Analytical synthesis of the “lessons and proposals” from

seminars and workshops organized in Bulgaria

In frame of REDUPRE project Integro organized three

workshops:

for Roma and non-Roma - teachers, community center staff, journalists, employees of cultural centers and other similar organizations.

for Roma and non-Roma - municipal officials, councilors, leaders of the local Roma organizations, employees of public services

for Roma and non-Roma women

Methodological aspects of the workshops

The main goal of the workshops was to educate the community of professionals from the local and regional authorities,

representatives of public services, teachers and women about the impact of stereotypes and prejudices toward Roma

population.

The focus of the workshops:

Formation of zero tolerance for acts of prejudiced thinking and discriminatory practices against Roma. The reasons for

prejudice and discriminatory practices against Roma by non-Roma were discussed in order to

improve the social condition of Roma.

The main training methods used during the workshops:

Group work - discussions, presentations, role plays, etc. Small group work - discussions, presentations, role plays, etc. Individual work - sharing own experiences, dealing with

methodological tools for self-knowledge and self-understanding;

Themes that were discussed:

Identifying the stereotypes; Identification of the process of setting

stereotypes Nature of Roma poverty and stereotypes

about it; Oppression and the formation of internal

oppression; Policies for positive change in the social

situation of the Roma population; Difficulties in front of professionals and

solving conflicts; Planning activities to improve working

relationships of local authorities with Roma community

Common values of women, especially of the mothers;

Advocacy and using it as a tool against discrimination in the society;

Lessons:

During the discussions, participants shared that many of the policies targeting Roma are actually planned inefficiently and convert Roma into clients.

Presenting of research data concerning regions from where were the participants was accepted much better than the data presented on the bases of National surveys .

To overcome the social distance between different groups, the model of Community worker who overcomes conflicts between different groups in one community and helps to solve the existing problems together, should be established as state policy.

Suggestion:

To establish adequate local policies, Roma have to be involved in the planning of these policies, in other case they will continue to be just clients of services.

To create working regional policies and measures for reducing social distance between groups is necessary to to carry out research in their respective regions.

A huge impact among the participants had the fact that one of the trainers was Roma. This was really powerful tool for influencing the non Roma participants as they can see Roma with lots of knowledge, well educated, able to express meaningful opinion and even to teach them.