EN11.- Institutions and organizations that support Roma youth

11.1. Romania

The main institutions in Romania that offer opportunities for young people, in general, and, as well for Roma young people are the following:

Romanian Government

The website has the following sections related to the project, such as: Working in Romania, Part-Time, Internship, Volunteer, and How to find a job.

As well, the Romanian Government offers many other opportunities for the Romanian young people, such as:

Start-Up Nation Program: This program provides funding for young entrepreneurs who want to start their businesses. The financing can reach up to 200,000 lei and can be used to purchase equipment, machinery, furniture, software, and other expenses necessary for business development.
First Home Program: This program offers young people the opportunity to obtain a low-interest mortgage loan to purchase their first home. The program is intended for young people up to 35 years old who have never owned a home.
Social Scholarship Program: This program offers scholarships for young people who come from low-income families and who wish to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies. The scholarship covers tuition fees and other expenses necessary to pursue studies.
Erasmus+ mobility programme: This programme offers young people the opportunity to study or do traineeships abroad. The program is designed for undergraduate and graduate students and provides opportunities for personal and professional development.

Besides, on the Romanian Government website, there is a section dedicated to trainees that offers a wide range of opportunities for them. These include:

Romanian Government Internship Program: This program offers young people the opportunity to work in central public administration institutions. The program is designed for young people between the ages of 18 and 35 and offers 150 internship places every 1 year.
Internship Program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: This program offers young people the opportunity to work in Romania’s diplomatic missions abroad. The program is aimed at young people aged 18 to 35 and offers opportunities for personal and professional development.
Internship Program of the Ministry of Internal Affairs: This program offers young people the opportunity to work within the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The programme is aimed at young people aged 18 to 35 and offers 3 opportunities for personal and professional development.
Ministry of Justice Internship Program: This program offers young people the opportunity to work within the structures of the Ministry of Justice. The program is aimed at young people between the ages of 18 and 35 and offers opportunities for personal and professional development.
National Agency for Community Projects in the Field of Education and Vocational Training (ANPCDEFP): The website has the following sections related to the project, such as: Opportunities for young people, and Professional career. As well, there is a section dedicated to youth mobilities. It provides funding opportunities for mobility projects such as youth exchange and volunteering in different countries. These projects help young people develop skills and increase their employability by allowing them to participate in European learning projects. The organisations involved can also develop new and innovative approaches to learning cooperate with organisations in other countries and exchange good practices. It also provides opportunities for youth workers. They help youth workers experience cultural diversity and learn different youth work practices from other countries. These activities help organisations develop new learning methods and cooperate with organisations in other countries over longer periods.

Erasmus+ Romania

The Erasmus+ programme offers a wide range of opportunities for young people, including mobility schemes, youth exchanges and traineeships abroad. Here are some of the programs dedicated to young people within the Erasmus+ Romania Program:

Youth Exchanges: These exchanges take place outside school and allow young people to participate in all kinds of activities such as workshops, exercises, debates, role plays, outdoor activities and more. The Youth Pass (youth passport) allows participants’ learning experiences to be recognized. The duration of youth exchanges lasts between 5 and 21 days, without travel time.
Mobility of Young Workers: This programme offers young people the opportunity to do traineeships abroad. The program is aimed at young people aged between 18 and 30 and offers opportunities for personal and professional development.
Volunteering Projects: These projects offer young people the opportunity to participate in volunteering projects abroad. The program is aimed at young people aged 18 to 30 and offers opportunities for personal and professional development.
Youth Exchange Projects: These projects offer young people the opportunity to participate in youth exchanges abroad. The program is aimed at young people between the ages of 13 and 30 and offers opportunities for personal and professional development.

Partida Romilor

On the website of the Roma Party in Romania, I found information about opportunities for young people in the field of higher education. In the academic year 2021-2022, the number of places allocated to young Roma in university education will be supplemented.

Specifically, young Roma will have more places compared to those received last year in the following categories: Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate.

Also, the Pro-Europe Roma Party continues this year’s educational campaign «We give you the recommendation» initiated in 2006, in partnership with the School Inspectorates in Romania. This campaign is the largest action in the field of Roma education in Romania and has so far benefited from over 30,000 beneficiaries.

11.2. Spain

In Spain, there are several institutions and organisations that support Roma youth in different aspects, from education to social integration and community empowerment. Here are some examples:

Government of Spain

National Strategy for Equality, Inclusion and Participation of the Roma People in Spain (2021-2030). Ministry of Social Affairs and Agenda 2030 Information of the Ministry and Guide in English.

