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Description
Lack of knowledge of the language, local culture and the institutional system has resulted in almost full isolation of refugees and migrants in Bulgaria, particularly in Haskovo District, regardless of their legal status. The pandemic further made it difficult for these children and adults to function in society, prevented their access to services and resulted in more frequent escalation of family conflicts. Many parties such as employers, landlords and even representatives of institutions violated their fundamental human rights. Lack of basic knowledge about the way the community operates keeps them victims, dependent on the people helping them. Having sufficient information among refugees and migrants is particularly important to prevent abuse. Approximately 350 persons seeking/granted/refused international protection, living in the municipalities of Harmanli, Svilengrad, Dimitrovgrad, Galabovo, Stara Zagora and Nova Zagora, will be supported by information activities and training, counselling aid for legal proceedings in order to help them manage their own life and the life of the community more efficiently. The main focus of the project is on empowering these groups and advocating for their rights in an attempt to change the local institutional environment in order to achieve inclusive local policies, which include refugees and migrants as an active party in decision-making about their lives. In this way the project will help the community, local institutions and the organizations working in the area to recognize a key target group that has been fully excluded from decision-making about their life. The latter goals will be achieved by raising awareness, improving the conditions and skills of refugees and migrants to exercise their rights and take part in the economic and social life of local communities, including decision making about public policies involving them, and ensuring them access to local services.