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Description
The objective of the PAL Voice project was to empower women and young Roma individuals by equipping them with essential skills, psychosocial support, and professional guidance, thus facilitating their social and economic integration. Through a series of targeted actions, the project aimed to reduce social inequalities, promote gender equality and enhance the employability and entrepreneurial capabilities of Roma community beneficiaries.
Summary of project results
The PAL Voice project addressed critical issues faced by women and young Roma individuals in Greece, focusing on social exclusion, limited access to employment and low levels of economic participation. The Roma community in Greece is among the most marginalized groups, experiencing disproportionately high levels of unemployment, discrimination and poverty. Women and youth within this community face compounded challenges, including restricted access to education, professional opportunities and social support networks. These barriers increase social inequality and perpetuate cycles of poverty and exclusion, leaving many Roma individuals unable to participate fully in society or the economy.
The importance of addressing these issues in Greece is twofold. First, promoting social cohesion and reducing economic disparities aligns with the European Union’s and Greece’s broader social inclusion and equality goals. Second, empowering marginalized communities, particularly Roma women and youth, is critical to breaking cycles of poverty and fostering a more inclusive society. By providing psychosocial support, professional and entrepreneurial counseling and skill-building opportunities, PAL Voice aimed to dismantle barriers to inclusion and offer beneficiaries viable paths toward economic independence and social integration.
The PAL Voice project received financing through the EEA Grants due to its direct alignment with their overarching objectives: (i) reducing social and economic disparities and (ii) strengthening bilateral cooperation between donor and beneficiary countries. Through targeted actions, the project addressed the root causes of economic and social exclusion within Roma communities, contributing to narrowing the socio-economic gap and supporting Greece’s national objectives to integrate minority groups into the workforce and promote gender equality.
The project implemented a structured programme that included psychosocial support, professional and entrepreneurial counseling and skill development. Psychosocial counseling sessions addressed mental health challenges, self-esteem issues and personal and family barriers to social participation. Professional counseling equipped participants with essential job-search skills, such as CV writing, interview techniques and knowledge of workplace rights. Entrepreneurial support provided guidance on establishing sustainable businesses, accessing financial resources and overcoming market entry barriers. These targeted actions not only improved the socio-economic status of participants but also generated long-term impacts, enabling beneficiaries to actively contribute to their local economies, reduce dependency on welfare systems and enhance community resilience.
The project’s alignment with the EEA Grants’ objective of strengthening bilateral cooperation was evident through the financial support provided by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. These donor countries enabled the design and implementation of impactful initiatives focused on social inclusion and economic empowerment. While the financial support from donor countries was critical, Greek partners led the project’s execution, ensuring that activities were tailored to the specific needs of Roma communities in Greece.
This cooperative model enhanced the PAL Voice project’s relevance and sustainability, fostering an exchange of knowledge and strategies on social inclusion. Though the project’s implementation was localized, the financial partnership with donor countries demonstrated a shared commitment to reducing inequalities and promoting social cohesion. Furthermore, the collaboration strengthened Greece’s ties with donor countries, laying a foundation for future partnerships aimed at addressing similar socio-economic challenges in the region.
One of the primary challenges was engaging Roma women and youth, many of whom exhibited a deep mistrust of formal institutions due to longstanding experiences of social marginalization and discrimination. This mistrust complicated initial outreach efforts, as potential beneficiaries were often hesitant to participate, expressing skepticism about the project’s benefits or fearing unequal treatment. This issue underscored the importance of sustained community engagement and trust-building activities throughout the implementation process to ensure effective participation.
Educational barriers and skill gaps within the Roma community also posed significant challenges. Many participants had limited formal education, which hindered their ability to fully engage with the professional and entrepreneurial sessions. Monitoring data revealed that additional foundational support was often required to bridge these gaps and enable participants to comprehend and apply the more advanced training components in employability and business development.
Adequate challenges arose primarily from the reluctance of some beneficiaries to participate in psychosocial counseling. This hesitation often stemmed from deeply rooted stigma around mental health support and a lack of understanding about the benefits of such counseling. Addressing this required extensive awareness-raising efforts and continuous engagement to build trust and demonstrate the value of the services provided. In some cases, participants needed additional reassurance and encouragement from trusted community members to overcome their reservations.
Another significant issue was ensuring consistent participation across regions with diverse needs and capacities. While urban areas had more readily available infrastructure to support project activities, rural areas like Eastern Macedonia-Thrace faced specific challenges, such as limited accessibility to services and difficulties coordinating outreach efforts. These disparities required the project to adopt tailored approaches, including the counselor going to the settlements and flexible scheduling, to accommodate the varying needs of participants and ensure equitable access to all aspects of the program.
By addressing these challenges, the PAL Voice project generated valuable lessons for the design and implementation of future initiatives, reinforcing the need for adaptability, community-focused strategies, and strong local partnerships.
- Provision of personalized psychosocial counseling to address mental health challenges, improve self-esteem and strengthen participants’ interpersonal skills.
- Delivery of professional training sessions on job searching, CV writing, interview techniques and workplace rights to enhance employability.
