THE EMPOWERMENT AND INTEGRATION OF ROMA IN SERBIA AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

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Country/partner countries
Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Project lead partner/organization and contact person (e-mail, links) project website
CARE Serbia
Website: www.care.rs
Email: office@care.rs

Contact person: Rozalija Ilić
Email:rozalija.kg@gmail.com

Project information – start and end date (if available)
20 October 2009 – 28 February 2014

Summary (goals and purposes of the project)
The aim of the project was to enhance the presence in the labor market and increase self-employment of Roma.
The activities aimed at employment focused on different aspects of education each year as the regulations on starting and managing a business kept changing as well as the regulations on each business activity; hence, manuals were developed for each year containing information on the type of business the applicants wanted to start up.

Results of the project
• Formal education
Through lobbying and motivation activities the project provided conditions for Roma who dropped out of school to continue their elementary education and enroll in vocational training activities/high school programs, as well to participate in qualification courses of the National Employment Services. This way, the project increased the possibilities of the Roma women and men to accomplish the employment criteria and consequently increase the possibilities for their employment.

• (Self-)employment
We have provided start-up grants and business development grants, both in Tuzla Canton and Sumadija Region. The Roma beneficiaries have been trained in business development. We have closely monitored the progress of newly established businesses, provided the expertise support and made sure that many of them remain active.


• Providing data
We conducted a research survey among 500 Roma in the Tuzla Canton in order to improve the availability of data on the situation of the Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These data have been used now by the state institutions and relevant CSOs.


• Life skills
Having in mind the need for stronger support of individuals involved in the project, we have organized life skills trainings for Roma women and man on various topics such as human trafficking, reproductive health, activism in community, family planning, job fairs, monthly financial planning, etc.

Who will benefit from this project (target group)
Roma people

Sources of funding
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway with the support from CARE Norway

Link
http://care-balkan.org/roma/