EQUIP Re-granting to ERGO Network members
We are excited to announce that we have selected the organisations implementing our 2023 subgrating activities.
ERGO Network has awarded its members with small grants in 3 different categories this year as part of its Annual Work Programme “Roma Equality, Inclusion and Participation 2023”, funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) of the European Commission and supported by the EPIM.
Our members could apply for a grant under three categories: Research, National Coalition, Capacity Building, Campaigning, and Advocacy. These categories provided a platform for our members to seek financial support and pursue their projects and initiatives within these areas.
In the Research category, our members could submit their applications for projects that seek to support local and national Roma civil society in gathering evidence of challenges Roma faces on a local level through research activities.
This particular category encompasses a total of four types of projects. The first project is centred around addressing Child Poverty within Roma Communities. Integro (Bulgaria), through their dedicated research on the European Child Guarantee plan in Bulgaria, aims to advocate for corrective measures and the betterment of the situation. Jaw Dikh (Poland) intends to research Roma activists who support Ukrainian Roma refugees residing in Poland. This research aims to document their valuable experiences, promote Roma agency, and advocate for policy changes that will empower Roma communities.
Policy Center (Romania) will focus its research on establishing a framework that facilitates Roma’s participation in tackling environmental racism. Lastly, Slovo 21 (Czech Republic) will research to explore the life priorities and role models of Czech Roma individuals.
The National Coalition category allowed our members to extend their support through grants. These grants intend to boost national Roma civil society coalitions by fostering knowledge sharing. Through experience exchange, resource pooling, and the formulation of unified standpoints, projects aim to strengthen the collective efforts of these coalitions, effectively address the challenges faced by the Roma community, and work towards achieving common objectives.
Within this category, we have identified and selected six organisations. The Autonomia Foundation (Hungary) is dedicated to advocating for Roma rights in the country. Additionally, the foundation aspires to expand its membership, fostering greater support and collaboration. Nevo Parudimos (Romania) is working on strengthening the Roma coalition Roma Forum to implement the national Roma strategy and enhance communication with institutions.
FAGIC (Spain), on the other hand, works to establish coalitions of Roma organisations within Catalonia and Spain to advocate for the effective implementation of the new National Roma Framework. The Intellect Coalition – Integro Association (Bulgaria) emphasises municipal strategies, territorial investments, EU programs, and recovery measures. RARC (Slovakia) strives to forge alliances following elections, ensuring the continuity of systemic efforts in combating antigypsyism and promoting media ethics. Lastly, the RomanoNet (Czech Republic) coalition sets on actively participating in program planning and engaging in advocacy meetings with Ministries. This proactive approach is aimed at implementing the National Roma Integration Strategy.
Five organisations have been carefully selected for the Capacity-building, Campaigning, and Advocacy Projects. The Amaro Drom (Germany) project enhances the PR and their social media presence. Furthermore, the project aims to engage new youth, improve media skills, and challenge existing stereotypes. By promoting positive self-representation of Roma and Sinti in Germany, the project actively contributes to the fight against antigypsyism.
In the Integro project, the primary objective is to raise awareness among vulnerable individuals about planned changes to social assistance programs in Bulgaria. Through targeted efforts, the project seeks to ensure that those affected have access to vital information, empowering them to navigate these changes effectively. Life Together (Czechia) is dedicated to advocating for justice by demanding compensation for forcibly sterilized women. The project sets forth goals such as shifting the burden of proof onto the state, offering support to individuals with missing hospital records, and empowering survivors to engage with elected representatives.
Pavee Point’s (Ireland) project centres around supporting young Travelers in forming a cultural group and exploring their rich heritage. The project fosters a sense of pride and empowerment among the community’s youth by nurturing cultural identity and providing a platform for artistic expression. The Roma Community Centre’s (Lithuania) project takes a comprehensive approach to combating antigypsyism through various campaigning and advocacy initiatives. These include facilitating public discussions, showcasing educational videos in public spaces, and engaging the public through interactive games. The project strives to create a more inclusive society by raising awareness and promoting understanding.
A part of the Capacity Building, Campaigning, and Advocacy Projects focuses explicitly on supporting Ukrainian Roma Refugees. Within this category, the four projects have been carefully selected that aim to assist and empower Ukrainian Roma Refugees in their integration into society across four countries: Poland, Hungary, Romania, and the Czech Republic. These selected projects address the unique challenges Ukrainian Roma Refugees face and facilitate their successful inclusion and participation within their respective host societies.
ERGO Network would love to express our sincere wishes to our members. We look forward to witnessing the outcomes of increased participation, strengthened civil society, and other positive impacts. To stay updated on the progress and implementation of the initiatives, we encourage you to follow us on social media channels. We will provide a comprehensive final summary, which will be shared in November.
If you would like to know more about these projects, keep checking this website, or drop us an email at info@ergonetwork.org.