This Strategy provides for the implementation of two operational plans in which the measures and actions to be implemented to achieve the objectives set for the year 2030 will be specified. The first Operational Plan for the implementation of the National Strategy for the period 2023-2026 already is underway and includes the measures agreed upon by the different Ministries responsible for its execution, considering the proposals and recommendations made by the entities of the Roma associative movement represented in the State Council of the Gypsy People.

The second Operational Plan will be in force from 2027 to 2030. At the end of the first operational plan, a mid-term evaluation of the strategy will be carried out to see the impact it has on the Roma population, as well as a final evaluation in 2030.

The Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE). Ministry of Social Inclusion and Migration. Information of the Ministry.

Gathers information on projects, surveys, resources, reports and research promoted by the Secretary of State for Migration and other ministerial departments, entities and organisations in order to serve as a platform offering information and analysis and spurring on work to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance as well as hate incidents and crimes. The work of the Observatory is done in cooperation with various levels of governmental institutions and civil society organizations in Spain, with European Union and other international institutions.

Universities

There are several universities that offer specific training studies to manage programs and services aimed at eliminating discrimination and reducing inequalities that affect the Roma community. Examples of them are the following:

University extension diploma in social intervention with the Roma community, UPNA Foundation of the Public University of Navarra. More information here.
Specific Continuing Training Teaching “Social Work and Roma People”, Faculty of Social and Labor Sciences of the University of Zaragoza. More information here.

Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza

EducaRom Project, its main objective is to improve the social and educational situation of Roma children and teens in Zaragoza, and that of their families, through the implementation of Successful Educational Actions (AEE).

The support actions that Roma youth benefit from are educational reinforcement groups, economic and social support for Roma children and young people; for Roma people who are pursuing post-obligatory studies; preparation of the access test to the Intermediate Training Cycle (GAM) and Group of Roma women. Access to the project.

Ejemplos de entidades que trabajan con el colectivo Romaní

Fundanción Secretariado Gitano – Roma Secretariat Foundation

Fundación Secretariado Gitano: The Secretariat Roma Foundation has been awarded by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in the youth category, which values striking examples of the commitment made by civil society to create a better future for European youthHis “Learning by Working” project, which addresses the issue of unemployment among Roma youth, won first prize. See the foundation website.
ROMI Roma Women’s Association: This organisation focuses on supporting Roma women, including young women, to promote their participation in society and defend their rights. They offer training programmes, counselling and promote gender equality among Roma youth.
Acceder Programme: Administered by the Secretariat of the Gypsy Foundation, this programme is aimed at young Roma who have dropped out of the education system. It provides individual support to help them reintegrate into formal education or vocational training programmes and find employment.
Cultural and Social Gypsy Association of Valencia: This association works in the Valencia region to promote Gypsy culture and support the integral development of the Gypsy community, including young people. They offer cultural activities, educational programmes and social integration projects.
Yehudi Menuhin Foundation Spain: Although not exclusively focused on Roma youth, this foundation develops cultural and educational projects that promote social inclusion and cultural diversity. They often work with organisations that work with marginalised communities, including Roma youth.

We also have the support of private foundations that finance projects aimed at the well-being of young Roma; you can submit applications for their annual calls.

Some examples:

FUNDANCIÓN IBERCAJA – IBERCAJA FOUNDATION https://www.fundacionibercaja.es/convocatorias/

FUNDANCIÓN IBERDROLA ESPAÑA – IBERDROLA SPAIN FOUNDATION

https://www.fundacioniberdrolaespana.org/accion-social/programa-social

FUNDACIÓN LA CAIXA – LA CAIXA FOUNDATION https://fundacionlacaixa.org/es/programas-sociales

FUNDACIÓN MAPFRE – MAPFRE FOUNDATION https://www.fundacionmapfre.org/accion-social/

FUNDACIÓN MUTUA MADRILEÑA – MUTUA MADRILEÑA FOUDATION https://www.fundacionmutua.es/accion-social/ayudas-proyectos-sociales/convocatoria-anterior/

FUNDACIÓN ONCE – ONCE FOUNDATION https://www.fundaciononce.es/es/convocatorias-de-ayudas/para-entidades/convocatoria-general

ROMI Gypsy Women’s Association: This organisation focuses on supporting Roma women, including young women, to promote their participation in society and defend their rights. They offer training programmes, counselling and promote gender equality among Roma youth.
Acceder Programme: Administered by the Secretariat of the Gypsy Foundation, this programme is aimed at young Roma who have dropped out of the education system. It provides individual support to help them reintegrate into formal education or vocational training programmes and find employment.
Cultural and Social Gypsy Association of Valencia: This association works in the Valencia region to promote Gypsy culture and support the integral development of the Gypsy community, including young people. They offer cultural activities, educational programmes and social integration projects.
Yehudi Menuhin Foundation Spain: Although not exclusively focused on Roma youth, this foundation develops cultural and educational projects that promote social inclusion and cultural diversity. They often work with organisations that work with marginalised communities, including Roma youth.

