Celebrating Roma Day: Sport and cultural Events
Within the EU funded project „Promotion and protection of human rights of Roma, Egyptians and other vulnerable groups“, Help- Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe in cooperation with the Red Cross of Montenegro, have organized several activities on the occasion of Roma Day celebration on April 8, 2017. Planned events have been implemented with the assistance of the elementary school Bozidar Vukovic Podogricanin.
Football Tournament for 6 local football teams, juniors and seniors (18+) have been organized on Thursday, 06 04 2017, with the assistance of FC Ribnica. The Tournament gathered the following teams: FC Ribnica, FC teams from Konik camp 1 and Konik camp 2, Red Cross volunteers team and the team of the elementary school Bozidar Vukovic. The Tournament took place in the sports field in front of the elementary school Bozidar Vukovic Podgoricanin in Konik at 13h.
A celebration on the occasion of Roma Day have been organized by Help, Red Cross Montenegro and the elementary school Bozidar Vukovic Podgoricanin, on Friday, 07. 04 2017. This celebration started with the opening words given by Ms. Jelena Dubak, General Secretary of Red Cross Montenegro, representative of the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights Mr Ramiz Sahman, and representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare Ms. Dragica Vucinic. The Programme started at 11h and it was composed of the musical part and the art performances prepared by the elementary school children.
Internship Training in Podgorica: Public Call for interested Roma and Egyptians
Public Call for Roma and Egyptians interested in internship training in Podgorica within the project “Social Inclusion of Roma and Egyprians through employment”.
Implemented in partnership with the Capital City of Podgorica, under the operational program “Human resources development 2012-2013 IPA IV component” announces the
Public call
For Roma and Egyptians interested in internship training in Podgorica
Public Call for Employers interested in providing internship training for RE population in Podgorica
German organization Help, within the project
Social Inclusion of Roma and Egyptians through employment
Implemented in the partnership with the Capital City of Podgorica, under the operational program “Human resources development 2012-2013 IPA IV component” announces the
Public call
For employers interested in providing internship for RE population in Podgorica.
Social Inclusion of Roma and Egyptians through Employment
On 3rd February 2017, Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe and Ministry of Finance signed the contract on implementation of the project Social Inclusion of Roma and Egyptians through employment.
The overall objective is to contribute to social inclusion of RE (Roma and Egyptian) population; to foster employability of RE and to increase social integration of RE through better access to employment and social rights. It is planned to provide internship for more than 20 Roma and Egyptians and motivate employers to recruit members of this group.
Help and Capital Podgorica will also establish working group to develop the occupational standards for the new Associate position in Social Inclusion of RE for Social Affairs.
The project will last for 12 months and will be implemented in partnership with the country’s capital Podgorica.
Capital City Podgorica: Link
Call of Proposals for sub – granting under the Project ‘Promotion and protection of human rights od Roma, Egyptians and other vulnerable groups’
Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe
Is seeking proposals for projects of RE civil society organizations
that are strengthening the role of civil society among RE population, promote RE culture, tradition and RE social and political activism. The deadline for submission of proposals is 60 days. The results will be published at the website www.help-ev.co.me.
To be eligible under the Call for Proposals, CSOs´ applications must consist of the application form logical framework and the budget in forms provided under this call of proposals. Full information on the Application procedure is available in the document Guidelines for Applicants.
The application package accompanied by supporting documents underlined in the Guidelines for Applicants available at www.help-ev.co.me. has to be submitted in hard copy plus on a CD to the following address: Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, Oktobarske revolucije 122/3, 81 000 Podgorica.
Electronic and printed version must be the same. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
For enquiries please send an email to: helphelp@t-com.me until 01 March 2017.
The deadline for submission of applications is 13 April 2017 at 16h00 local time.
Before submission of the application, please read full information on the Application procedure, available in the document Guidelines for Applicants.
APPLICATION FORM
GUIDELINES FOR APPLICANTS IN SUB-GRANTING
LOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROJECT
ANEX A – Rules for this call for proposals
BUDGET
Promotion and Protection of human rights of Roma, Egyptians and other vulnerable groups
On 20th December 2016 Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe signed the contract with the Delegation of the European Union in Montenegro for the implementation of the new project ‘Promotion and protection of human rights of Roma, Egyptians and other vulnerable groups’. The project will ensure overall improvement of the situation of RE population as main target groups and strengthen state and local governments technical and management capacities to continue strengthening the position of RE population in the Montenegrin society.
