EQUAL The aim of the EQUAL Community initiative is to promote new ways of combating all forms of discrimination and inequalities in the labour market.

The BRIDGE project Innovative Employment Program of the Borsod County Roma The aim of project: to promote Roma re/integration into the labour market (theme A)

The base of the project Fifteen years of experience with local roma economic projects Success in labour market development program including employment of labour market mediators

BRIDGE Development Partnership Autonómia Foundation Lungo Drom Roma organization of Méra Lungo Drom Roma organization of Szalaszend Advocacy Organization of the Roma and Disadvantaged People of Bodva Valley, Perkupa Andrássy Gyula vocational school, Miskolc

BRIDGE project The aim of the project The unemployed local Roma should have an access to skills, jobs and income so that their families living conditions should improve. The broken down houses of the families with no work income will be renovated and modernized; the energy efficiency of the heating systems will grow and the insulation will be improved so that the heating costs of the families will be significantly lower.

Preparatory phase - research Dimensions measured in the survey: education household income employment status skills and ablities social network motivation and solidarity

Breakdown of the 250 households along the groups constructed % a)socially disintegrated, segregated b)not educated, inactive, not motivated c)not educated, motivated, more or less active d)educated (but the not marketable), motivated, more or less active e)educated (more skills), motivated, active

Provision for the selected participants 1.Vocational training, salary during the training (minimum wage) a)After the training employment (provided by the program) b)After the training employment (provided by local enterprises) 2.House renovation – energetical improvement

The project -1 I. Training 50 unskilled unemployed (or without marketable skilles) get registered, marketable skills. maisons construction carpenters stovemakers smiths woodwork machine operators

Screening the participants (50 out of the 145 applicants) Work experience Work skills Reading, writing, arithmetic skills Motivation

The project - 2 II. Employment During the training 50 trainees were employed, out of them 38 were employed by the DP after the training for months. masons: 6 (8) carpenters: 9 (8) stovemakers: 9 (8) smiths: 6 woodwork machine operators: 8 (9)

The project - 3 III. Housing renovation and energy efficiency The housekeeping costs of the families living in the renovated houses will decrease, and they are expected to become motivated to participate in similar programs. Establishment of a small workshop to renovate doors and windows: the houses with bad quality insulation, without windows and proper doors will be liveable and closeable. Organisation of stovemaker brigade(s): the outdated heating equipment will be replaced by energy efficient stoves so that the winter fire wood demand of the families will decrease

The project - 4 IV. Organisation development The formation of the social economy in the region will start. The supporting institutional system will be developed and the regions labour market development will be supported.

Cooperation possibilities with the local authorities Housing renovation and energy efficiency 1.Renovation of the buildings of the local authorities 2.Renovation of the broken down buildings in the settlement 3.Joint tender possibilities

Personal level Increased skills More experience outside the village, even abroad Growing competences Increasing self-confidence, pride Growing trust in personal future

Household level Social security Increased economic stability Short and long term investments (incl. credit) The role of the father is regained Better planning potential Increased social networking capacities

Community level More capable people in the community Investment, workplaces in the community Increasing income from the formal economy Increasing tax income for the local community Outsiders, media appear in the village, contribute to the local self esteem and spend money

Policy level implications

Basic points The project must start where the target group is – on the very local level Investment into the community must not start without thorough exploration of the local situation involving the local partners Empowerment of the participants is the key factor.

The future The capacity of the local organizations has grown – they are capable to apply for funds on their own The workshops produce marketable products – market sustainability is expected The local key actors of the labour market may unite their efforts in order to set up a supported social economy