Yablanitsa
*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.
Yablanitsa Municipality is located in Northern Bulgaria, in Lovech Province. Yablanitsa is the administrative center of Yablanitsa municipality which comprises of 9 localities: Batultsi, Brestnitsa, Dabravata, Dobrevtsi, Golyama Brestnitsa, Malak Izvor, Oreshene, Yablanitsa, and Zlatna Panega.
Roma population lives mainly in Yablanitsa, Oreshene and Brestnitsa villages.
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.
The Municipal Action Plan for Roma Inclusion was adopted by the Local Council shortly after the end of ROMACT support, in January 2022.
In March 2021, the Municipality Inclusion Development Plan was adopted and included all the community proposals.
As of June 2022, ROMACT process is reinforced in Yablanitsa and a new agreement was signed by the Mayor.
The Municipality benefited of ROMACT expertise for the following projects :
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.
* “Nie sme ot selo, no ROBOTim smelo”, “Establishing school STEM environment”, Funded by the Ministry of Education.
Status : rejected
* “За утрешния ден” (“For tomorrow’s day”), Competition Procedure 33.19-2020 of Funded by the COIDUEM (Center for Educational Integration of Children and Pupils from Ethnic Minorities).
Budget: 10 256€
Status: approved
*Primary School Lyuben Karavelov, Success is in the UNITY of parents, teachers and pupils, Competition Procedure 33.20-2021 of COIDUEM (Center for Educational Integration of Children and Pupils from Ethnic Minorities).
Budget: 9 945€
Status: approved
* "Improving the status of vulnerable groups with a focus on the Roma community by increasing access to services in the social assistance, education, employment and health sectors", Financial Mechanism of the EEA, “Local Development, Poverty Reduction and Enhanced Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups” Programme BGLD-3.002.
Status: on the reserve list
* "Two-way exchange: new perspectives for Roma culture and art " - Funded by the FM of EEA and Norway grants.
Budget : 74 825€
Status: rejected
* Engagement and work with children from different ethnicities and minority groups and people of age, carriers of traditions and culture in Antonovo municipality - Funded by the National Fund CULTURE.
Budget : 15 345€
Status : rejected
Trainings provided by ROMACT experts :
Community Action Groups (CAG):
* Forms of advocacy, Role and functions of LA;
* Advocating with local authorities;
* Developing skills in conflict resolution in the work of educational mediators;
* Achieving the CAG sustainability through establishing and developing a civil society organisation;
* Community Survey;
* Understand and Participate in CLLD strategies;
* Participation in municipal budgeting process;
* Resolving conflicts in the work of educational mediators
Local Authorities (LA):
* 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;
* Opportunities under the new Erasmus+ Program (2021-2027) in the School Education sector;
* Necessary steps for building legal housing;
* Architectural/technical project modelling for building houses;
* Development of a Plan for integrated develoment of municipality - PIRO;
* Opportunities under the new Erasmus+ Program (2021-2027) in the School Education sector;
* Participation in a public consultation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan of Bulgaria;
* Providing a model of architectural/technical project for building housing.
LA and CAG :
* Raising professional skills of Roma mediators;
* Necessary steps for building legal housing;
* ROMACT approach for local facilitators;
* Consultations with LA and CAG on the establishment of neighbourhood councils;
* Intercultural training.
Taskforce :
* Reinforcing the local partnerships for more effective practical implementation of children's rights and the protection of children at risk;
* National programs 2021 - 2027 funded by the EU structural and cohesion funds in support of municipal policies for social inclusion;
* Making the most from the Integrated Territorial Investments and Community Led Local Development for planning and implementing the municipal plans for social inclusion.
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 between April 2020 - May 2021:
Initiative to counter COVID19 pandemic – Municipality of Yablanitsa
ROMACT supported the municipality with 2550 €, reaching 500+ people in Yablanitsa. The project covered information campaign on COVID19 and provided masks, disinfectant products, informative flyers to raise awareness in Roma community. Food supplies were also provided for families with dire financial situation.
Construction of a green recreation area – Municipality of Yablanitsa
ROMACT supported the municipality with 4774 €, reaching 150 people in the Roma neighbourhood of Yablanitsa. The project covered the cleaning of a landfill and construction of a clean and pleasant public space for the community. A green relaxation area with benches and public green yards for gardening activities were established. Children and the adults of the community received information campaigns on protecting the environment. Additionally, a free Wi-Fi zone was established in order to support families who are unable to afford internet access in their homes.
Access to quality education – Vasil Levski Secondary School
ROMACT supported the school with 3923 €, reaching 150 students including their families to address the basic needs of students in order to reduce school dropouts during the pandemic. The project provided the students with tablet PCs and internet services to ensure Roma children has access to online education portals during the pandemic. The provision of tablets played a key factor in assisting students to continue with their education. Pupils and their families received counselling sessions on integrated measures against the pandemic and the importance of education to reduce school dropouts during the pandemic.
Supporting the technical design of residential area – Municipality of Yablanitsa
ROMACT supported the municipality with 5000€ to provide expertise assistance for the technical design of a residential area for Roma community in Slanchev Kray district. The purpose of the project is to support the social integration of marginalized Roma community by improving housing conditions. The main expertise areas included: geodesy, temporary organization and traffic safety, water supply and sewerage, electrification, safety and health, construction waste management, fire safety of the planned residential area.