Respect the traditions but be responsible!

<< Background >>APD Buzău submitted this application starting from the problems reported in the vulnerable Roma group, especially in Buzău. A study conducted in September 2022 showed that more than 65% of Roma interviewed agree with early marriages between their children, considering it to be an old tradition. Lack of education prevents them from understanding the risks and negative consequences of this on their lives and children.The project aimed to increase the level of information and education of Roma adults, with the help of experienced organizations, to make them aware of the risks and dangers of early marriages.Needs addressed:1. For vulnerable Roma adults, the project aims to: inform about the risks of early marriages, combat racism and discrimination, reduce school dropout and raise awareness of the negative impact of early marriages on children's health.2. For adults in the partners' own staff: participation in training programs on social mentoring for Roma3.For partner organisations: the project aims to train social mentors for Roma adults, update training programmes and develop international partnerships for social inclusion.<< Objectives >>The objectives proposed when submitting the application were:-increasing the level and skills of the 16 social mentors, selected from among the partner organizations, for working with the vulnerable Roma adult community, in the field of public communication and advocacy;-Informing/Awareness awareness, sensitizing at least 400 Roma adults from partner countries about the dangers and risks of early marriages among Roma children;-development of international relations and cooperation between partner organisations;-achieving a better social inclusion of Roma people involved.<< Implementation >>The activities implemented within the project were:-Management;- Selection of minimum 16 social mentors for the Roma community (minimum 4 social mentors / each partner organization);- Elaboration of the Course Support for the training course of social mentors for Roma;- Conducting the Training Course for social mentors for the Roma community;- Elaboration of the Information/Awareness Campaign Plan;- Carrying out the Information/Awareness Campaign in all partner countries, with the involvement of at least 400 adult Roma;-Development of a Concept/draft follow-up project KA220-ADU, using the results obtained within this project, as a continuation of it;-Organisation of local dissemination events within the partner countries and a transnational dissemination conference.<< Results >>The concrete results of the project, which exceeded the initial proposed targets, were:- 22 people selected, from among the staff of the partner organizations, to participate in the training course of social mentors for the Roma community-1 training Course support in English and translated into the languages of the partner countries-1 Training course for social mentors for Roma-22 social mentors for the Roma community, graduates of the training course, passed the test at the end of the course and received the Certificate at the end of the course.-12 participants (from ES, BG and NMK) to the Training Course who received the Europass Mobility Document-1 Plan of the Information/Awareness Campaign carried out-1 Information/Awareness Campaign organized and carried out in all partner countries, with the participation of 449 Roma adults -1 Concept of the KA220-ADU follow-up project carried out-9 local dissemination events, carried out in all partner countries, with the participation of 171 people (interested local stakeholders, social mentors, etc.)-1 Transnational dissemination conference held with the participation of 31 people from all partner countries