Empowerment of Roma Populations through intensive training and skills development
With great success and with the presence of many people, the presentation of the new program of Médecins du Monde Rom-boost, Educational actions in Roma communities, took place. The event was held at the Social Cooperative Enterprise Special Purpose (Integration of vulnerable groups in the labour market) Myrtillo, thus supporting the action of Médecins du Monde.
After the welcome and the short greeting by Mr. Georgios Kassaras, member of the Board of Médecins du Monde, Mrs. Elli Xenou, Head of Programmes and Advocacy of Médecins du Monde Greece, declared the start of the event.
This was followed by short greetings / statements by Ms. Evangelia Zerva, Head of Department for the Social Integration of Roma at the General Secretariat for Social Solidarity and Poverty Alleviation, Ms. Maria Tsene, Assistant Programme Director of Active citizens fund, Ms. Maria Fola, EEA Grants Advisor at the Embassy of Norway in Athens.
Then, Mr.Anastasios Yfantis, Operational Director of Médecins du Monde, after warmly thanking all those present, stressed that “the participation and cooperation of local government in the planning and implementation of targeted interventions is of crucial importance, in order to address the main obstacles and the reproduction of stereotypes which very often originate from the local government itself”.
Elimination of discrimination
“The next day should find us working closely together and promoting change to the local government”, noted Mr.Yfantis and concluded that “through this project, aiming to strengthen the positive and eliminate discrimination will make a small change, and will be a good practice for the future”.
This was followed by a detailed presentation of the project by Mrs. Elli Xenou. The aim of the Rom-boost project is to contribute to the social and economic empowerment of Roma populations by enhancing access to a coherent package of training and good practices.
Finally, the presentation of the new MdM program was attended by representatives of the programme, stakeholders and representatives of Roma communities.
Médecins du Monde has been focusing on the health and social inclusion of Roma populations since 1997. They have already implemented 9 related projects in areas of Attica, Thessaloniki and Central Greece, in more than 10 different camps in total.
*Photos: Sotiris Giannikas