More information
Description
“Looking forward” project set the task to support actively the society and the Roma community in particular, in the struggle of recognizing the truth in the sea of information sources. It will also counteract aggressive disinformation campaigns and corruption in journalism and will encourage development of critical thinking.
In order to respond to challenges we will implement the following activities: capacity development of the team and volunteers of Social Foundation “Indi-Roma97” for identification and counteraction to disinformation, related mainly to war in Ukraine and Covid pandemic focusing on Roma community as well as effective communication and improved work with target groups, including innovative approaches. Another important point is “Indi-Roma97” strategic development activity as a ground of leader capacity improvement and expansion of partner networks. Additionally, the publicity activity will improve access to an extended audience for distribution of materials and brochures on fighting disinformation and it will promote the support from Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria.
The project will cover three rural municipalities in Plovdiv district and it will target mainly the Roma community, which is the most vulnerable group in relation to media manipulations and fake news.
Partner’s expertise will increase the outreach and sustainability of Indi-Roma97’s activities and daily work with the civil sector and particularly with the Roma community.
Summary of project results
"Civil Organization Capacity Building" was chosen as the Specific Objective of the project. Namely, to increase the capacity of the organization by conducting training for its team to carry out advocacy, monitoring and practical application of the acquired knowledge at the local and national level, the application of innovative methods, a successful campaign to recruit experts and volunteers.
Within the ten-month period, all planned activities were carried out and the results of which were:
- Enhanced capacity of the organization by increasing the number of the organization''s program team; the possibilities of generating new ideas; the team''s empathy and ability to respond to public attitudes; the influence of the organization among the local community has increased, the motivation of the team for cooperation and implementation of policies, for professional development and development of programs has been strengthened.
- Among the long-term guarantees for sustainability are the concrete results achieved, such as the realized Strategic Planning - Analysis - Monitoring - Exchange of knowledge and experience - Increased capacity of the board, etc.
- The acquired new skills and increased capacity of the team to support the realization of the Roma are also a sustainable factor supporting the future activity of the organization and its development. We also managed to attract the attention and support the local public and in particular the Roma, as a particularly vulnerable group, in the struggle for recognition of truth in the sea of information sources, countering aggressive disinformation campaigns and paid journalism, and building critical thinking and asserting one''s own opinion.
- The team of our NGO further developed the available expertise, and the intensive contact with more than 200 representatives of the target groups led to the expansion of the base of collaborators and sympathizers in several locations of the municipalities of Rodopi, Kuklen and Perushtitsa. The successful partnership with Media with a Human Face (Plovdiv) and the built trust are a guarantee for joint coordinated actions in the future as well.