Description
The project addresses the challenges faced by the Roma (exclusion from the labour market, high-risk behaviour). The project aims at helping the Roma overcome the issues via an innovative model for integrated development of young Roma. First, an information campaign will be held in the Roma neighbourhoods of Sofia and Kyustendil, selecting 72 young Roma as participants. Second, the 72 Roma will have 16 3-hour modules on better education and employment, family planning and high-risk behavior prevention. Third, 30 employees of the applicant will boost their capacity to work with young Roma. Fourth, professional orientation will be provided to the Roma and potential employers will be identified and contacted. In addition, 2 one-day entrepreneurship trainings will be organized. Finally, a round table to expand the available social services will be held. The project will benefit the Roma community, the business, the academia, decision-makers and the public in general.
Summary of project results
The project addressed some of the challenges faced by the Roma, namely exclusion from the labour market and high-risk behaviour from three Roma neighbourhoods (Fakulteta and Philipovtsi in Sofia City and Iztok in the city of Kyustendil). As a result of the project activities, services were successfully provided to the Roma community that address the need of building social and life skills among adolescents and are consistent with the specific needs of the target group. The young people who attend school and those who dropped out of the education system improved their social skills and developed key competences to enter the labour market and deal with entrepreneurship. In addition, owing to their work with the social labour mediator in the neighbourhood, the young people managed to set themselves specific goals related to their future occupation and outline clear steps to achieve them. The skills acquired for job seeking and finding and goal-setting helped the young people involved in the project to start a permanent or seasonal job. 70 young people and 90 parents passed training in social skills and key competences. 72 young people were covered by the Career Orientation Programme. 50 young people were trained in entrepreneurship. A network of potential employers, entrepreneurs – consultants and vocational education providers was set up. Health and Social Development Foundation will continue to provide these services and other appropriate ones as well as expand the networks after the project end. The main project beneficiaries were young people and their parents from three Roma neighbourhoods – Fakulteta and Philipovtsi in Sofia City and Iztok in the city of Kyustendil. The young people and their parents were actively involved in all stages of individual planning and project implementation. The representatives of the Roma community from the relevant neighbourhoods were involved with many of the activities as members of the project team. For more information about the project, please, visit:
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Summary of bilateral results