About the project
The focus, like the operation of our entire partner consortium, is social inclusion through the non-formal education method, with the aim of achieving the priority objective of empowering young people from the Roma population. At the same time, the addition of new methods, practices and innovations in the field of youth work and at the same time builiding capacities of youth organizations.
The main task of the project is the development of an innovative modular education system that sensitizes young people on cooperation with members of other cultures and ethnicities, promotes the importance of active citizenship and participation in democratic and social processes, critical and media literacy, soft skills and knowledge of productive cooperation with members of other cultures, which is crucial in the modern job market. Main goal is also empower the interaction between Roma and non-Roma youth, which the partner consortium considers to be a way to reduce discrimination, segregation and anti-Gypsyism in the long run, while also providing an opportunity for young Roma to shake off negative prejudices about the majority population and widen their social circles, which is crucial for integration, participation in social processes and increased competitiveness in the labor market.
The project strengthened the capacities of youth organizations and youth workers who received knowledge related to the developed intellectual output and attended training, in which they put training modules into practice. At the same time, evaluations and analyzes made a significant contribution to the final form of intellectual output.
An important part of the training is also dedicated to skills related to working with a group of young people belonging to different cultural and social groups, which presents specific challenges.
The partner consortium is multi-sectoral, which has added value and increased project reach and access to diverse skills. The composition of the consortium also contributed to the additional capacity building of the organizations involved. The consortium included the following organizations:
Scientific and Research Association for Art, Cultural and Educational programmes and Technology EPEKA, Social Enterprise
www.epeka.si / epeka@epeka.si / +386 30 610 606 / www.facebook.com/epekaslovenia / epeka_slovenia
EPEKA was established in 2008 as an initiative to connect creators and creators of cultural, artistic, educational, scientific and technological content for the title European Capital of Culture 2012. A year later, EPEKA proposed to the City of Maribor a candidature for the title European Youth Capital, which Maribor won in 2013.
We continue our activity in the field of EU citizenship, sharing EU values and promoting intercultural dialogue. EPEKA also has branches abroad: EPEKA Czech Republic, EPEKA Austria, EPEKA Serbia, EPEKA Turkey, EPEKA Montenegro, EPEKA United Kingdom, EPEKA Germany and the informal youth group EPEKA Armenia.
EPEKA is an organization in the public interest in the field of culture (title given by the Ministry of Culture Republic of Slovenia) and organization in the public interest in the youth field (title given by the Office of Youth Republic of Slovenia).
We are a non-governmental, non-profit organization, and since 2013 also a social enterprise. Today we have wide-ranging stable and reliable partnerships both in Slovenia and in the Europe. In addition to affiliates abroad, we work with various partners, depending on the goals and purposes of the projects. Working with at-risk groups, especially Roma, people with international protection and youth from at-risk groups, is at the core of our program. We often include members of these groups in our work processes. Thus, new mentors gain a lot of experience through non-formal and informal education methods. In this way, more experienced members are constantly sharing and gaining pedagogical competencies, while building a network of increasingly educated new members who are gradually taking on new responsibilities.
Arts, culture and sports are key methods that are often incorporated into non-formal education within our organization. They are especially important because, above all, people with fewer opportunities, either in the field of cultural creation or sport, have specific competences and a strong desire for promotion and personal development. They are also included in activities in which there is an spontaneous interaction between members of different ethnic communities who work together to achieve a common goal.
Nevipe Press Rom News Agency – Radio PATRIN (partner)
www.radiopatrin.com / orhan.galjus@radiopatrin.com / +31681655498
Nevipe – Press Roma News Agency was registered in 1991 in Amsterdam. After publishing the Patrin bilingual Romani – English magazine – the main activity of the Nevipe Press Rom News Agency is Radio Patrin broadcasting www.radiopatrin.com which produced radio programs on local-with local, national flavour and global Romani issues. This new important step in Patrin’s work has been contributing to more accurate news on Roma in enlarge Europe. Radio Patrin cooperates and is member with of European Broadcasting Union(EBU) – Eurovision which is Patrin’s opportunity to belong to big networks. Radio Patrin in 2016 cooperated with more than 10 Roma media outlets. Also, Radio Patrin cooperates on co-production with various projects, and one that continue in the course of current year is the project “tajsa” www.tajsa.eu about Roma Genocide.
Radio Patrin is active and present in main happenings or events related to European Roma in Europe. We had more than 70 guests in our programs. Radio Patrin in 2016 was one of main dialogue mechanisms in domestic affairs of Roma and Sinti in the Netherlands as well as out of Netherlands. Most importantly Radio Patrin has been and has influence on many European opinion makers on Roma issues.
Regional Cluster North-East (partner)
rc_ne@mail.bg / +35952654900
Regional Cluster “North – East” was established in 2012 and oficially registered in 2014 as a public-private partnership. Members of The Cluster are municipalities, schools and vocational training centers, College of Tourism and Agriculture, University of Economics – Varna, Faculty of Agronomy – Varna Technical University, Varna Chamber of Commerce and Industry, NGOs, companies operating in the fields of industry, trade, tourism and services, agricultural producers and associations of producers, wholesale markets for fresh and processed foods etc.
Regional Cluster “North – East” participates in the management of “Friends of Europe” Club, which is a NGO working in the field of children and youth. The main activities of the Club are to offer after-school trainings in the fields of culture, art, European values.
Regional Cluster “North-East” represents also a research and development structure – Institute “Balkan and Black Sea Fresh Foods Marketing Initiative” which in 2012 began to function as a institute within the Cluster. Main tasks of The BBSFFMI are related to research in the field of production, postharvest, storage and marketing of fresh and processed fruits, vegetables, fish and flowers, rural development. BBSFFMI also deals with curriculum development and delivery of training to increase the capacity of agricultural workers and those living in rural areas.
A member of the Cluster is also Balkan and Black Sea Business Institute. BBSBI is specializes in coastal management and development.
Romni Onlus (partner)
www.romni.org / saskait@yahoo.it / +393288135922 (črna barva mora biti)
Romni onlus was established in Rome in 2010 as a reaction to the lack of representation of the needs of Roma women in Italy. Since its establishment, Romni onlus’ activity has been characterized by its strong grassroots presence and its initiatives in the social life of the Roma community shown that Roma NGO are mainly or exclusively composed of male members and women are totally excluded. Romni onlus aims to actively support the process of female emancipation against all forms of gender discrimination and through specific interventions directed to the support of Roma and Sinti education. We fulfill our aim undertaking actions and projects which will help and promote the integration of the Roma population in the Italian and European society, combat prejudices and discrimination with concrete, grassroots actions, while respecting different identities, the equal dignity and the fundamental values of civic life. With our work we want to combat prejudice about Roma and all forms of discrimination, direct and indirect towards our population .We also offer social support to the members of the Roma community and provide advice to those who need to know their rights and duties in terms of health, employment and family law.. As we strongly recognize the importance of having data about our population, which too often is hidden among the most vulnerable parts of the society and confined in camps, we support and participate in research projects aimed at mapping our population and our needs. As we aim at connecting Roma women and improve their condition, at the date we have participated in a number of networking events, both a national and international level. With reference to the activities through which we support the community, we contributed to the resolution of difficult legal cases, and several Embassies’ officers have recognized our work.
