Ruzhintsi
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Ruzhintsi Municipality is located in Northwestern Bulgaria and is part of the administrative district of Vidin. It includes 10 settlements. The town of Ruzhintsi is the administrative center of the municipality.
Roma population lives in segragated neighborhoods in Ruzhintsi, Cherno Pole, Byalo Pole and Drenovets.
In recent years there has been massive migration to major cities in the country and abroad, increasing unemployment rate, and fewer children in schools. Ruzhintsi is located in a region that is the fastest depopulating in Europe.
The ROMACT Process
ROMACT Process started in April 2021 with the signature of the Letter of Agreement.
The Taskforce for Roma inclusion was created in November 2021.
The Municipal Action Plan for Roma inclusion was adopted by the Local Council in July 2022.
Trainings
ROMACT experts provided the following training and coaching sessions since the start of implementing the programme:
For the local authorities:
*Partnership management for the implementation of municipal policies for social inclusion
* Consultation on the Analysis of the needs for social services at the municipal and regional level
For educational mediators, schools and municipal employees:
*Intercultural training for better inclusion
For Community Action Groups (CAGs):
* Understand and Participate in CLLD strategies
* ROMACT approach for local facilitators
The Municipality benefited from ROMACT expertise to apply for the following projects:
* "Future for Children and Families in Ruzhintsi Municipality" - Funded by The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) - Budget 149 250,00 € - Status: Under evaluation
* Interventions on existing school buildings for "Nikola Y. Vaptsarov" Secondary School, Drenovets village - Funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan within BG-RRP-1.007 - "Modernization of educational environment" - Budget 1 190 986 € - Status: Under evaluation
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.
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 Feb - April 2023:
Reconstruction of buildings/facilities - SU” Nikola Yonkov Vaptsarov school in Ruzhintsi
ROMACT supported the school with 5000 euros to fund the reconstruction of building and facilities dedicated to education and culture. The project aimed at improving the social infrastructure of facilities and promote the well-being and development of pupils through targeted renovations and upgrades.