This action will be implemented in Podgorica, Niksic and Berane and the results to be achieved are covering employment, education health and social inclusion as 4 areas of social inclusion.
The project will last for 18 months and will be implemented in partnership with the Government of Montenegro, International Red Cross Montenegro, REF and CEDEM.
New children’s playground in Konik
The new children playground is opened on Wednesday, 21 December 2016 at 11.00 hrs, in the Isidora Sekulic street in Konik settlement. The playground is joint activity of Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe and the Local Community Unit Konik financed by the German Embassy in Podgorica.
Based on the request made by the Local Community Unit Konik and Help, the German Embassy approved 10 000 Euro for this purpose. The playground is composed of 7 slides, 2 swings, seesaw, climber, merry go round and few more wooden elements provided for smaller children. Two speed control bumps are installed near the playground. The Local Community Unit Konik with the support of Podgorica Capital City provided infrastructure, gravel and greening.
Konik is multi-ethnic environment with residents belonging to different ethnic groups (Montenegrin, Roma, Albanian, and Muslim). The objective of this project is to contribute to the upgrading of the area by improving the living conditions and to provide playground facilities for children living in this marginalized area of Podgorica. The absence of playgrounds for children and recreational activities for teenagers is a real problem in this area. The construction of a new green park comprising a playground is one of the steps foreseen by the LCU to strengthening the community and implement measures that lead to the well-being of its residents.
The children playground is opened and hopefully will be the new venue of residents for meeting and recreation.
Closing Conference for Julia Taft project: ‘Strengthening the role of civil society in RE population’
On Wednesday, 14th December 2016 Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe organized closing conference for the Julia Taft project Strengthening the role of civil society in RE population implemented by Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe and financed by the US Embassy in Podgorica. Aiming to assist RE civil activism, this project focused on capacity building of RE civil society organizations by providing sub granted actions.
During 1 year, the 3 organizations have implemented 7 sub granting projects in 2 sub granting cycles.
NGO RAE Council of the Camp from Konik, Podgorica implemented 3 projects: (1) Inclusion of Roma through the education and creativity (2) Creating a better future of young Roma from Konik camps through sports. and (3) Traveling through Montenegro. NGO Rose from Berane implemented 3 projects: (1) English classes for young Roma from Berane (2) Better health protection of RE women in Berane and (3) English classes for RE children and Better health protection of RE women in Berane. NGO Walk with us from Podgorica implemented one project Step towards Activism.
Each of the projects lasted for 3 months and the latest activities have been completed by of November 2016.
Start of the new project ‘On-the-job training and mentoring for women and youth, with focus on the North-East region’
The EU funded project ‘On-the-job training and mentoring for women and youth – with focus on the North-East region’ has started on the 1st of November 2016 and will last for one year.
The action includes a set of activities that will help decrease unemployment of women and youth in the country. The action puts special focus on the less-developed municipalities on the North-East of the country that have almost 6 times higher unemployment rates than the coastal region and about 3 times higher than the central region. While unemployed women and youth from all 3 regions will be able to participate in the programme the majority of participants (60%) will be from the municipalities of Berane, Petnjica, Andrijevica and Plav.
The project will be implemented by Help in partnership with the NGO Business Women Association Montenegro and the Municipality of Berane.
12 motivation workshops will be organized during December for interested employers and unemployed. The workshops provide the opportunity to provide more detailed information about the project and to familiarize potential beneficiaries with requirements of the labour market and opportunities offered. Application forms are available on the web site of Help and in Help’s offices in Berane and Podgorica, as well as in the offices of partners on the project – the Municipality of Berane (Regional Business Centre) and Business Women Association.
The value of the action funded by the European Union and Montenegro is 189,580.00 EUR.
Conference and Promotion of the Catalogue “Paid Internship for Support of Better Employment of People with Disabilities”
Since January 2016, Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe Office in Podgorica is implementing project Paid Internship for Support of Better Employment of People with Disabilities financed by Employment Agency of Montenegro and in partnership with Association of Paraplegics Podgorica.
