Four housing units that were constructed within the EU funded project “Roma Action” were handed over to Roma families in Gorica settlement in Sarajevo on 16 December 2015. This project has supported the socio-economic inclusion of Roma in BiH, through housing and socio-economic measures with proactive participation and financial support of local authorities. Total of 149 housing units for vulnerable Roma families were constructed/reconstructed in 14 cities/municipalities across BiH through this project.
Dr. Renzo Daviddi, Charge d’affaires of the EU Delegation to BiH, said: “I am very happy to see the concrete results of the EU assistance that was provided through this project to Roma families in Sarajevo and throughout the country. We are glad that these results have been achieved in close cooperation with our implementing partners and local authorities. It is very important to provide houses for the Roma people, but it is also important to enhance their rights, their participation and to create economic conditions for them to live in a decent manner”.
Džemila Zahirović, one of the Roma families that received the keys of her new house could not hide the happiness. “This is a wonderful day for me and my family. I visited rooms that I rejoice in. Also, I look forward to providing a new life for my children“.
Following the handover ceremony, the “Roma Action” project held the Final Conference in Sarajevo with aim to present its results as well as further steps to support implementation of the revised action plans for the Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In her opening remarks, Suzana Jašarević, the Director of main implementing partner, Hilfswerk Austria International (HWA), pointed out the results achieved during the project, commending the EU for the continuous support to this issue.
Dr. Daviddi emphasised the importance of Roma issues for the EU: “In addition to provision of proper and permanent housing solutions to vulnerable Roma families in BiH, the project also provided urgent measures (food and hygiene) to support 246 Roma families affected by May 2014 floods in Bijeljina, Tuzla, Vukosavlje and Kakanj. The project has also organised local promotional campaigns to promote civil registration, access to education, employment, job coaching and health care of Roma population. Overall, more than 1.300 individuals have directly benefited from the project“.
The project was financed by the EU through IPA 2011 in the amount of EUR 2,5 million and co-funded by local authorities in the amount of EUR 545.037. It was implemented by Hilfswerk Austria International (HWA), in partnership with Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V (ASB) and Kali Sara – RIC Association.
The EU has allocated additional funding in the amount of EUR 2.5 million from IPA 2013, to cover the second phase of the support to the national Roma Action Plan for the housing and supporting measures prioritizing families affected by May 2014 floods. The implementation has started in October 2015 with the same partners, HWA, ASB and Kali Sara.
The handover ceremony and the conference were attended by Mayor of Sarajevo Centre, Dževad Bećirević, representatives of the BiH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees and FBiH Ministry of Displaced Persons and Refugees, Elmir Bojadžić, Director of ASB, Dervo Sejdić, Vice-president of the Kali Sara, as well as mayors of other beneficiary municipalities/cities, representatives of the civil society organisations, international organisations and Roma.
