News

"National governments must commit to developing strategies for Roma integration as required by the European Commission. But to change the image created in Europe, we must show the good practice in the Roma community. " This was shared by Catherine Barber, Charge d”Affaires at the British Embassy at a meeting with the team of  Center Amalipe in Veliko Tarnovo. She was accompanied by Wayne Diamond - Head of the Strategic Policy Team at the Embassy. The meeting was held on May 27 in the office of Center Amalipe.
Our team presented good practices in the field of Roma educational integration, prevention of early marriages, advocacy activities especially recent ones directed to the preparation of the National Roma Strategy. "It is essential that civil society participation in the preparation of national Roma strategy is guaranteed. Bulgaria already has a strategic document, which is fairly good - the Framework Programme, which was updated in 2010. Hence, what we need is an operational document that builds on the Framework Programme, but shows very clearly the relationship of activities for Roma integration with the Structural Funds and national strategic documents such as the National Reform programma. It should make clear also the role of local authorities and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation." – Teodora Krumova, Program Director of Center Amalipe, shared the meeting.
According to Wayne Diamond everyone is entitled to their identity, culture, self-esteem and their freedom of expression, to feel desired citizen of their country and not to seek its place in other countries of Europe.
The representatives of the British Embassy visited the club and the local group in the village of Balvan created by Center Amalipe. They were particularly impressed by the activity of young people, their desire to create and to seek their place in society.