Through intensive 11 months, Help Office in Podgorica employed 12 people with disabilities, in 10 private companies / NGOs, in three Montenegrin municipalities: Podgorica, Niksic and Herceg Novi.
Project participants:
- 12 interns / people with disabilities: Ivana Milović, Slađana Stijepović, Luka Asanović, Ljindon Ljucović, Jelena Vekić, Suzana Koprivica, Danilo Gojković, Dragica Vujović, Mladen Tomanović, Miroslav Markovic, Radoš Bigović i Nemanja Batinić.
- 10 employers: six NGOs – Alfa centar Nikšić, Green Home, CGO, Udruženje paraplegičara Nikšić, Nova šansa u Novom, Udruženje lica sa invaliditetom Malesije and four private companies: Alkoset Doo, Garant NK Doo, Mare amare Doo i Auto škola Filip.
The project was financed by the Employment Agency of Montenegro and particularly supported by Employment Bureaus of Nikšić, Herceg Novi and Podgorica.
Facilitating access to health services for RE population
Facilitating access to health services for RE population Project is being implemented by Help Office, since March 2016, in the municipalities Berane and Niksic. This project addresses the unsatisfied needs for adequate access to health of the Roma and Egyptian communities in Montenegro and is in line with the Montenegrin Government’s Strategy for Improving the Position of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro 2012 – 2016.
The main objectives of the project are to build the capacity of 10 Health mediators/ Associates in social inclusion for health to provide assistance and services in accordance with their scope of work and to improve access to health services for 1000 Roma and Egyptians.
The project will be implemented for one year; it is financed by the German Government in the amount of EUR 122.000.
Community Action: 2-day Workshop: “Unity and Diversity of Konik Settlement Communities”
The Help Office in Podgorica in cooperation with the RAE Council of the camp, Association of Women in Konik, Local Community Unit Konik and local footbal club Ribnica, have organized 2-day Workshop “Unity and Diversity of Konik Settlement communities” on 8 – 9 July 2016 in Ivanova Korita.
This workshop gathered representatives from the above listed organizations as a result of 2-year cooperation through the various community activities implemented in Konik Settlement. Approximately 20 children (Roma and non Roma) that have participated in artistic and sports activities in previous 2 years attended the workshop.
2-day workshop was composed of painting classes, swimming, football and voleyball competitions. Participants received diplomas at the end of the 2 day programme.
2-day Workshop is organized within the EU/Government of Montenegro funded project „Assistance program for integration and voluntary return of RAE and other I/DPs residing in Konik area – Phase 2“. It is organized towards bringing all residents of the Konik settlement together. The aim of such actions is to abolish the notion of the Konik camps being a ghetto within this community.
12 People with Disabilities participate in the Paid Internship Programme in municipalities Niksic, Herceg Novi and Podgorica
The Help Office in Podgorica provided employment possibilities for 12 people with disabilities in three Montenegrin municipalities through the project: Paid Internship for Support of Better Employment of People with Disabilities. Five persons have been employed n Niksic four in Podgorica and three Herceg Novi.
Help Office in Podgorica provided paid internship in private companies and non-governmental organizations for the period of 6 months. During this period, employers do not have financial obligations, but to provide working conditions and the training for the person with disabilities.
Ten employers expressed interest to participate in this project; 4 private companies: (Garant NK, Driving School Filip, Nikšić – Bookstore So (Amare mare private company) from Herceg Novi, Alkoset private company from Herceg Novi and 6 NGOs: Green Home and CGO from Podgorica, Association of People with Disabilities of Malesija from Tuzi, Alfa Centre from Nikšić, Association of Paraplegics of Nikšić and Nova šansa u Novom from Herceg Novi. Some of the NGOs remployed 2 persons with disabilities such as: NGO Green Home form Podgorica and NGO Alfa Centre from Niksic.
This project is funded by the Employment Agency of Montenegro and implemented in partnership with the Association of Paraplegics of Podgorica.
Community Activity: Let’s do it Montenegro 20 May 2016
Let’s do it Montenegro is a part of the Let’s Do It Mediterranean (LDIM), a civic led campaign that brings together different organizations, groups and individuals from all Mediterranean countries with the aim of cleaning up the Mediterranean Sea together with the help of a massive number of volunteers.
