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Description
The population of Dupnitsa Municipality is about 46,000 inhabitants. 5675 of them are young people aged 18 to 29 years. Roma youth continues to be the poorest, most uneducated and most isolated part of public, social and economic life. The project aims at encouraging civic activism of representatives of the local Roma communities in Dupnitsa and the villages of Dzherman and Kraynitsi by building advocacy and civic participation competences of Roma youth (60 people aged 18-29) trough participation in a tailor-made training program. The participants in the program are expected to carry out for advocacy campaigns in benefit of their communities and present the results at a national round-table discussion. The project partner will be involved in the preparation of the needs analysis report based on an opinion survey among people in the local Roma communities and representatives of the local administration and will be involved in the development of the advocacy training program.
Summary of project results
The project aimed at empowering young people from the Roma community in the town of Dupnitsa and to encourage their participation in economic and social life, including decision-making on matters of public policies. The community’s current and continuing isolation, as well as their limited access to basic resources due to discrimination and prejudice, have led to curtailed rights, diminished quality of life, and inequality.
The project was realized by the Amala-Friends Association and its partner ECIP Foundation, and with the active participation of the Roma community. The initiative was joined by local institutions, media, and municipal authorities.
The project began with initial assessment of the motivation and to identity potential participants, as well as to gather information about the aspects of Roma life in need of additional protection and support, from both their perspective and that of the local institutions.
60 young Roma underwent training in “Key Competency 6, Social and Civic Competencies – Advocacy, Empowerment, and Social Inclusion”.
As a result, the participants acquired knowledge and skills in conducting advocacy campaigns and initiatives. They became familiar with the ways to take part in decision-making and implementation of policies at the local level. Within the training, the participants independently developed concepts for carrying out four local advocacy campaigns.
- The project identified problems that hinder the social integration of the Roma community, young people in particular, in Dupnitsa municipality.
- The project invested in activating the local human resources, supporting life-long education, developing social and civic competencies, personal and institutional responsibility, and empowerment.
- The “Advocacy Handbook” distributed.
The project created effective communication channels among the Roma community, the institutions, NGOs, and local authorities. We expect the commitments made by Dupnitsa Municipality to be implemented.