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.
Football Tournament: EU promotes friendship among Konik Communities
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“, the Help office in Podgorica organized on Saturday, 16th .05, 2015. a junior Football Friendship Tournament at the sports playground in Konik, in Spanskih boraca street, next to „Djina Vrbica„ kindergarten in Vrela Ribnicka.
The Football Friendship Tournament gathered four junior football teams: (i) FC Ribnica, (ii) Football team – RE Konik Camps 1&2 (FC MKM), (iii) FC Futura and (iv) FC Porto. Each football game lasted for 15 minutes.
FC Ribnica – gold medal
Football team – RE Konik Camps 1&2 (FC MKM) – silver medal
FC Futura and (iv) FC Porto – shared third place
The tournament has been planned with the support of the Local Community Unit – Konik, FC „Ribnica“ – Konik, Football Club MKM, NGO Fan Club of supporters of Montenegrin national team and Buducnost „Konik City“, NGO Association of Roma of Montenegro and the NGO RAE Council of the Camp Konik.
The Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Head of Help Montenegro sign Agreement on Cooperation
The Agreement defines further steps in cooperation between the signatories in the area of development of human rights and freedoms, by affirming the Constitution of Montenegro and legal provisions defining prohibition of all types of discrimination, with special focus on the vulnerable groups of population in our society. The agreement also refers to cooperation in the area of improvement of minority rights and freedoms, as well as gender equality.
Having in mind the importance and contribution for the issues of common interest, it was decided to activate dialogue between the Ministry and Help, since there are many common areas interest in improvement and protection of human rights in which both parties are very much involved and have established cooperation.
Equality of all citizens and protection of their human rights is neccesary for peace, sustainable democracy, stability and economic growth of the society.
The agreement foresees establisment of appropriate coordination mechanisms in coopera
Creativity for Inclusion of RAE Population
The goal of the project was to unite the RE youth population with their peers from majority groups in an inclusive community through a series of intensive workshops. The participants were trained in the fields of identity, discrimination and social inclusion. These issues were tackled with a creative twist. The youngsters were trained in the creative areas such as acting, the fine arts, film and media. Expert lecturers were interactive mentors for this project.
Implementation of the project ‘English Language for RE representatives’
The project „English language for RAE representatives“ started on Thursday, 12th February 2015 in the School of Languages “Double L” in Podgorica. The project is supported by the Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. and implemented by civil sector organization RAE Council of the Camp.
For this activity, funds have been provided through sub granting of RAE Council of the Camp within the project „Strengthening representation and integration of Roma, Ashkalia and Egyptians (RAE)” financed by the European Union through the EU Delegation in Montenegro.
The goal of the project is to contribute to representation and integration of RE population by providing the English course in duration of 3 month for 5 representatives of the RE.
Drivers of Change: Japanese Embassy enables School Bus Purchase
A contract on the donation of the Government of Japan was signed today in the Ministry of Education, by the Ambassador of Japan in Montenegro, HE Musafumi Kuroki, and Mr. Klaus R. Mock, Programme Coordinator of Help in Montenegro. The donation of the Japanese Embassy in the amount of 57,564 Euro will be used for the purchase of a bus for the transport of children from the Roma camps in Konik to 7 designated schools in Podgorica.
Approximately 220 children are in need of daily transport from the camps to schools and back home at the moment. All these children are in the age range from 5 to 10 years, not able to go to schools without organized escort. Children attend classes either in the morning or in the afternoon shifts, spending regular number of classes and participating in after school activities together with their siblings.
An important aspect for improving education of Roma pupils form the camps is the gradual closing of the segregated branch department of the primary school “Božidar Vuković Podgoričanin” operating in Konik Camp II and inclusion of the RE children in the process of education in seven desegregated primary schools in the territory of Podgorica.
Within the next three schools years, the number of these children will raise by another 80 to 90 annually, since desegregated school operating in camps area will be fully closed in June 2016.
One of the important steps to guarantee the inclusion of children to city-desegregated schools is to secure daily transport to schools outside the camps. It will provide safe transport facilities and thus ensure the children’s regular attendance to city schools. The Ministry of Education, as the program’s main liaison, will ensure institutionalization of desegregation process and partnership relationships with participating schools.
Project “Creativity for RE inclusion“ kick-off in Podgorica
The project „Creativity for RE inclusion“ started on Saturday 25th of February 2015 at the premises of the Cultural-informative Center „Budo Tomovic“ in Podgorica. The project is supported by the NGO Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. and implemented by civil sector organizations RAE Council of the Camp and ATAK. Supporting partners in the project are KIC „Budo Tomovic” as well as the Secondary Vocational and Higher Education School „Sergije Stanic”.
For these activities, funds have been provided through subgranting of RAE Council of the Camp within the project „Strengthening representation and integration of Roma, Ashkalia and Egyptians (RAE)” financed by the European Union through the EU Delegation in Montenegro.
The goal of the project is to contribute to representation and integration of RE population, through informal education of 8 RE participants and 8 of their peers of other nationalities from the local community.
The plan for the first part of the project foresees workshops for inclusive and creative practices meant for development of communication, social and artistic skills of the participants, followed by recording of interviews with the participants, in order to to provide skills for the youth to make media presentation and to get an opportunity to express their experience and points of view on the subjects of inclusion and participation of youth from the aspect of RE community in the Montenegrin society.
Workshops with renowned lecturers, through a specific program of informal learning, will be implemented in February and March 2015. The first workshop named „Identity and creativity“ was conducted by psychologist Ms Tamara Milic, on 21st February 2015. By treating the identity issues, the workshop has enabled the participants to interactively process the topics and tasks from the areas of identity, inter-culturality and creative practices. The next workshop will take place on Saturday 28th February at KIC „Budo Tomovic“.
Completion of four pre-fabricated Houses
On January 23rd, 2015
4 completed pre-fabricated houses, funded by the German Foreign Ministry, UNHCR and the Government of Montenegro were handed over to the Niksic Municipality according to the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 19.09.2014 by Mr. Veselin Grbovic, Mayor of Niksic and Mr. Klaus Mock, Representative of Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. in Montenegro.
The Municipality reaffirmed the purpose of the structures, which is to house primarily displaced Roma families. The obligations and rights of residents and the municipality are regulated in a separate lease contract for each of the future beneficiary-family representative.
The ceremony was attended by H.E. The Ambassador Gudrun Elisabeth Steinacker, UNHCR Representative in Montenegro, Mr. Mustafa Server Caylan as well as by other stakeholders in the project and the Roma beneficiaries who received the keys to their new homes.
Union of Employers of Montenegro and Help – Office in Podgorica sign Agreement on Cooperation
19 January 2015, Podgorica
Union of Employers of Montenegro and Help – Office in Podgorica have signed an Agreement on Cooperation. Objective of the agreement is to contribute to better and more efficient integration of RAE population through cooperation based on partnership within the project „Support to the Integration and Voluntary Return of RAE and other I/DPs Residing in Konik area – Phase II“.
The project is financed by the European Union, through the EU Delegation to Montenegro, and the Government of Montenegro and implemented by Help ant its partners. The agreement was signed by UEM Secretary General, Ms. Suzana Radulovic and Mr. Klaus Mock, Program Coordinator of Help.
The agreement stipulates cooperation between the parties with regard to providing internships and employing RAE population members. UEM shall inform the employers, Union members, on possibilities for hiring RAE population under conditions foreseen under a separate component of the project which makes available paid internships for RAE population members and produce promotional material for raising awarenes of the employers on the benefits deriving from hiring RAE population. All necessary technical support to the employers interested in hiring RAE shall be provided by Help.