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Description
The initial situation of the project is that currently in Slovakia Roma volunteer programs are increasingly successful, but for the motivation and supervision of Roma volunteers, it is necessary to have sufficiently secured project management. At present, the organization can recruit freshmen - fourth-graders from primary schools to the BBS program in the Košice region and also support adult Roma communities in volunteering activities for their surroundings and the enhancement of tourism. However, they perceive this as insufficient, because children in the 9th grade drop out of the program and there are no opportunities to pay attention to them. Also the conditions of the Košice and Prešov regions are very similar in many aspects and the Volunteer Center would like to focus on its programs.
The project aims at Roma children and young adults. The Volunteer Center has been working with Roma communities for 15 years and is cooperating with other organizations that also work with the Roma community. In this project, they are developing two concepts - BBS (Big Brother/Sister) and CREDO. BBS is a preparation for Roma children from kindergartens, with volunteers from the ranks of high school and university youth. CREDO focuses on revitalizing and improving the conditions of Roma settlements in the Košice region. Both, Roma and non-Roma citizens are involved in the program. CREDO won the Volunteer Project of the Year award at both - regional and national level.
Volunteer coordinators will be regularly in the field, both with their communities and volunteers and with mayors and action groups in the district to support the development of localities in volunteering activities and be in line with the plans and goals of the municipalities.
The project will be beneficiary for the people of the local community, vulnerable groups - specifically the Roma community, people threaten by poverty and homeless people.
Summary of project results
The primary goal of the project was to involve Roma families in the development of tourism in the areas where they live. With the onset of the pandemic, it became clear that the project was needed not only for this primary goal, but also for tutoring children. Thanks to the project, project implementers were able to help several communities in the Košice region: in 16 communities tutored Roma children, especially those who did not have access to online education during the pandemic, collaborated with adult Roma from communities and improved the surroundings of their homes, educated them on various environmental topics.
All planned direct activities in the communities were successfully implemented. The revitalized localities within the KREDO program in Spišské Vlachy na Zahure and on Tokaj in the fairytale forest are considered to be the most significant and most visible. Without these activities, the organization would not be able to improve relations with the community and would not be able to leave a message in the majority groups that the Roma do not only have to be negative for tourism, but on the contrary, they can also contribute to it through positive change and building attractions.
The project significantly contributed to the organization''s ability to truly engage with communities. The situation has improved so that communication takes place with several municipalities, which after the project want to remain in these activities within the sustainability of the project. During the implementation of the project, at least 2 sites for the general public (Malá Třňa and Zahura) and 14 sites for their surroundings (tire playgrounds, herb gardens, clothing collections, rain gardens) were improved. In a broader context, the aim was for the majority to understand the Roma potential in the field of tourism. This goal has been achieved. Despite the pandemic, 5,000 participants came to see the summer festival at the fairytale forest, which the organization organized with Roma volunteers, which is considered a visible success. The project also initiated dobrocamps throughout the region in 2022.