Help Office in Podgorica took a part in this movement by gathering over 30 local stakeholders from Konik settlement, members of the local football club Ribnica, friends, colleagues and children to participate in the joint action Let’s do it Montenegro scheduled for Friday, 27 May 2016.
During this action each of the participants contributed by collecting at least one bag of garbage or more. Cleaning material was provided by the NGO Zid, and our cleaning zone was at Spanskih boraca street, from the kindergarten Djina Vrbica to the sports playground.
In order to properly inform local stakeholders, Help Office in Podgorica organized a week before, on Tuesday, 17 May an info day, together with the NGOs ZID and Crnogorski zenski loby.
This and similar actions are organized within the EU/Government of Montenegro funded project „Assistance program for integration and voluntary return of RAE and other I/DPs residing in Konik area – Phase II“ in order to bring all residents of the Konik settlement together. The aim of such activities is to abolish the notion of the Konik camps being a ghetto within this community.
Better employment opportunities for potential users of RHP in Beran
On the 20th April 2016 at the company D.O.O. Express Bau – Berane, which is situated in the industrial zone Rudeš, we visited the interns Dobrila Latinović i Stana Dofek, hired through the program of paid internship.
They have been working for 4 months now in the recently established company for manufacturing furniture. This job opportunity is part of the project “Better employment opportunities for potential users of RHP in Berane”, which is realized by Help and financed by the US Department of State – through the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.
After the war in Bosnia in the 90s and coming to Montenegro, Berane, Dobrila and Stana had the refugee status until 2011 and 2013, when they received the Montenegrin citizenship. However their financial situation was not improved by gaining the citizenship; they were still living in the refugee settlement Rudeš. Despite the many years of experience as the mechanical technicians, they could not find jobs in their field of work in Montenegro. The need to support their families did not give them the chance to choose jobs. Instead, they ended up working the hardest jobs, as most of the refugees/DPs do.
Today they are satisfied with the working conditions in the field of work that is similar to their. They pointed out that this job means a lot to them because they can improve their skills and provide better life for themselves. The team work is suitable for them, because as they say, their results can stand out when working as a team.
Dobrila and Stana are working on sewing and tailoring, of textile mostly and in that way give contribution to the manufacturing process in this company.
They are hired for the first time in this kind of project, and they receive regularly payments, what motivates them to work. They are hoping for more projects like this and would gladly participate again.
Roma Day Celebration
On the occasion of Roma Day celebration (8th April) Help Office in Podgorica organized several activities starting with Football Tournament organized in cooperation with the Red Cross of Montenegro on Wednesday 5th April. The Tournament was organized for 12 local football teams, juniors and seniors (18+)with the support of local stakeholders: FC Ribnica, FC MKM and the NGO RAE Council of the Camp.
The next day on Thursday, 6th April, Help Office organized the Musical Play & Exhibition „One can do as much as possible and a bit more” Dusko Radovic, within the Julia Taft Programme, through the implementation of the RAE Council of the Camp subgranted project. This event was organized in the Bozidar Vukovic Podgoricanin School and RE children from Konik camps 1 and 2 participated in the programme.
On 7th April, Help Office Awarded Certificates for twenty participants in the Vocational Training Programme. The participants are young people, RE population members, that live in camps 1 and 2 in Konik.
Completion of business training for IGA grants beneficiaries
At the conference room of the Regional Business Centre in Berane a 3-day business training was held for beneficiaries of IGA grants within the project “Better employment opportunities for potential users of RHP in Berane”.
The participants in the training were introduced to the basics of starting their own business. The trainer was Mrs. Ljiljana Belada from the Directorate for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises.
Lectures for 50 grant beneficiaries were organized on 24 to 26 March 2016 covering following themes:
- Business basics
– Enterprise registration
– Business idea development
– Accounting and tax system
- Marketing function
– Internet marketing
– Business communication.
Julia Taft: Sub granting project RAE Council of the Camp
Within the JT Project “Strengthening the role of civil society in RE population” RAE Council of the camp started with implementation of the sub granting programme Inclusion of Roma through the education and creativity.
