Krivodol
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Krivodol Municipality is located in Vratsa Province, in north-west Bulgaria.
It includes 15 settlements – Baurene, Botunya, Galatin, Glavatsi, Golemo babino, Gradeshnitsa, Dobrusha, Kravoder, Krivodol, Lesura, Osen, Pudriya, Rakevo, Urovene, Furen and Krivodol, its administrative centre.
The Roma population consists 13% of the entire population in the municipality, according to the official data. Roma are living in two neighbourhoods of the town of Krivodol, namely Cement Mahala and IV District. There are also Roma living in the surrounding villages: Pudria, Kradover, Glavatsi, Gradeshnitsa, Baurene, Rakevo, Lesura, Galatin.
Some of the main issues they are faced with are:
• Illegal houses;
• High emigration;
• High unemployment;
• Representatives of their community lack a proper educationa/qualification;
• The majority of the Roma are uninsured;
• Early marriages;
• Overcrowded housing.
The ROMACT Process
ROMACT process started in November 2018 with the signature of the Letter of Agreement.
The Taskforce for Roma inclusion was created following Mayor's approval in February 2020.
The Municipality benefited of ROMACT expertise for the following projects :
* "Together we can do more" - OPHRD&OPSESG.
Budget : 435 685 €
Status : approved
* "Municipalities of Krivodol and Borovan - partner to care for a better life" - OPHRD.
Budget: 98 943€
Status : approved
Trainings provided by ROMACT experts :
Community Action Groups (CAG):
* Harmonizing activizm with professionalism;
* Legal frame for addressing discrimination;
* Participating in the local budget process;
* Raising professional skills of Roma mediators;
* Understand and Participate in CLLD strategies;
* Role and meaning of NGOs for active civil society. Work for public benefit;
* Increasing the capacity of CAG in terms of: "Teamwork, coordination and communication skills between CAG and LA".
Local Authorities (LA):
* Legal frame for addressing discrimination;
* Effective communication and transparency;
* Understanding ROMACT process. Necessity to address marginalisation;
* Establishing a municipal Taskforce on Roma social inclusion; Introduction to municipal procedures;
* Role and tasks of a project coordinator;
* Nature, functions and tasks of the Taskforce on Roma social inclusion. Order, Rules of Procedure;
* Approaches for working with and within Roma community;
* Clarify the project coordinator's choices, role and tasks;
* Development of a Plan for integrated develoment of municipality - PIRO;
* Monitoring of the Municipal Action Plan for Roma Integration.
LA and CAG :
* Development and implementation of partnerships for prevention and intervention of drugs use in Roma communities;
* Increasing the sensitivity to hate speech and prejudice against the Roma in the planning and implementation of inclusive policies;
* Legal frame for addressing discrimination.
Taskforce :
* National programs 2021 - 2027 funded by the EU structural and cohesion funds in support of municipal policies for social inclusion;
* Partnership management for planning and implementation of municipal policies for social inclusion
The following measures to solve problems in Roma community were taken :
* Recruitment of 2 Roma educational mediators;
* Recruitment of 5 community mediators;
* Replacement of the water supply network of Yuri Gagarin Street in the Roma quarter of Galatin village.
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 projects were supported by ROMACT during May 2020 – December 2020:
Let it be light! – Municipality of Krivodol
ROMACT supported the municipality with 4954€ to install streetlights in the Roma neighborhoods (Baurene, Galatin, Glavatsi, Golemo Babino, Gradeshnitsa, Kravoder, Lesura, Pudria, Rakevo and Krivodol). The project improved the living conditions of the neighbourhoods where approximately 1500 Roma families live in dire conditions. Lightened streets provided safety for children coming home from second-shift school classes during winter. It also reduced the number of petty crimes in the neighbourhood.
Initiative to counter COVID19 pandemic – Municipality of Krivodol
ROMACT supported the municipality with 2457 € reaching 58 Roma families. The project covered information campaign on COVID19 and provided masks, disinfectant products, informative flyers to raise awareness in the community. Food and baby care supplies were also provided for families with dire financial situation.
Hand in hand! – St.Cyril and Methodius Secondary School in Krivodol
ROMACT support the school with 3624€, reaching 195 students with the project “Hand in hand – Transforming the school into a supportive, receptive, safe and desirable environment”. The project increased the pupils’ school attendance with higher level of self-esteem in a proper sanitary environment through the procurement of school supplies and hygiene products for each pupil. Pupils and their families received counselling sessions on integrated measures against the pandemic and the importance of education in order to reduce school dropouts during the pandemic.