which will be equipped with sports and technical equipment and tools, where through the application of innovative methods will fundamental skills for children are built in the form of various games for socialization and integration in a multicultural society with an emphasis on improving speech skills in Bulgarian. Educators, social workers, health, Roma and educational mediators will work with children and their parents. The newly built hub will become a centre for social, educational and cultural activities and will offer psychological, social, health and educational support for vulnerable groups in the municipality. In addition to medical examinations for uninsured persons from the Roma minority, the newly established health centre will also hold 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, increasing health culture, etc. We plan to increase the organizational capacity of the municipalities by providing certification training for Roma educational and health mediators, as well as for pedagogues and trainers.
Summary of project results
According to data on the population of the Stamboliyski municipality as of 30.06.2021, at the launch of the project, the number of citizens self-identifying as Roma is 5250 out of a total population of 20861 people. The Roma minority is characterized by a higher morbidity rate than that of other ethnic groups in Bulgaria, a high and early /under 18/ birth rate, with low education and no professions, which creates difficulties in its adaptation to the labor market and their social inclusion. Their children risk repeating the model of social isolation of their parents. In order to break the vicious cycle, a complex intervention is needed both in early childhood and intensive work with school-age, youth and representatives of the adult Roma population.
A hub for complex social, health and educational services for social support of vulnerable minorities was created and is successfully operating. In the 5 kindergartens in the Stamboliyski municipality, sports halls and outdoor playgrounds have been set up to support the development and early inclusion of children from the target group in the educational system. 2 sports holidays "Little Athletes - for Tolerance" were held. 20 Roma mediators, 10 sports trainers, 20 teachers, 52 young people of Roma origin /NEETs/ received training. Kindergarten teachers were trained to work in a multicultural environment.
The newly established hub has become a center for contacts and support for the Roma community in the municipality of Stamboliyski. Multidisciplinary team was created to provide the integreated measures. 1 238 representatives of the target groups benefitted from the services provided. 113 uninsured patients received health services. 240 children from the minority were included in sports and language activities in 5 kindergartens. 1400 people were covered in 9 information campaigns on various topics. 63 young people of Roma origin /NEETs/ were included in 3 two-week trainings to support their continued education and inclusion in the labor market. 5 children with SEN from the Roma minority received professional support from a psychologist and a speech therapist. 1 trip of the Bulgarian team to Norway, one 3-day seminar and 3 one-day sessions by the Norwegian partner in Bulgaria for the transfer of good practices in working with minorities were carried out. The project activity was covered in the media, on the project and municipality websites and on social networks, with emphasis on the financial support from the EEA Financial Mechanism. Surveys conducted at the beginning and end of the project showed increase in the acceptance rate of the minority by the majority as a result of the project implementation.
Summary of bilateral results
Good practices were transferred from Norway in the field of inclusive education and the integration of vulnerable groups through a visit of the Bulgarian project team to Norway and seminars organized by the Norwegian partner in Bulgaria, and thus bilateral relations were established and strengthened. One trip of the Bulgarian team to Norway where Norwegian practices in kindergartens, work organization, material environment and teaching methods were presented. One 3-day seminar and 3 one-day sessions led by the Norwegian parntner to strengthen bilateral relations and transfer of specific proven methodologies from Norway for working with children, youth and adults from minority groups were held.