*Disclaimer: The information and views set out in this page do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Council of Europe and/or the European Commission. Neither the Council of Europe, the European Commission nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Isperih municipality is located in northeastern part of Bulgaria, part of Razgrad region. The municipality consists of 24 settlements, the administrative center being Isperih. Isperih municipality is the second largest municipality in Razgrad region, with a population of 21.952 inhabitants (census 2011). The Roma population is about 9 %, from which 30% lives in the municipal center and the other 70% in the villages.
The Roma community in Isperih municipality is mostly from Horahane group (Muslim or Turkish speaking). They live in two neighborhoods:
In the villages, Roma live in separate slums, with poor or missing road infrastructure, without sewage system. Roma from Isperih municipality work in many different areas such as trade, construction, crafts, collecting waste materials, work abroad etc.
According to the CAG, the main issues faced by Roma are:
Isperich municipality joined the ROMACT program in October 2015 with the signature of the letter of agreement. In February 2015, Isperih municipality adopted the Municipal Action Plan for Roma Integration 2015-2020, which was updated in December 2016.
The long-term priorities identified by the Community Action Group are:
Identified problems |
---|
Improvement of road infrastructure |
Improving the quality of education in Roma communities |
Full participation of children in kindergartens |
Overcoming functional illiteracy |
Increasing the number of Roma students in university |
Overcoming the problem of early marriages and births |
Establishment of a community center in Isperih |
Legalization of illegal buildings |
Several trainings were provided:
Trainings/expertise provided for the local administration:
- Capacity building of local authority on EU operational programs: Review of the JAP and linking the priorities to announced calls for proposals; preparation of project ideas to address the agreed issues
- Develop local authority understanding on elaboration concept for an integrated project proposal
- Consultation on the elaboration of a project concept towards inclusion of vulnerable groups under an integrated procedure of OPHRD and OPSEIG
- Assisting the LA to review Municipal Development Plan and expert support to identify ways to integrate MAPRI’s priorities in it
Expert consultation of project elaboration for addressing unemployment among Roma through social enterprise
Activities involving the community action group:
- Training session for CAG on local self-government;
- Coaching to participate in a Local Council meeting;
- Training session with CAG members on communication/ negotiation with the LA and institutions.
- Training session on capacity building for addressing drug use in the Roma neighbourhoods
The following measures to solve problems in Roma community were taken:
The Municipality benefited of ROMACT expertise for the following projects:
"Socio-economic and educational integration of ethnic minorities in the municipality of Isperih"- OPHRD- OPSESG
Beneficiaries: 880
Budget: 454 047 euros
Status: Approved
"Accessible Kindergarten for all children in the municipality of Isperih", Roma Education Fund
Beneficiaries: 650
Budget: 100 000 euros
Status: Rejected
"Educational integration of students from ethnic minority groups at municipality of Isperih"- OPSESG
Beneficiaries: 650
Budget: 170 000 euros
Status: Approved
Preparatory activities under submeasure 19.1 "Community - led local development", RDP
Budget: 2 653 175 euros
Status: Approved
Building and equipment of Roma Community Center in Vazovo village - RDP
Beneficiaries: 500
Budget: 49 696 euros
Status: Approved
"Establishment of a social enterprise for maintenance of public infrastructure in Isperih municipality"- OPHRD
Beneficiaries: 40
Budget: 200 000 euros
Status: Procedure cancelled
Patronage care in Isperih for the improvement of life quality- OPHRD
Beneficiaries: 60 people with disabilities and lonely elderly people
Budget: 89 928 euros
Status: Approved
Socio-economic integration of marginalized communities in Isperih municipality- №: BG05M9OP001-2.033-0001- LDS- OPHRD
Beneficiaries: 80 sick and elderly persons at risk of exclusion
Budget: 102 536 euros
Status: Approved
Empowering Women from Vulnerable Communities by Extending the Network of Mother Centers in Isperih Municipality, №: BG05M9OP001-2.033-0002- ESF
Beneficiaries: 100 Roma women from 4 different settlements
Budget: 102 463 euros
Status: Approved
Vocational School of Agriculture, "My culture in sound and picture", Centre for Educational Integration of Children and Students from Ethnic Minorities (COIDUEM)
Budget: 5 097 euros
Status: Approved
The CAG benefited of ROMACT expertise for the following projects:
Let's lend a hand- IRIS Fund
Status- Rejected
Covid-19 and misinformation, The Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, German Marshall Fund
Budget: 14 500 euros
Status: Approved
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.
Under the scheme of small grants, the following project was supported by ROMACT in Isperich during April - July 2020:
Initiative to counter COVID19 pandemic – Municipality of Isperih
ROMACT supported the municipality with 2040 € reaching 90 families within Roma community. The project covered information campaign on COVID19 and provided masks, disinfectant products, informative flyers to raise awareness in the community. Food supplies were also provided for families with dire financial situation.