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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.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was through information activities and trainings, counseling in legal procedures, social support and psychological assistance, asylum seekers, beneficiaries or refused persons living in the region of the municipalities of Harmanli, Svilengrad, Dimitrovgrad, Galabovo, Stara Zagora and Nova Zagora, to receive support and to participate in making important decisions for their own lives.
Ignorance of the language, the local culture and the institutional system leads to almost complete isolation of refugees and migrants in the country, and in the Haskovo region in particular, no matter what their legal status is. The pandemic situation further hampers the social functioning of these children and adults and impedes their access to services, escalating family conflicts. This greatly impairs their quality of life and puts them at risk with regard to various aspects of daily life. Their basic human rights are violated by various parties - employers, landlords, even representatives of institutions. Lack of basic knowledge about the functioning of the community keeps them in the position of victims, dependent individuals on those who help them. Adequate awareness among refugees and migrants is essential to prevent their abuse.
The main focus of the project was on their empowerment and advocacy for their rights, an attempt to change the local institutional climate in order to achieve inclusive local policies in which both refugees and migrants are included as an active party in the decision-making process concerning their lives. The innovative element is the inclusion of refugees as equal participants in the search for qualitative change in life and the social environment, perceiving them as individuals who can contribute to themselves and the community with their activism.
The aim was thus to help end the treatment of refugees as "objects" of aid and to work towards their gradual acceptance by stakeholders as "subjects" actively involved in their own and the community''s change. Many efforts have been made to make this happen through: raising awareness; improving the conditions and skills of refugees and migrants to exercise their rights and participate in the economic and social life of local communities, including in decision-making processes on public policies affecting them; ensuring access to local services.
The main activities that were implemented are:
- conducting informative health and legal consultations;
- development of an innovative tool "communication cards" for daily communication in emergency situations, mainly targeting unaccompanied children;
- conducting a mentoring programme to empower leaders among refugee and migrant communities;
- developing the professional capacity of local stakeholders;
- conduct crisis intervention and psychological support for the most vulnerable.
A special register was filled in with the details of the target group and the final beneficiaries. More than 3500 asylum seekers on the territory of Bulgaria were registered and turned to us for help.
The project team conducted:
- 2029 consultations on health topics with 1189 persons;
- 1062 consultations on social issues with 251 persons;
- 86 legal consultations with 156 persons; 5 court cases;
- 80 people received psychological specialized help individually or in groups.
Two phases of the Refugee and Migrant Empowerment Mentoring Programme were conducted, involving a total of 36 people. 10 community initiatives were implemented by the participants which were aimed at supporting other refugees in Harmanli. In this way 650 other people were reached and had the opportunity to receive support. Another nearly 1000 people received first aid in crisis intervention settings in five district offices of the Ministry of Interior and two Emergency Centres.
Five specialised training modules were held to support the development of the professional capacity of institutions and organisations in the region. A special communication tool for working with unaccompanied children was developed.
Regular meetings were held with the management of the Registration and Reception Centre - Harmanli and other NGOs to improve interaction and coordination.
New partnerships have also been formed during the course of the project, which is key to our work going forward. One of these partnerships is with the Voice in Bulgaria Legal Aid Centre, together with whom Mission Wings is fighting on the frontline to defend the rights of refugees and migrants.