Project is designed as several months long creative process, composed of more than 20 art workshops (acting, painting & drawing) that will result in the form of art show and exhibition in Kic Budo Tomovic and DODEST, end of the March 2016.
With the support of American corner, workshops started in December 2015. and include children of RE and non-Re population from Konik.
Innovation for equal opportunities
On 15th March 2016, Help Office in Podgorica participated in the Innovated Ideas Fair: Innovation for equal opportunities, organized by CSOs Juventas and SOS phone for women and children – victims of violence, at the EU Info Center in Podgorica.
Among 14 organizations of Montenegrin civil society, Help Office presented short video followed by presentation on community activities implemented in Konik settlement in Podgorica.
Community activities are one of the components of the comprehensive EU/Government of Montenegro funded project „Assistance program for integration and voluntary return of RAE and other I/DPs residing in Konik area – Phase II“
Community Activities: Firefighting equipment for the elementary school Bozidar Vukovic Podgoricanin
Within the EU/Government of Montenegro funded project „Assistance program for integration and voluntary return of RAE and other I/DPs residing in Konik area – Phase II“, Help office in Podgorica provided funds for renovation of firefighting equipment in the elementary school Bozidar Vukovic Podgoricanin in Konik.
The request for such action Help Office received from the Ngo RAE Council of the Camp, active in the refugee camps in Konik. Together with the Local Community Unit from Konik and School management, this Ngo initiated action for renovation of firefighting equipment.
This and similar actions are organized in order to bring all residents of the Konik settlement together.The aim of such activities is to abolish the notion of the Konik camps being a ghetto within this community.
Better employment opportunities for potential users of Regional Housing Programme in Berane
In Berane was held a motivation workshop for employers in cooperation with the Municipality of Berane and Employment Agency, Bureau of employment in Berane.
The workshop was organized within the component of paid internship through project “Better employment opportunities for potential users of Regional Housing Programme in Berane, Montenegro.
The first contracts have been signed with employers for paid internship of unemployment people, for a period of 6 months.
This program is financed by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration and includes socially vulnerable households in the settlements Rudeš I and II.
Paid Internship for Support of Better Employment of People with Disabilities
Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. office in Podgorica and Employment Agency of Montenegro signed the contract on 18th December 2015, deriving from the grant for the areas of employment, rehabilitation and active policy in employment of the people with disabilities.
The Project “Paid Internship for Support of Better Employment of People with Disabilities” in amount of 50.000 Euro will be used to provide employment for 12 persons with disabilities in the period of 6 months in Podgorica, Herceg Novi and Niksic. Partner in this project is the Association of Paraplegics of Podgorica http://www.osipodgorica.me/ and the project will be implemented in the period of 10 months (January – November 2016.).
Distribution of Sports outfits
Complimentary to the EU funded project „Assistance program for integration and voluntary return of RAE and other I/DPs residing in Konik area – Phase 2“, Help with support of the NGO RAE Council of the Camp and colleagues from the REF and the Red Cross distributed on 28 December 2015 sports outfits for physical education classes for 156 pupils (Roma children) in Camp 1 in Konik/Podgorica.
The Initiative for this event was supported by a group of volunteers from Leipzig (Germany), handball fans from this city who aremembers of the volunteer organization „Responsibility for refugees.“ This organization was founded with the goal to provide assistance to the Roma population in the Balkan countries. A 5 member team of volunteers from Leipzig participated in this event in Konik. They brought sports outfits for Roma children attending elementary school Bozidar Vukovic Podgoricanin in Konik, Podgorica. They also donated 400 EUR for another 37 pairs of sports shoes and 7 boxes of lego games for the kindergarten in Konik camp 1. A similar event took already place in February 2015.
The aim of such actions is to abolish the notion of the Konik camps being a ghetto within this community.
Distribution of Cargo Bikes
In the past two months, Help office in Podgorica distributed sixty cargo bikes to the RE inhabitants from Konik camps 1 and 2, and a Private Settlement. Cargo bikes have been delivered together with the necessary equipment of small tools. The allocation of cargo bikes was accompanied with reliable and professional driving education classes organized with the support of “Braca Bojovic” Auto School from Podgorica, aiming to attain confident and safe driving skills.
