Description
The project addresses the challenges of Roma volunteering (sporadic use by NGOs, lack of knowledge). The project aims at building the applicant’s capacity for developing volunteering among the Roma community in Montana District by training and setting up a network of Roma volunteers. First, the applicant’s team will be trained in basic methods to work with volunteers. Second, a network of 35 active volunteers will be set up. Third, the 35 volunteers will be trained in basic volunteering skills, organizational and communication skills and community work. Next, the volunteers will continue with their practice and will learn on the job. Fourth, they will go on a 2-day study visit to their counterparts in Lovech. Next, partnerships with municipalities, institutions and NGOs will be built. Finally, two regional forums on volunteering will be held. The project will benefit the Roma communities in Montana District, Roma NGOs and activists. The partner will contribute with its experience.
Summary of project results
The project Building Skills and Knowledge for the Development of Roma Volunteer Network in Montana Region was needed for two reasons: 1) the need for the Roma community to develop voluntary labour among its members; 2) prior to this project, various NGOs worked with Roma volunteers across the region on an ad-hoc basis and without the needed capacity. The community has always been willing to get involved in volunteering campaigns but has lacked information, coordination of potential and promotion of participation of community members in various campaigns. In addition, Roma-Lom Foundation needed to develop its capacity to work with volunteer networks to be able to work efficiently for the development of the Roma community in Montana Region. Training Programme for the setting up of a Volunteer Network and Mechanism for Coordination and Management of a Volunteer Network were developed under the project. In order to boost the network capacity, groups of volunteers were trained in nine populated areas to interact successfully with local authorities and solve the challenges facing the community. As a follow-up on the training, the volunteers and the project team carried out nine campaigns focused on local issues of the Roma communities in the target municipalities. The volunteers from Montana Region went on a study visit to the city of Lovech where a network of volunteers of one of the project partners, Ecomission 21st Century Association, has worked for years. Following the project implementation, a volunteer network has been developed in various towns in Montana Region which has the capacity to take part in various public initiatives. These are trained groups of volunteers who can mobilize the support of approximately 300 people for the implementation of similar initiatives. In addition, local authorities and local groups had good interaction in the organization of these campaigns which is indicative of the good conditions created for partnership interaction between local authorities and citizens. Roma-Lom Foundation had its capacity for work with volunteers and volunteer networks boosted and helped built develop interaction with its partners with a view to keeping its cooperation after the project end.
Summary of bilateral results