Vocational integration and medico-social observation

In Varna, Bulgaria's second biggest city, in the popular neighborhood of Asparuhovo, where Turks and Ukrainians also live, Adecaes had the idea of building a training and cultural centre open to the 30,000 inhabitants of the neighborhood - whether Gypsies or not, youths and adults. Modeled on the popular universities, this centre, inaugurated on November 1, 2007, pursues two objectives: the training, vocational integration and medico social observation of the Gypsies, and the setting up of initiatives for meetings and exchanges open to all the population.

The courses offered in the vocational training program range from learning a language (Japanese is extremely popular) to management courses, including initiation into information processing and communication technologies. The priority targets, single mothers and unemployed, benefit from health advice, school support and aid in integration. Yet the "street children" and elderly and retired persons can also participate in the various teaching activities.

On the request of Adecaes, the Veolia Environnement Foundation decided to encourage this initiative by helping the association to renovate one of the training rooms and to equip it with office automation equipment. Throughout Bulgaria, the experiment conducted at Asparuhovo is singled out as exemplary: this centre, where the most destitute population can find advice, services and genuine training at the same time, is in fact raising fervent hopes to eradicate the process of exclusion and impoverishment in which so many Gypsies are trapped.

To start with, 60 persons will regularly take the courses, but very soon, due to the growth of the neighborhood, this number is bound to grow.