“Braca Bojovic” Auto School voluntarily participated in this action, providing trainers for our beneficiaries and organizing trainings on their premises.
Distribution took place as part of the income generating component of the project “Support of integration and voluntary return of RAE and other IDPs living in Konik area” and was financed by the EU.
Community Activities: Children visit the Mounted Police Force
Within the EU/Government of Montenegro funded project “Assistance program for integration and voluntary return of RAE and other IDPs residing in Konik area – Phase II”, Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. in cooperation with NGO Juventas, has organized the visit to the Police Mounted Team in Montenegro for 40 children from Konik camps 1 and 2.
The police team hosted the children and introduces them with basic features of police horses, their equipment as well as the purpose of their use. The children had the opportunity to observe exercises with police dogs and horses, as well as to get more familiar with the activities of this Police Unit. The visit took place on December 22.
Vocational Training: future assistant positions
Help Office in Podgorica, in cooperation with ZOPT d.o.o. provided Vocational training for 20 participants- RE inhabitants from refugee camps 1 and 2 in Konik. Vocational training classes started in mid October and will last for 3 months. This programme will be used to train participants for the following assistant positions: 5 construction carpenters, 5 scaffold workers, 9 tailors and one car mechanic.
Vocational Training is a component of the project “Support of integration and voluntary return of RAE and other I/DPs living in Konik area” and is financed by the European union and Government of Montenegro.
Community Activities: Slowing down for Speed Bumps
Within the EU/Government of Montenegro funded project “Assistance program for integration and voluntary return of RAE and other IDPs residing in Konik area – Phase II”, Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. together with the Local Community Unit in Konik and LSG Service on Wednesday, 02.12.2015. installed two speed bumps on Spanskih boraca public street, in Vrela ribnicka, Konik.
The Speed Bumps were placed in two most frequent locations: next to Djina Vrbica kindergarten and before the entrance into Konik camp 1.
Based on a request made by the NGO RAE Council of the camp, this activity is implemented for safety reasons, aiming to prevent reckless driving and accidents. The aim of such actions is to abolish the notion of the Konik camps being a ghetto within this community
Better Employment Opportunities for potential Beneficiaries of the Regional Housing Program in Berane
In late September 2015 Help started with the implementation of the project „Better employment opportunities for potential beneficiaries of the Regional Housing Program in Berane“. The project will last for 12 months.
The general objective of the project is to contribute to the inclusion of displaced persons being the most vulnerable population into the socio-economic life in Montenegro; the project is complementary to the Regional Housing Programme.
The activities are financed by the American government through the Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration and aim to support on socially vulnerable households in Rudes I and II settlements.
Programme goals are:
– improving the livelihood of potential users of RHP (DPs and IDPs) in Berane municipality based on employment opportunities,
– strengthening the capacities of the Municipality of Berane in social housing management and employment actions for vulnerable groups,
– strengthening capacities of stakeholders included in Regional Housing Programme (RHP) in all 4 countries through the exchange of best practices.
Organizing of motivational workshops for training the beneficiaries on how to apply for income generation grants is in progress. The beneficiaries will also be able to apply for the paid 6 months internship programme with selected employers.
Julia Taft Programme: Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in RE Population
In order to develop capacities of the civil societies in RE population in Montenegro and their services, Help– Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. and American Embassy implements the project Strengthening the role of civil society in RE population through the completion of Julia Taft programme. This project will focus on capacity building of 2 RE CSOs: The Rose from Berane and RAE Council of the camp from Podgorica.
First capacity building workshop took place on the 11th and 13th of November in Berane and in Podgorica when the call for proposals was anounced. The call for proposals will be open until 30th of November 2015.
Community Activities: Soccer Match
Within the EU/Government of Montenegro funded project „Assistance program for integration and voluntary return of RAE and other I/DPs residing in Konik area – Phase II“, Help-Hilfe zurSelbsthilfe e.V. organized a soccer game on Saturday 7th November, 2015. between the Football team – RE Konik Camps 1&2 (FC MKM) and the FC Ribnica, a team from a neighborhood in Konik.
