Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance 'Amalipe'

 

 

 

Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance “Amalipe” was founded at the beginning of 2002. It is organization of Roma people in Veliko Turnovo region (Central Bulgaria) and at the same time it is one of the leading Roma NGO at national level that initiates and implements policy oriented projects on behalf of Roma community. At present we realize our projects in more than 120 towns and villages in 90 municipalities all over Bulgaria.
The organization plays central role in organizing Roma civic movement and advocating for Roma integration before state institutions. Amalipe is member of the National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Demographic Issues (from its beginning in 2006 now) and of the Council for Roma Integration within the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and plays active role in the work of both Councils. The Chairman of the organization Deyan Kolev is elected for Deputy Chair of the National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Demographic Issues by the side of NGOs and for representative of Roma NGOs in the Monitoring Committee of Human Resources Development Operational Program. Amalipe is also the only Roma NGO approved for observer status in the Monitoring Committee of the National Strategic Reference Framework.
The main goals of Amalipe work are:

 

•     advocating for real Roma participation in the policy making process (especially in the process of Roma inclusion) at national, regional and local level;
• developing strategic planning of Roma integration process;
  
• supporting civil society mobilization of Roma NGOs, CBOs (community based organizations) and groups of activists;
  
• provoking a change in the educational system through including a new subject: "Roma folklore and culture" in the school curriculum and promoting the introducing of interactive techniques of teaching;
  
• preserving and renewing Roma identity trough collecting, editing, and popularizing the best examples of Roma culture (narrative folklore, festive system, etc.) in order to stop the process of assimilation of Roma and to change the negative attitudes and stereotypes against Roma by surrounding population
  
• emancipation of Roma women and strengthening Roma women participation