MINELRES: Fwd: Roma desegregation program in Sofia, Bulgaria

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Ariel Eliyahu <eli-ari@zahav.net.il>


----------Forwarded message-------------
Romani Baht <baht2000@rtsonline.net>

Desegregation program in Sofia, Bulgaria

Romani Baht Foundation started to implement Desegregation program for
Roma schools in Sofia in July 2002 with the support of the RPP of OSI -
Budapest.

Having in mind that the Bulgarian Government and the local authorities
in Sofia stated their political support in the frame of the Framework
Program for equal Participation of Roma in the Public Life (signed by
the Bulgarian Government in April, 1999), the organization counted on
the above declarations.

On 16th of September 2002 (the official opening of the school year in
Bulgaria), RBF organized the official start of Desegregation program.

We have to state our concerns, connected with the lack of political
support for the process in Sofia. The local sub-municipality of Krasna
Poliana in Sofia did not supported the process.  The children who
participate in the program are not welcomed in the schools surrounding
the Roma district. Many of them were refused access to the schools.
Having the support of Directorate of Education of Sofia Municipality,
RBF organized for those children to be accepted in other schools in
Sofia, out of Krasna Poliana submunicipality. They will have to make
long travell every day for going to school out of the Roma district, in
schools placed in other submunicipalities in Sofia.

RBF is posting this message asking all of our friends and supporters of
the program to post statements to the relevant institutions in Bulgaria
- Ministry of Education, Regional Inspectorate of Education in Sofia and
Krasna Poliana Submunicipality - and to state support for the
desegregation program.

Best regards,
RBF Board
RBF team