|
Minority integration Migrants as well as national minorities face obstacles to the enjoyment of their civil rights, often caused by exclusion from the social sphere – education, employment, housing – due to cultural differences, stereotypes and prejudices. Conflict can be an additional cause or effect. PDCI works with minorities and majorities to increase tolerance and opportunities, as well as improve public participation skills (civic competences, leadership, advocacy) and awareness about rights and legal frameworks. Partners-Bulgaria: Ethnic Integration and Conflict Resolution (EICR) Program Partners Bulgaria Foundation (PBF) initiated an Ethnic Integration and Conflict Resolution (EICR) Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to assist Roma in improving their economic, social and educational opportunities and ethnic relations in general in three pilot towns – Lom, Vidin and Kyustendil.The activity consisted of three core tasks: Community Planning, Training and Community Outreach ─ with each task containing sub-tasks. The program aimed at facilitating ethnic conciliation and increasing the effectiveness of minority groups in improving their conditions in multi-ethnic communities. Each of the three tasks was accomplished through a core group of participants, including other stakeholders as appropriate, to build a critical mass of capacities and knowledge to effect change in the targeted communities. The structures and capacities created (e.g. Conciliation Commission, cooperative planning facilitation skills, collaborative projects developed through the cooperative planning processes) continue to thrive after the end of the grant, attesting to the long-term sustainability of the project. PBF small grants spurred the creation of more than three hundred jobs in agriculture, farming, construction and other sectors in three communities. Yumer Salim (the owner of a factory with 12 employees) was awarded a PBF grant of approximately $5,000. The grant enabled him to buy the new equipment the company needed to fulfill orders on time , satisfy clients, and prevent the factory from closing down. Gender Although women are not a minority, PDCI works to improve their contributions to public life and their rights at home, which are often challenged by cultural factors and traditional power arrangements that limit women’s education, work and leadership opportunities. Youth and Children Youth are the future; they represent a majority of the population in many societies, and are a key source of dynamism and innovation. PDCI attempts to integrate youth into public debate and strengthen youth leadership by building civic participation skills and knowledge about their role as citizens. PDCI also deals with child rights and child protection, such as combating child abuse and trafficking through educative and awareness-raising programs. The Roma Integration Program (RIP) Launched un der a grant from USAID, the 4-year Roma Integration Program (RIP) was coordinated by Partners for Democratic Change (USA) with Partners-Czech, Partners-Hungary and PDCS (Partners-Slovakia) with activities targeting three communities in each of their countries. Program activities included small grants programmes, national-level awareness-raising campaigns, and internship opportunities for Roma youth. One project activity common to all 9 target communities was the establishment of Conciliation Commissions: ‘In each of the target communities the centres established inter-ethnic Conciliation Commissions, which recognize local diversity and mediate community disputes. Trained in effective communication, mediation and conflict resolution methodologies, the commissions work to resolve and promote inter-ethnic tolerance. These bodies are unique for their multi-ethnic makeup and focus. Unlike other community mediation organisations staffed and run by non-Roma, the commissions are designed to work effectively in multi-cultural environments. Since their inception, the Conciliation Commissions have mediated dozens of cases, from housing issues to family disputes, and become important institutions in the communities.’
|
What we do 
