Yablanitsa

General Information
 
ROMACT Cycle: 
Reinforced process
Mayor of the Municipality: 
Naiden Naidenov
Contact Person within the Municipality: 
Ivelin Yoshev - secretary of the municipality
Facilitators: 
Alexandra Raykova
Total population: 
6 234
Roma living in the Municipality: 
916
Description of the Municipality: 

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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. 

Trainings
ROMACT experts have provided the following trainings since the start of implementing the programme:

For Local Authorities:
* 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

For Community Action Group:
* Role and functions of local authorities
* Advocating with local authorities
* Necessary steps for building legal housing
* Developing skills in conflict resolution in the work of educational mediators
* Achieving the CAG sustainability through establishing and developing a civil society organisation

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”, Ministry of Education : Rejected
* “За утрешния ден” (“For tomorrow’s day”),  Competition Procedure 33.19-2020 of COIDUEM (Center for Educational Integration of Children and Pupils from Ethnic Minorities) - Budget:  10 256 euros
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 euros
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: In the reserve list
"Two-way exchange: new perspectives for Roma culture and art " - FM of EEA and Norway grants
Budget 74 825 €
Status: Rejected

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.

 

Timeline Points

13 Mar 2020
Step 1- Becoming Committed- Signature of the letter of agreement
16 Sep 2020
Creation of Taskforce
25 Mar 2021
Municipality Inclusion Development Plan is adopted by the Local Council
31 Dec 2021
End of ROMACT Process
27 Jan 2022
Step 3- Translating priorities into measures- Adoption of the Joint Action Plan by Local Council
28 Jun 2022
Start of ROMACT reinforced process with the signature of a new letter of agreement
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