Borovan
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Located in Vratsa Province, northwestern Bulgaria, Borovan has a total population of approximately 6.000 inhabitants, out of which 7% are of Roma ethnicity. Unofficially, sources at the municipality level estimate that in reality the Roma community consists of more than 40% of the total population. Borovan municipality includes 5 settlements – Borovan, Dobrolevo, Nivyanin, Sirakovo and Malorad, the village of Borovan being the administrative center of the municipality.
The Roma population numbers around 3.000 people and live in separate neighborhoods concentrated in 3 settlements - Borovan, Dobrolevo and Malorad.
In Dobrolevo are living around 300 – 400 Roma people. There are two Roma settlements/slums. About 70% from the Roma population in the village is unemployed. Many Roma who have high school education are also unemployed. In Malorad are living about 1.000 Roma; about 600 of them live in a Roma neighborhood, the rest dispersed in the village. Around 90% of the Roma people are unemployed. In Borovan are living around 300 Roma people who are based in one Roma slum. Among the reasons for the unemployment is the low education as well as that some lost motivation and work habits due to long-term unemployment.
Some of the main issues they face are:
- Extremely high unemployment rates - over 90%
- - A great percentage are without health insurance – around 50 %
- - A huge portion of people have a low level of education
- - Lack of infrastructure, especially lack of street lights, lack of sanitation and running water
- - Many Roma people are living in poverty and below the threshold of subsistence
- - Some petty crime can be observed in the villages as a result of the poverty
The ROMACT Process
Borovan municipality joined the ROMACT program in September 2016 with the signature of the letter of commitment. A Taskforce for Roma Inclusion was created in November 2016. On the 21 July 2017, the Municipal Council adopted the updated Municipal Action Plan for Roma Integration 2017-2020.
The Community Action Group (CAG) identified some of the short/medium/long-term problems and proposed the following solutions:
- To reduce the kindergarten taxes
- To ensure bus for the children to go to kindergarten and school
- To clean the dumps
- To fix the street lights
- To ensure employment
- To open social shop with food on reduced/preferential prices
- To employ some night guards in the villages
The Municipality benefited of ROMACT expertise for the drafting of several projects :
* "Concept of municipality Borovan for social inclusion of vulnerable groups" OPHRD& OPSESG and the project itself: “I, you, she and he, together for the social integration in the municipality of Borovan”.
Budget : 450 423€
Status : approved
* "Together we can do more - for quality education in kindergartens in Borovan municipality"- Funded by COIDUEM (Ministry of Education).
Budget : 19 095€
Status : approved
* "Active involvement of inactive people to provide integrated care"- Funded by OPHRD.
Statys : rejected
* "Reconstruction and repair of the dam wall and facilities of the Garvanski Geran" and "Reconstruction and repair of the dam wall and facilities of the Ezerska padina" - Funded by OP environment.
Status : rejected
* "Helping with hot lunch in BOROVAN Municipality” - Funded by the National budget, Agency for social suppor.
Budget : 8 343€
Status : approved
* Establishment of a STEM center for natural sciences, research and innovation - Funded by the Ministry of Education, National Program.
Budget : 123 000€
Status : rejected
* Establishment of a STEM center for Technologies in Creative Industries in 'Neofit Rilski' school - Funded by the Ministry of Education, National Program.
Status : rejected
Trainings provided by ROMACT experts :
Community Action Groups (CAG):
* Advocacy, participation and understanding of local governance;
* NGO management and organisational development;
* Project planning and management;
* Legal frame for addressing discrimination;
* Grant procedure for financial assistance through the selection of project proposals BG05M2OP001-3.019 "SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS FOR ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION”;
* Addressing drug delivery and use in the Roma neighbourhoods;
* ROMACT approach for local facilitators.
Local authorities (LA):
* Working with and in the Roma community;
* Principles of non-formal education - understanding of Human rights and Human rights education;
* Funding opportunities of announced procedures under OPHRD;
* Good practice on Roma integration policy;
* For the staff of kindergartens: "Identity and culture"
* Intercultural approach in education and work with Roma parents;
* Monitoring & Evaluation of the Municipal Action Plan for Roma Inclusion;
* Participation in a public consultation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan of Bulgaria;
* Social and Emotional Development and Language Culture through Lego Education.
LA and CAG:
* Presentation of Erasmus+ Program - KA1 Learning Mobility for Individuals; KA2 Cooperation between Organizations and Institution;
* Information on procedure BG05SFPR002-2.003: “Future for the children” in Bulgaria.
Taskforce:
* Reinforcing the local partnerships for more effective practical implementation of children's rights and the protection of children at risk;
* Partnership management for planning and implementation of municipal policies for social inclusion.
The following measures to solve problems in Roma community were taken :
* School bus for the winter period for children and students
* Bus sheds for 5 bus stops in Dobrolevo and Sirakovo villages
* Warm lunch for pupils
* Campaign against drop-out
* Educational project for two municipal kindergartens
* Appointment of a medical nurse for the kindergarten and school
* Appointment of 1 health mediator
* Appointment of 4 Roma police mediators in Byala Slatina police station
* Employment of 55 Roma for public work
* Renovation of the street from the Roma settlement from Dobrolevo village
* Repair of a 4 streets network of Borovan municipality
* Employment of 35 young Roma
* Finalization and furnishing of the Roma Cultural – Information Centre in Malorad village
* Activities for the International Roma Day
* Acknowledgment of 8th of April as a municipal event
* Prophylactic examinations for tuberculosis
* Medical examination for people without health insurance in Borovan Village Clinic
* Cleaning of Borovan Graveyard