The goal of this game was to announce new winter-spring Konik sports season. The game was played on the construction site for the new football stadium FK Ribnica. The game ended with FC Ribnica beating FC MKM 4-2, and has been organized with the support of FC Ribnica, FC MKM and NGO RAE Council of the Camp.
This Sport event was organized in order to bring all residents of the Konik settlement together. The aim of such actions is to abolish the notion of the Konik camps being a ghetto within this community.
Community activities: Distributing Hygiene Materials
Within the EU/Government of Montenegro funded project „Assistance program for integration and voluntary return of RAE and other IDPs residing in Konik area – Phase II“, the Help office in Podgorica organized on Wednesday, 21 October 2015, a distribution of hygienic material for 20 families from Private Accomodation and Konik camps 1 and 2.
On request NGO RAE Council of the camp, Help office with the assistance of health mediators distributed 40 packages of SUMIFEN shampoo. Remaining hygienic materials will be distributed according to the needs and plans made by mediators.
Income Generation: Distribution of Chain Saws as Tools
Based on the test results provided in June for 62 candidates (17 for mowers and 45 for chain saws), 27 candidates, RE inhabitants from camp Konik 1 and 2 received the chain saws in September 2015. The tools have been distributed to those men who passed the test and proved that they had a previous knowledge of these tools.
Allocation of chain saws took place as part of the income generating component of the project „Support of integration and voluntary return of RAE and other I/DPs living in Konik area“financed by the EU.
Distribution of mowers is planned for spring, and distribution of cargo bikes will be undertaken by the end of 2015.
DORRA Jewelry Sale Stand in Herceg Novi and Kotor
The Roma women from DORRA workshop in Herceg Novi have opened sales stands in Herceg Novi and Kotor. A sale for unique jewelry by DORRA, which was developed within the project “Increasing employability of Roma women in Herceg Novi”, is located in an attractive location on the Herceg Novi promenade.
The sales stands have been established by the local NGO Mladi Romi with the assistance of Help and financial support from the German Embassy in Podgorica.
Help continues its intensive support of Roma women to start their own businesses. These activities were started in Konik (Podgorica), and then, based on the positive experiences from Podgorica, expanded to Herceg Novi. The local partner Mladi Romi has provided space for the workshop while supplies and jewelry making tools were provided by Help through a project funded by the German Foreign Ministry.
The Deputy German Ambassador in Podgorica, Uwe Meerkötter, and the Director of Help Montenegro, Klaus Mock, visited the sales stands on 18 August 2015.
Based on the approval of the Municipality of Kotor and the Municipality of Herceg Novi the sales stands were placed in attractive tourist sites in the Old City of Kotor and on the plateau of Danica Tomašević’s staircase in Herceg Novi. The sale stands will be available until the end of the tourist season in September. All income from sales will be used to purchase new materials and maintain the sustainability of the workshop DORRA Nuova in Herceg Novi.
Durable Housing Solutions for 8 Roma Families
The Director of Help Montenegro, Mr. Klaus Mock, the president of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, Ms. Nataša Aćimović, and the Deputy Ambassador of the Germany in Podgorica, Mr. Uwe Meerkötter signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of six prefabricated houses for eight socially vulnerable Roma families in Herceg Novi. The signing took place on Tuesday 18th August 2015.
The German Foreign Ministry, through the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, has granted Euro 176,890 Euros for this project that will permanently solve the housing problems of 23 Roma who are now living in shacks in Šištet settlement.
The Municipality of Herceg Novi provided the land in the settlement Drenovik and will ensure the connection to the infrastructure, i.e. access road, electricity and water.
Junior Football Friendship Tournament in Niksic
Within the EU/Government of Montenegro funded project „Assistance program for integration and voluntary return of RAE and other IDPs residing in Konik area – Phase II“, the Help office in Podgorica organized on Wednesday, 1 July 2015, a Junior Football Friendship Tournament in Niksic. The Tournament gathered all juniors from football clubs FC MKM and FC Niksic, born between 2003 and 2006.
The youngest football players of FC MKM won against FC Niksic with 11:1, while the older ones lost with 2:1.
The Tournament has been organized with the support of FC MKM, FC Niksic and NGO RAE Council of the Camp.
