Romanian Roma have been living in Poland for more than 20 years with no access to basic public services such as health care, education, labour market, and housing. Around 100 Roma nationals inhabit an encampment in Wrocław, remaining exposed to social exclusion for reasons of irregular stay status, poor command of the Polish language, and strenuous living conditions.
The purpose of the project was to provide Romanian Roma with access to rights guaranteed to any EU citizen resident in a host membership country, to strengthen their position by offering computer-and-language courses and assistant help, to draft recommendations concerning co-operation with the Roma community, and to duly train Wrocław-based institutions.
As a result, 106 persons were assisted during formalities and issue handling, 6 persons attended computer-and-language courses, a brochure of instructions on working with the Romanian Roma in Poland was published, and 30 persons representing institutions based in Wrocław and Lower Silesia were trained. Five persons were identified as Roma community leaders.
Activities comprised a language-and-computer course tailored to meet group needs and interests, assistance in handling formalities (26 persons), help in pursuing claims in court and/or before the police and city guard (34 persons), action to make children part of the formal education system (16 children), and support at health care facilities (54 persons). To improve competencies of the host society in relations with the Roma community, 30 public officials, police officers, social workers, and medical staff were duly trained; ‘Romanian Roma in Poland. A Manual of Working with the Community’ was published.
Beneficiaries included 106 Roma representatives, and 44 children of Roma origin in Wrocław.
The Centre for Sustainable Development of the Wrocław Community (project partner) supported all activities, specifically the computer-and-language course and introducing children to the formal education system.