11.3. Bulgaria

The main institutions in Bulgaria that offer opportunities for Roma community and their young people are the following:

11.4. Türkiye

Programs, Opportunities and Incentives provided by the Turkish Government

KOSGEB Incentives (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization): Supports are available for Young Entrepreneurs. These supports can be provided by many governmental organizations (although they vary depending on the type of entrepreneurship, they are provided by the government under 4 main headings). Besides young people, these supports are also available for women entrepreneurs.
First Home Program: This program offers citizens the opportunity to obtain a two-year deferred low-interest mortgage loan to purchase their first home. The program is designed especially for young people and citizens who have never owned a home before.
Scholarship Programs: Turkey, having the youngest population in Europe, has many scholarships for young people participating in Higher Education, especially by the state or state-sponsored organizations, such as the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), KYK (Credit and Dormitories Institution), TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey), Turkish Education Foundation. The proportion of young people in Turkey (17-24 years old) with higher vocational education, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or higher education is 44.4%. Therefore, it provides scholarships, student loans and support such as dormitories, pocket money, book money, etc., especially for young people from low-income families. Except for private schools in Turkey, 12 years of compulsory education and higher education for students is completely free of charge, excluding university tuition fees (which average 600 Turkish Liras, equivalent to 18 Euros).
Erasmus+ Opportunities: Young people can benefit from the opportunities of ESC projects, internship mobility, learning mobility, mobility of individuals, Mundus and Monnet scholarships, etc. under the Erasmus+ program. More information about Erasmus+ in Turkey can be found on the website of the Turkish National Agency.
National Internship Program: The National Internship Program (NIP) was launched by the Presidential Human Resources Office to ensure that young people benefit from internship opportunities offered by public and private sector organizations within the framework of equal opportunities and according to the principles of merit.
NATO Internship Program: NATO offers six-month internships to third-year university students or recent graduates from a bachelor’s or master’s degree program. Internships offer opportunities in many areas of expertise and skills, including political affairs, defense and security, innovation, operations, communications, business support and human resources, finance, science and technology, and infrastructure and facilities.

United Nations Internship Programs: Young people can apply for internships at the United Nations in general or in more specialized departments such as UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNOPS, UNHCR or the United Nations Environment Programme. Although open to all young people in Turkey, in addition to the projects and programs mentioned above, there are also special projects for all Roma in Turkey, especially for Young Roma, which are listed below.

Strategic Action Plan of the Republic of Turkey for Roma

The Ministry of Family and Social Services has announced that the state will provide social assistance and services in six different areas between 2023 and 2030 (housing subsidies, employment support, health assistance, education support, and social services).

These supports to improve the quality of life of Roma citizens are described below:

Housing Project: TOKİ (Housing Development Administration) and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change are in charge of planning better and earthquake-resistant city plans or urban transformation. In order to provide a better life for the Roma People, since the beginning of 2023, they have developed a project to build modern, spacious, safe and earthquake-resistant houses and to make our Roma citizens homeowners with the slogan «A Home for Every Roma» and so far, 5,133 houses have been delivered to their owners.
Employment Support: In order to make it easier for Roma citizens to find a job, İŞKUR (Turkish Employment Agency) will organize neighbourhood-based activities. Thus, in areas densely populated by Roma citizens, the organization will work to help unemployed youth find jobs. İŞKUR will not only set up neighbourhood-based offices to help unemployed Roma youth find jobs. They will also organize vocational training for young people. Roma youth will thus learn a profession and receive a daily allowance while receiving vocational training.
Education Support: Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK, Minister of Family, Labor and Social Services, stated that another area of support for Roma citizens will be in the field of education. In addition to educational support, it is planned to establish Youth Centres in Roma neighbourhoods. The aim of these offices is to provide Roma youth with hobbies and quality leisure time. The steps to be taken in educational support for Roma citizens are set out below:
- Training and support courses will be opened.
- Steps will be taken to facilitate access to preschool education.
- Artistic and sports events will be organized.
- Improvements will be made in school areas.
- Additional activities will be organized. This is the headline of the support to Roma citizens in the context of education.
Culture, Arts and Travel Activities: As part of social support, Roma citizens will be provided with support for culture, arts and travel. In addition to cultural trips and tours, the Traveling Theatre will perform in Roma neighbourhoods and aim to engage the public in cultural and artistic activities. Mobile libraries will also be set up in predominantly Roma areas. Finally, regular concerts on the themes of Roma Melodies and Culture will be organized.