- Offer of entrepreneurial counseling to assist beneficiaries in developing sustainable business plans, accessing funding opportunities and navigating market challenges.
- Supporting the development of comprehensive business plans tailored to the needs and goals of participants, ensuring a solid foundation for economic independence and business success.
By focusing on these core areas, PAL Voice not only improved the immediate socio-economic conditions of its beneficiaries but also laid the foundation for long-term resilience and self-reliance, contributing to broader national and EU objectives for social inclusion and equality.
The PAL Voice project implemented key activities aimed at empowering Roma women and youth by addressing their social and economic challenges. These activities were strategically designed to provide psychosocial support, professional counseling, and entrepreneurial guidance to enhance participants'' employability and foster economic independence.
- Psychosocial counseling
Psychosocial counseling was delivered from September 2023 to April 2024, focusing on addressing mental health challenges, improving self-esteem and enhancing interpersonal skills among beneficiaries. Sessions were conducted across the regions of Attica, Central Macedonia and Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, helping participants build resilience and navigate societal barriers. This activity was implemented by trained counselors under the coordination of SEGE and local municipal partners. In total, 507 hours of psychosocial counseling were provided.
- Professional and entrepreneurial counseling
Professional and entrepreneurial counseling was also a core component of the project, running from September 2023 to April 2024. Professional training sessions focused on improving job-readiness by offering practical skills in job searching, CV writing and interview preparation. They also covered workplace rights and obligations to ensure participants were well-prepared for integration into the labor market. Entrepreneurial counseling supported participants in developing skills to create tailored business plans, access funding opportunities and gain knowledge in market research, financial planning and business operations. These activities empowered participants to establish or expand small enterprises, fostering self-reliance and economic independence. SEGE coordinated these efforts with the support of local municipal partners. In total, 2,904 hours of professional and entrepreneurial counseling were delivered.
- Business plans
A significant focus of the project was the development of comprehensive business plans tailored to the specific needs of participants. These business plans served as practical roadmaps for establishing or expanding small enterprises, offering a clear pathway to economic independence. Many plans were utilized as tools to secure funding or attract investors, demonstrating the tangible results of the project’s entrepreneurial guidance. In total 14 business plans were prepared
These main activities were complemented by monitoring and evaluation efforts throughout the project’s duration to ensure objectives were met and outcomes effectively measured. The project concluded in April 2024 with a final event where results and best practices were shared with stakeholders, marking the successful completion of the initiative.
The PAL Voice project achieved specific, measurable outputs that contributed significantly to the empowerment of Roma women and youth across Greece. A total of 507 hours of psychosocial counseling sessions were conducted across the regions of Attica, Central Macedonia, and Eastern Macedonia-Thrace. These sessions addressed mental health challenges, improved self-esteem and strengthened interpersonal skills, providing participants with tools to overcome societal and personal barriers.
The project also delivered 2.904 hours of professional and entrepreneurial counseling, equipping beneficiaries with job-searching skills, resume writing techniques and interview preparation. This included specific sessions focused on labor laws and employee rights, ensuring participants were well-prepared to enter the workforce. In the entrepreneurial domain, participants received tailored guidance in developing 14 comprehensive business plans. These plans served as actionable roadmaps for starting small enterprises, enabling participants to pursue economic independence.
Through targeted engagement efforts, the project successfully reached 363 Roma women and youth, fostering their participation in the project’s activities. To support these efforts, SEGE and local municipalities established strong coordination frameworks that ensured effective delivery of services across all regions involved.
The project''s activities were disseminated during local events attended by over 100 stakeholders, including municipal authorities, NGOs and community members. These events highlighted the project’s aims and objectives and provided a platform for discussion and exchange. The outputs of the PAL Voice project have directly contributed to reducing social and economic disparities, improving employability and fostering entrepreneurial capacity among Roma women and youth, while promoting long-term integration into Greek society.
The PAL Voice project achieved significant outcome-level results, delivering a broader impact on the social and economic integration of Roma women and youth in Greece. Participants experienced improved access to tailored psychosocial, professional and entrepreneurial services, which directly addressed the systemic barriers they faced. The project enhanced employability among beneficiaries, equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to actively participate in the labor market. This led to increased job readiness and strengthened economic independence within the Roma community.
The project also fostered greater awareness of legal rights, workplace obligations and opportunities for professional and entrepreneurial growth among Roma women and youth. This increased awareness has contributed to breaking cycles of exclusion and marginalization, enabling participants to advocate for themselves and their communities.
Additionally, PAL Voice facilitated stronger connections between Roma communities and local support networks, including municipal authorities and NGOs. These relationships have enhanced the delivery of social services and created a framework for continued support beyond the project’s duration. Stakeholder feedback highlights improved collaboration and trust between Roma beneficiaries and local institutions, fostering a more inclusive approach to addressing community challenges.
By promoting social inclusion and gender equality, the project encouraged Roma women and youth to take active roles in their communities, confronting discrimination and contributing to societal cohesion. These efforts align with Greece’s national and EU objectives for reducing inequalities and empowering marginalized groups. The broader outcomes of PAL Voice demonstrate its effectiveness in creating pathways for long-term resilience, self-reliance, and integration for Roma women and youth within Greek society.