On September 1, 2022, a press conference was held today in the DC “Boris Hristov” – an opening event under project No. BGLD-3.002-0006-C01 Creation of a center for integrated social and health services at one stop in the Stolipinovo district, on which the Municipality of Plovdiv signed contract worth BGN 2,310,451.09 – BFP. The project is financed under the Program “Local Development, Poverty Reduction and Improved Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups”, through the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014-2021. The program operator of the project is the Ministry of Education and Science, and the partners are the Foundation for Regional Development Roma – Plovdiv and Norsensus Mediaforum – Norway. The duration of the project is 24 months (11.04.2022 – 30.04.2024).
The project aims to implement a broad program of socio-economic inclusion of vulnerable ethnic groups in the Stolipinovo district, providing improved access to administrative, social, educational and health services through the construction of a one-stop service center.
To implement the project activities, a team will be hired, which will consist of a manager, social workers, administrative employees, educational mediators, a teacher, music and art teachers, medical specialists, health mediators.
The activities of the project include a wide range of consulting services, mediation, advocacy, campaigns to increase the acceptance of Roma by the mainstream population, various workshops for working with children – musical, creative and others, sports events, days of tolerance, round tables on topics related to with discrimination and social inclusion, health services for people with an undetermined health status, provision of hot food for a certain number of persons, as well as educational activities in Bulgarian for children and adults, qualification courses and trainings for youth from the community.
The construction of a new building in the area of Stolipinovo quarter will contribute to the people of the area recognizing this place as a center bringing together specialists with different expertise who can be the connecting link for referral to other social or administrative services or providing direct support to the most vulnerable children and adults on the ground.
“I think that the children and young people of Stolipinovo district need a beautiful and cozy place where they can calmly and without worry seek help and receive the necessary support in an accessible language from experts with competences, knowledge, skills and experience,” said Nedka Petrova – project manager. “We all have a commitment as a society to make sure that the most vulnerable children and adults have access to everything that is available for people in a municipality. Education and social inclusion are a major factor in the success of young people, and especially of the youngest – children. In this center, they will be able to receive support for mastering the Bulgarian language, prepare for a more successful adaptation in kindergarten, and the young people will develop skills that will help them feel important and successful young people in society. The provision of food will be an additional motivating factor for the most vulnerable families to visit the center and get involved in the activities it offers,” said Georgi Tityukov – deputy. Mayor Sports, Youth Activities and Social Policy at the Municipality of Plovdiv, during the press conference.
The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the partner organization – Asen Karagyozov – chairman of the Roma Foundation and members of the foundation’s team, as well as representatives of the Plovdiv municipality and other social services in the community.