Roma Integration Program (RIP)

(A Program to strengthen the cross-sectoral cooperation in the regions and to support integration of Roma to the society)


From July 2003 till March 2007 Partners for Democratic Change (Partners), in partnership with Partners-Czech, Partners-Hungary and Partners-Slovakia and USAID, has implemented a four-year Roma Integration Program in selected regions of the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. The overall budget for all participating countries was $2.8 million.

The Program was financed by American agency for international development USAID and its Slovak part was realized on national and community level by PDCS.

 

Within the programe we have published a booklet   Success Stories from the Roma Integration Programme.

 

The program objectives were:

  1. To promote Roma and non-Roma participation in cooperative decision-making and conflict prevention and resolution
  2. To increase leadership and advocacy skills of Roma
  3. To reduce discriminatory attitudes and practices towards the Roma
  4. To create sustainable structures to improve majority-minority relations
  5. To create models of integration that can be replicated in Central and Southeastern Europe.

At the community level, the program aims to create sustainable participatory mechanisms through:

  • trainings for representatives of all sectors involved in Roma issues
  • trainings-for-trainers designed to empower local Roma and majority representatives to work in teams
  • cooperative planning processes, which gather stakeholders around a particular community issue for effective and durable solutions
  • the creation of Conciliation Commissions for conflict resolution and public awareness

At the national level, the program aims to build on priorities identified at the community level to:

  • empower national Roma advocacy groups to promote their interests in cooperation with other sectors
  • promote accurate and non-discriminatory media reporting or Roma issues
  • support education initiatives that promote diversity and awareness
  • raise public awareness on Roma issues
  • share lessons learned, strengthen cooperation of Roma and non-Roma, and identify national level interventions to advance Roma integration

At the international level, the program aims to replicate program successes through:

  • the creation of cross-border networks
  • the sharing of regional expertise on minority integration and best practices
  • the replication of models of integration in Central and Southeastern Europe.

Photographs from the conference Roma children and youth and education - How to continue?, November 2005

The program was managed by Ing. Andrea Chorváthová a Pavol Makyš, M.A.