News « Roma Resource Centre

Eurodiaconia Annual General Meeting 13 - 15 June in Novi Sad

The 2012 Eurodiaconia Annual General Meeting will be held on 13 – 15 June in Novi Sad, Serbia and hosted by the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation.

The theme for this AGM is based around the impact of the Financial and Economic Crisis. Eurodiaconia can see an impact on the services they provide, as thier three reports on the crisis have shown. Eurodiaconia can see an impact on the rights and responsibilities it’s members should enjoy in Europe, particularly the right to access services and the responsibilities they have to develop participative communities where no one is left out or left behind. An impact on their values can be seen also. The question is raised, can Europe continue to have economies built on growth at any cost rather than developing socially cohesive societies? The way how Europe responds to these challenges also shapes diaconal identity od Eurodiaconia members. Throughout the AGM there will be opportunities to reflect on each of these elements through discussions, workshops, plenary sessions and informally.

For more information about the AGM 13-15 June event click here.

EHO and the municipality of Odžaci signed a Contract on a project grant

On March 7th 2012, in the premises of EHO, the mayor of Odžaci, Predrag Cvetanović and the director of EHO, Vladislav Ivičiak, signed a Contract on a project grant agreed between two parties for purpose of implementation of EHO project “Social Inclusion and Improvement of Living Conditions of Roma in the AP Vojvodina, R. Serbia”.

The project anticipates the improvement of living conditions for the 32 most endangered families of Roma ethnicity living in settlement Čerga in the village of Deronje, municipality of Odžaci.

During the project there will be also offered other services of the Roma Resource Centre of the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO RRC), such as educational assistance, vocational training, employment and self-employment, consultations and assistance in exercising certain rights.

In November 2011, EHO signed a Guarantee of financial participation on the project with the municipality of Odžaci and after the signing of the Contract on the project grant all the conditions have been met for funds to be transferred to the EHO account.

The municipality of Odžaci is participating in the project with RSD 1,800,000.00 and EHO with RSD 4,917,250.00.

The municipality of Odžaci had during the last two years carried out also other infrastructure investments – asphalting streets, emergency reconstructions of the houses and converting constructions to condominium in the settlement Čerga, in the village of Deronje, municipality of Odžaci in worth of RSD 2.7 million.

In addition to the project in the municipality of Odžaci, EHO RRC will act in the municipality of Ruma (Donji Petrovci) and Plandište (Margita), and also in Novi Sad (Adice).

For the year 2012 it is planned to improve the housing conditions in these 4 villages for 130 families who have no sanitation minimum. By the end of 2012 the Roma will build approximately 100 septic tanks, 130 bathrooms and in approximately 70 houses damaged parts will undergo small house repairs.

International and local partners:

HEKS (Swiss Interchurch Aid), Switzerland
SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation), Switzerland
FOM (Federal Office for Migration), Switzerland
The Principality of Liechtenstein
NCA (Norwegian Church Aid), Norway
MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Norway

EHO and the municipality of Plandište signed a Contract on a project grant

On March 6th 2012, in the premises of the Municipality Plandište, the mayor of Plandište, Zoran Vorkapić and the director of EHO, Vladislav Ivičiak, signed a Contract on a project grant agreed between two parties for the purpose of implementation of EHO project “Social Inclusion and Improvement of Living Conditions of Roma [...]

Forum “Perspectives of development of Roma settlements”

On Wednesday, 14 December 2011, Roma inhabitants of Bečej and Bačko Gradište, Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization and the Municipality of Bečej, have organized Forum “Perspectives of development of Roma settlements” on Wednesday, December 14th 2011.

The Forum has been attended by representatives of local government, representatives of provincial and national government, as well as representatives of [...]