Berkovitsa
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Berkovitsa Municipality is located in Northwestern Bulgaria in Montana Region. The municipality has 20 settlements.
The second largest ethnic group in the municipality is the Roma which represents almost 17%. They live mainly in the town of Berkovitsa and in the village of Zamfirovo.
The ROMACT Process
ROMACT Process started in October 2022 with the signature of the Letter of Agreement.
The Taskforce for Roma inclusion was created following Mayor's approval in March 2023.
The Municipality benefited from ROMACT expertise to apply for the following projects :
The expertise provided by ROMACT for municipalities involves training and guidance on preparing project proposals and implementing inclusive policies aimed at improving the living conditions and social integration of vulnerable populations, including the Roma.
* “Hot lunch at home in an emergency situation 2020” - Funded by the national Budget, Agency for social support.
Budget : 3 435€
Status : approved
Trainings provided by Romact experts :
Community Action Group:
* Participation in municipal budgeting process.
Local authorities:
* Information on procedure BG05SFPR002-2.003: “Future for the children” in Bulgaria.
Taskforce:
* Inclusive Strategy Planning.
ROMACT Small Grants Scheme :
ROMACT offers small grants scheme to support the efforts of the municipalities and Community Action Groups to respond together to the needs of the most vulnerable and to multiply the good practices across ROMACT municipalities.
* Improving the environment and life in the community while minimizing the risk to human health - Municipality of Berkovitsa
ROMACT supported the municipality with 4 472€, reaching 350 permanent residents of the Rakovica district. A manual cleaning of the "Rakovitsa" river was carried out by 20 local volunteers from the Municipal Action Group (MAP) in the area of "Krayrechna" and "Prolet" streets and the "Malina" ravine. Then, 4 "Beaver" type containers and 70 "Meva" type waste buckets were purchased to be provided to the residents to set a proper waste management system in the community.
Finally, an information meeting organized by the municipality of Berkovitsa was held to inform the public on the purpose of purchasing containers and buckets, how to preserve and store them for their long-term use and on the purpose of the waste receptacles : not to pollute the river bed of the "Rakovitsa" river and the ravine on "Malina" street.