09/05/2014
FSG
The workshop that the World Bank has organised on 7, 8 and 9 May in the headquarters of the Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) in Madrid has just come to an end. More than 40 people, including representatives of seven Eastern European governments (Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Macedonia), World Bank officers and international experts, have taken part in the visit.
During the workshop participants had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of, among others, the main programs of the FSG: Acceder –focused on the training and employment of the Roma community- and Promociona –an educational support and guidance program aimed at achieving the academic success of the Roma students. Both programs are recognised at European level as examples of good practices for the inclusion of the Roma population thanks to their results and proven effectiveness.
Following the presentations of the programs from a theoretical point of view, the participants of the workshop could see how they are applied in practice visiting an Acceder employment office and a Promociona classroom, where they could talk to the members of the teams and users. There was also time to reflect and debate the applicability of the FSG experiences in Eastern European countries with large Roma populations.
“The experience of the Acceder and Promociona programs implemented by FSG and the Spanish government brings a unique perspective on how to design and implement effective solutions to labor market integration and skills upgrading for marginalized Roma, some of which could be tailored to the activation programs targeting marginalized Roma in Central and Eastern Europe”, says Roberta Gatti, Lead Economist at the World Bank’s Human Development Department in the Europe and Central Asia region.
“We are very grateful to Fundacion Secretariado Gitano for welcoming us here in Madrid. Our workshop is bringing together government representatives from seven Central and Eastern European countries with large Roma populations to learn and discuss good practices to promote access to productive employment for marginalized Roma in these countries”, continues Ms. Gatti.
Likewise, in his welcoming words, the Director of the Fundación Secretariado Gitano thanked the World Bank for choosing the headquarters of the FSG for this study-visit and for “considering the Foundation’s work methodology and experience in the search for effective solutions as regards the inclusion of the Roma population in Europe. The FSG is convinced that the employment is the gateway to inclusion. Acceder, our training and employment program, with more than 14 years of experience, shows that it is possible and has opened a path that all countries of the EU will have to follow if they really want to achieve a qualitative change in the situation of the six million Roma people in Europe. Sooner or later they will have to invest in effective programs aimed at promoting access to salaried employment. This is the key”.
