Partners - Dobrich Municipality

Dobrich is building up its image of a modern, fast growing European city. More and more the city becomes a centre of innovation, creative energy and beauty. Dobrich is already the second largest city and industrial centre in North East Bulgaria and the eighth biggest city in the whole country. Dobrich covers an area of 109 km2 and has a population of 89 472 inhabitants.
Twelve per cent of the total population of Dobrich is Roma. The Roma belong to the poorest segment of the local community and are facing problems with regard to health and hygiene. Another Roma issue is the high level of long term unemployment: a substantial part of the Roma population has difficulties in finding as well as in keeping jobs. Research has shown that Roma also contribute to the high level of crime.
In Dobrich there is several numbers of schools, dominated by Roma children - about 5 of 17. Despite of this, the level of education is low and the illiteracy is high. Research shows that there is a lack of desire for education and vocational training and that Roma parents don’t encourage their children to attend school.
The Municipality has general and specific programs to tackle Roma issues and to promote a higher participation of Roma into society. For example, Roma is one of the target groups in the program for collaboration in ethnic and demographic issues (2011-2015). INTEGROMA municipality project was successfully completed in 2010 and were created conditions for development and integration of young Roma talents in art, science and sports with the active participation and support of their parents and teachers. The Dobrich Municipality expects grant by Ministry of labour and social policy of 550 000 euro for prevention of social exclusion and decreasing poverty among children. The purpose is for investments in early aged childhood development, improvement of well grounded of children for inclusion to the educational system and support for development of parents’ skills.  The project’s objective is limitation of poverty and its’ transfer between generations.

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