Kaspichan
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Kaspichan Municipality is located central northeastern Bulgaria, part of Shumen Province.
It administers 9 places: Kaspichan, Kaspichan (village), Kosovo, Kyulevcha, Markovo, Mogila, Pliska, Varbyane, Zlatna Niva.
Roma are located in seven neighbourhoods in Kaspichan municipality: Kaspichan; Kaspichan (village), Kosovo, Markovo, Pliska, Varbyane and Zlatna Niva.
Roma are from different sub-groups: some of them have Romani, Turkish of Romanian as mother tongue, using Bulgarian as a second language.
The municipality is actively trying to develop project proposals under the Operational Programmes. In recent years there has been active migration to major cities in the country and abroad.
Some of the main problems Roma are faced with:
• A huge number of the population emigrates to Western Europe;
• High unemployment rate;
• A huge number of people do not have health insurance;
• Early marriages.
The ROMACT Process
ROMACT started in March 2020 with the signature of the Letter of agreement.
The Taskforce for Roma inclusion was created following Mayor's approval in September 2020.
In March 2021, the Municipality Inclusion Development Plan was adopted and included 50% of the community proposals.
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 between May – August 2020:
Initiative to counter COVID19 pandemic – Municipality of Kaspichan
ROMACT supported the municipality with 2545 € and reached 237 vulnerable citizens during the first peak of pandemic. The project covered information campaign on COVID19 and provided masks, disinfectant products, informative flyers to raise awareness. Food supplies were also provided for families with dire financial situation.