1. Employment and education: Good local practice by ALDA members
Association of Local Democracy Agencies
Elena Debonis, PR Communication Officer
January 2017
This PPT presentation has been produced with the financial support of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of ALDA and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.

2. ALDA – the European Association for Local Democracy
European Network including more than 240 members: local/regional authorities and CSOs
Our founding pillars are 11 Local Democracy Agencies – in the Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries + 3 Operational Partners
Our main objectives:
Contribution to the citizens’ understanding of the European Union, its history and diversity
Fostering European Citizenship and improving conditions for civic participation and democratic governance at local level
Our main tools:
Knowledge, sharing of information and best practice, international decentralised cooperation

3. Roma inclusion in education and employment – from legislative framework to local practice
As determined in EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020, EU Member States are under obligation to ensure conditions for Roma people not to be discriminated against, but to be treated equally as any other EU citizens with respect to the principles of EU Charter of Fundamental Rights;
National Roma Integration Strategies have been adopted in most of the countries defining explicit measures in support to improving the Roma situation in specific local contexts;
However, an effective implementation and monitoring of Roma integration policy measures at local level – in different local communities across Europe – is a challenge for CSOs, decision makers and Roma community members.

4. Our aim: creating communities of good local practice
How?
Addressing Roma integration issues at local level
Facilitating the role of local authorities, CSOs and Roma organisations in improving Roma access to education and employment

5. The access to education
Access to education implies:
that all Roma children have access to quality education and are not subject to discrimination or segregation;
they are ensured at least the completion of elementary school;
access to quality early education is made more available;
the number of students who drop out of high school is reduced and that the Roma students are motivated to pursue secondary and higher education.

6. The access to employment
Common challenges in access to employment
How to reduce difference in employment rate between the Roma and the rest of the population:
ensuring access to vocational trainings, labour market, funds and programs for self-employment, to the full extent and without discrimination;
promoting access to micro-credits;
special attention is dedicated to the employment of qualified Roma in the public sector;
access is facilitated to Roma into the labour market through mediation and personalized services of public employment agencies.

7. Subotica, Serbia: a community of local good practice
Mr Stevan Nikolic, Roma Coordinator in city of Subotica.
Over twenty years of expertise in promoting integration of Roma in local multicultural community, their education and employment.
Winner of the CoE Living Together Award 2011

8. Subotica: some statistics on education
City of Subotica is in the north of Serbia, second largest city in the region of Vojvodina. ALDA member since 2000
inhabitants; Hungarians (35,65%) ; Serbs: (27,02%); Croats (10,00%); Bunjevci (9,57%)
Others – including app Roma
Local Roma integration strategy adopted in cooperation with: Local government, Centre for social welfare, Roma Education centre and newly appointed Roma Coordinator
Access to elementary education (second chance for adult learners) secured for some 100 Roma on annual basis
Access to elementary education in elementary schools through inclusive education system and additional support measures carried out by Roma pedagogues (app 700 pupils in 2015/2016)
Access to secondary education through specific promotional and support measures by Roma pedagogues (app 80 pupils in 2015/2016)
Access to higher education limited (15 students in 2015/2016)
Over 1600 scholarships secured for Roma pupils in Vojvodina region (45 municipalities)

9. A voice from Vojvodina region
Mr Dusan Jovanovic, Director of Vojvodina Office for Roma inclusion: “Our people need to make an effort, and when other people see that you make an effort – we can be sure that we will get support. […] And our most important responsibility is to send our children to school, even if they do not have school bags, books, notebooks, pencils. We need to make an effort to send them to school – clean and neat. And only if they attend school every day – the school will take care of them. This is the only way we can break the vicious circle of poverty and exclusion…”

10. Subotica and the access to employment
Acces to employment improved hrough coordinated programmes run by donors, local institutions and Local Roma Coordinators in 10 municipalities in Vojvodina
Active employment measures initiated by Regional Vojvodina government over the past 10 years
Main challenges: high rate of unemployment of Roma women (90%)
Employment in seasonal jobs and in grey labour market
Photo: Construction firm Uzengija,
Kikinda municipality

11. Strasbourg, France: a community of good local practice
Establishment of temporary integration area – Espace 16
Key issues: Roma participation, employment, inclusion, housing
Provenience: Roma migrating from Romania, Kosovo* and from Hungary; since 1990 increase of arrivals mainly from Romania
Since 2010 the city administration started coordinating measures to help integration of Roma families living in different camps
In 2011 – a temporary living space for 20 Roma families was established: Espace 16
Welfare assistance team was set up of different professionals to help them integrate with mainstream society
Espace 16 is situated on municipal land in the heart of the city with access to public transport, health and welfare services

12. Espace 16 in Strasbourg: rules and awareness raising
The project takes account of several aspects of the integration of these families:
Firstly, day-to-day life is organised by a Conseil de Vie Social (CVS) – a ‘community life committee’.
They drafted the rules governing the use of the communal parts of the site and rules of good conduct governing relations between the families.
Information on the French health system was distributed.
Information was provided on all aspects of health including screening for tuberculosis, raising awareness with regard to contraception and sexually transmitted diseases, and also dental hygiene and health care.

13. Espace 16 in Strasbourg: education and leisure activities
As from March 2012, all those over 16 years of age were registered for French lessons. In addition to learning the French language, the lessons also included information on the basic rules of life in France and help in preparing to integrate French society and find long-term work. Over 50% of the inhabitants understood the importance of these lessons and attended class regularly.
The families receive food aid from charity associations, in particular “les Resto du Cœur”. Such aid ensures that the families have a varied diet.
Finally, leisure activities are also proposed, such as recreational activities for children and visits to various sites, included the European Parliament and other European institutions.

14. Espace 16 in Strasbourg: main challenges and difficulties
Securing financial resources: Roma people often do not have access to employment.
Finding a suitable location on municipal land which is not temporary
The number of Roma community living in Strasbourg is increasing
Cost of interventions, which until now have been paid for solely out of the municipal budget, is increasing
The need for institutional partnerships, not not only at local and national level, but also at European level (Council of Europe – EU funding)

15. Thank you for your time and attention 
ALDA – the European Association for Local Democracy
Elena Debonis, PR Communicaqtion Officer
This PPT presentation has been produced with the financial support of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of ALDA and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.