This Sport event is organized in order to bring all residents of the Konik settlement together.The aim of such actions is to abolish the notion of the Konik camps being a ghetto within this community.
Fashion Show: Jewely from Roma Crafts Workshop
A fashion show of handicraft jewelry „Konik Accessories“ took place onThursday 18th June 2015 in the garden of the Gavroche Cultural Center in Podgorica.The goal of the fashion show was to present to the audience the hand crafted jewelry produced by talented Roma women who live and work in Vrela Ribnicka, in camps 1 and 2 in Konik. The jewelry is made of the finest materials, while the esthetics of these artistic products very much relies to Roma heritage.
The models who took part in this event are young women from the community/volunteers, who wanted to support the efforts and work of the girls from the Dorra workshop.
„Konik Accessories“ fashion show is a joint event of NGO Dorra, NGO Gavroche and NGO Association of Women in Konik, initiated by the Help Office in Podgorica. The show and the DORRA workshop are part of the EU/Government of Montenegro funded project „Support to the integration and voluntary return of I/DPs and Konik camp residents – Phase II“.
Use of gardening Tools: Testing for Skills
Tests have been organized by Helpon Wednesday, 10 June 2015 in order to distribute mowers and chain saws to RE inhabitants from camp Konik 1 and 2. These tests took place as part of the income generating component of the project „Support of integration and voluntary return of RAE and other IDPs living in Konik area“ financed by the EU.
These tools will enhance the ability of inhabitants of the camp to be employed for gardening-and-woodcutting jobs and so help them improve their income independently.The tools will only be distributed to those men who proved that they had a previous knowledge of these tools.
In total 62 candidates (17 for mowers and 45 for chain saws) tried to display their skills in front of professional technicians.
Portait of the artistic Craft Workshop DORRA for Roma Women
The workshop started operating in September 2013 as part of the income generating component of the project „Support of integration and voluntary return of RAE and other I/DPs living in Konik area“, financed by the EU and was brought to life byHelp-HilfezurSelbsthilfee.V.
After almost two years of existence, DORRA has been expanding in terms of workforce and amount of sold-products. In total, up to eight young girls aged between 16 and 29 years old work almost every day at the workshop, mostly making jewelries out of materials that they themselves choose to command. Other crafts are also practiced, for instance sewing.
More than 4000 thousand euros revenue have been generated since establishing DORRA. The products are being sold at different craft-fairs in Montenegrin malls, mostly in Podgorica.
A one-month-long course in jewelries-and-sewing craft had been provided before opening the workshop for the first participants. The new-comers have been taught by the ones who already had gained experience.
The prices of the jewelries go up to a maximum of twenty euros, half of the price being attributed to the women who made the jewelry, the rest being used to buy new materials and extract savings.
Now an NGO, the goal of DORRA is to become a social enterprise after the Montenegrin legal fram
Football Match: promoting Friendship between different Konik Communities
Help-Hilfe zurSelbsthilfe e.V organized a soccer game on Thursday, 29th May 2015 between the Football team – RE Konik Camps 1&2 (FC MKM) and the FC Ribnica, a team from a neighborhood in Konik. The goal of this game was to promote friendship among the different communities living in Konik, the Roma refugees on the one hand and the domicile Roma on the other one.
On that occasion, ten balls, sponsored by the German Embassy, were distributed to children of the two teams as well as to Drazan Bulatovic, teacher at the Bozidar Vukovic Podgoricanin elementary school. The game ended with FC Ribnica beating FC MKM 3-2.
RAE Children’s first Visit to the Central Police Station in Podgorica
A series of five visits of the Central Police Station organized for RAE children from the Konik area started on Tuesday, 27th May 2015. It follows an initiative of the Ministry of Interior in coordination with Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V, the Red Cross Montenegro and thirteen other local organizations in the framework of the Program of Support to the RAE population of the Center for Security of Podgorica.
The objective is twofold. First the children can see that the Police are working on their side through a discussion with friendly policemen and women. Second they get to know how they can reach the Police and that the Police only intervene in serious cases, notably in one case which could concern them> domestic violence.
All visits include transportation of ten children of primary school of whom half of them are girls to the Police station in police vehicles. All children get to see different places in the police station and are provided with juice and sweets as well as with drawing materials.