Introduction of integrated measures in support of vulnerable groups in the municipalities of Smyadovo, Vetrino and Bolyarovo

About this project

<p>The main goal of the project proposal is improving the inclusion and empowerment of Roma by introducing effective mechanisms for sustainable provision of effective integrated measures, leading to improved social inclusion of target vulnerable communities in the municipalities of Smyadovo, Vetrino and Bolyarovo.&nbsp;The project includes the provision of a complex of integrated services by multidisciplinary teams in the municipalities in order to improve the situation and increase opportunities for social inclusion and development of the Roma communities by learning new social, health, life and management skills. It is planned to provide a number of specialized services aimed at empowerment; personal development and training; career counseling and realization on the labor market; social rehabilitation and integration; provision of integrated health and social services; psychological support, legal assistance and counseling, etc. Conducting motivational, professional and specialized trainings and providing subsidized employment to people, representatives of the Roma community / target groups in the municipalities. Organizing and conducting surveys in order to establish the level of acceptance of the Roma by the general population in the municipalities of Smyadovo, Vetrino and Bolyarovo. The project envisages expanding the capacity of local institutions providing various primary services in the three municipalities, in order to effectively coordinate and work together to manage individual cases, launch of a procedure for development and approval of the regulation under the Spatial Planning Act in the places with concentrated Roma population, creation of a Strategy for the development of services for a 5-year period after the completion of the project, activities for communication and awareness, empowerment and development of the community, organizing information campaigns to overcome discrimination and negative attitudes against the Roma population.</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The activity was entirely aimed at and contributed to sharing successful experience and good practices in the processes of implementing effective integrated measures in the field of education, healthcare, social activities, and access to the labor market. As a result of the bilateral activity, the following documents were developed: Handbook for conducting effective information campaigns; Handbook for innovative approaches in creating complexes of integrated services for inclusion of minorities through training and social inclusion /based on experience from Norway/; Handbook of good practice from Norway for the provision of integrated services to minorities. The following trainings were organized for the multidisciplinary teams from the three municipalities, as follows: Training for effective work with the target groups, based on the Norwegian experience with 20 participants from Smyadovo, Vetrino and Bolyarovo municipalities; Two-day online training for higher acceptance of Roma by the general population, based on the Norwegian experience; A working visit of nine participants from the three municipalities from Bulgaria to Norway was carried out in order to exchange experience and good practices regarding the services provided. All these increased the knowledge of innovative approaches in creating complexes for integrated services to better understand the needs of the communities, increase the understanding by majority population and provide better opportunities for the target groups.

Project partners

• Norwegian Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce Donor project partner· Norway
• Municipality of Vetrino Project partner· Bulgaria
• Municipality of Bolyarovo Project partner· Bulgaria
• Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance Amalipe Project partner· Bulgaria
• ASSOCIATION "HEALTH, CULTURE, SELF-ESTEEM, INTEGRATED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT" Project partner· Bulgaria